Tom Waits for No Man

“Don’t you know there ain’t no devil, that’s just God when he’s drunk.”

-Tom Waits

          
                Within the previous 40 years Tom Waits has released 24 albums, won two Grammy’s, appeared in more than 20 films and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Not only is Tom Waits a renaissance man, he’s a legend. Though he’d prefer it if he was simply known as a storyteller.

                In the early 1970’s, Waits started his career playing piano in smoke-filled L.A. nightclubs, an appropriate backdrop for his music . Shortly after, Waits was signed to Asylum Records.  Though his albums were critically acclaimed, Waits remained relatively unknown until his songs were covered by greats such as Rod Stewart, Bruce Springsteen and the Eagles. Even Scarlett Johansson made an album of Tom Waits covers.

                I first discovered Tom Waits through friends in high 
school.  Waits’ guttural growls, unconventional percussion and beat-style lyrics meshed into something I’d never experienced before.  Two albums in particular, Rain Dogs and Swordfish Trombones, cemented my appreciation for his music.

            In 2008,I was lucky enough to catch Tom Waits performing in Knoxville, the first time he’d performed there since the 1970’s.  What surprised me most about the show was his stage presence and humor.  The man definitely knew how to connect with a crowd.  If you ever have the chance to see Tom Waits perform, I highly recommend it.  But until then, I’ll leave you with this video.