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Sir Tom Jones Brings 'Praise and Blame' to the Union Chapel

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Silhouetted in a single spotlight with his face obscured by shadows, Sir Tom Jones cuts a solitary figure as he takes to the stage in front of just 800 souls in the North London church-cum-venue the Union Chapel on Wednesday, Sept. 15. The sight of the veteran Welsh singer presenting blues and gospel songs from new album, 'Praise and Blame,' is a welcome one.

Indeed, like former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant whose own explorations into Americana have give him a whole new lease of life, Sir Tom has found a dignity that has eluded rockers and performers of a certain age while his rich voice is still capable of raising the hairs on the back of the neck. The stark rendition of Bob Dylan's 'What Good Am I' proves to be as beguiling an intro live as it is on record. It soon becomes apparent this is a side of Sir Tom rarely been seen in public.

With the church altar and ornate carvings behind him bathed in an infernal red, the grinding blues of 'Burning Hell' finds him seeking redemption and it's a theme that's revisited on 'Nobody's Fault But Mine' while the gospel of 'Didn't it Rain' -- tonight repeated in the encore as well as the main set -- is as uplifting as anything found at a revivalist meeting.

Like his audience, Sir Tom beams and smiles as he leaves the stage and rightly so. This is a singer re-born and one whose new found direction could provide a new sense of purpose for some time to come.

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