Concertwire.com

Eccentric musical shaman and rara avis TOM WAITS has decided to take his show to some of the summer’s hottest regions. The Grammy-winning artist will begin his “Glitter and Doom” tour in Phoenix at the Orpheum Theatre on June 17 and finish in Atlanta on July 5 at the Fox Theatre. Tickets for his previous “Orphans” tour in 2006 sold out in minutes.

When questioned about the summer inferno choice, Waits responded, “We’re going to the deep south where they still love a man who wears red pants and they make him feel welcome.”

Waits will be touring with longtime musical ally Larry Taylor (bass), Omar Torrez (guitar), Patrick Warren (keyboards), Casey Waits (drums and percussion) and as yet named reed player; performing hollers, mambos and rhumbas.

Of his last tour, critics were unanimous: The Chicago Tribune, “After two hours, Waits’ reprised ‘Time,’ a beautiful song, even in a land where it’s raining hammers and nails. Waits’ voice sounded like that hard rain. Even at its most tender, it was a gruff, unrelenting force of nature.” The Flint Journal (MI), “Waits took the eager capacity crowd on a journey of Wagnerian proportions…I hope we don’t have to wait another 19 years to sip from that cup again.” The Tennessean, “(Ryman Auditorium) Even back in the ancient, pre-country days when the holy structure was an actual church, it’s hard to imagine a more passionate sermonizer gracing the boards than Waits.”

Anti Records recently launched tomwaits.com with the release of the press conference clip for the “Glitter and Doom” tour. The site will have all tour info, news, photos and updates with a detailed explanation of the ticket policy. Waits’ press conference is currently the #1 featured video on YouTube.com with over 120,000 views in less than 72 hours.

As on his last tour, Waits’ U.S. booking agent and longtime tour director, Stuart Ross, has spent a great deal of effort to fight ticket scalpers. Along with Ticketmaster, he has worked out a plan he believes will make sure every fan pays face value (plus normal service and handling fees) for the tickets purchased for the “Glitter and Doom” tour.

Tickets for all markets are due to go on sale Friday, May 16th. Check local venues and Ticketmaster for specific start times. Tickets will be available via the internet and by phone.

In other Waits news, unrelated to the tour, WAITS has finished filming The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, a romantic fantasy adventure starring Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, Vern Troyer and Lily Cole with renowned director Terry Gilliam (Time Bandits, Brazil, Twelve Monkeys, Brothers Grimm).

US tour dates are as follows: