Tom Waits wows Dublin crowds on opening night

The first night of Tom Wait’s Dublin leg of the Glitter and Doom Tour saw the long-awaited return of a musical deity who inspires deserved fanatical zeal in his followers. Tom was in sparking form, voice as gravelly and powerful as ever and he was quite playful too, his banter equally as entertaining.

The anti-touting measures were comparably successful, access to the tent was swift and ne’er a grumbling punter did we see.

Taking to the stage to a deafeningly hearty welcome he launched into 'Lucinda/Ain’t Going Down To The Well', 'Raindogs' and 'Falling Down', which have opened many of his European dates.

His backing band featured the eyewateringly talented Vincent Henry on sax (actually saxes, at one point playing two simultaneously), Irishman Patrick Warren on keyboards and his sons Casey Waits on drums and Sullivan Waits on Clarinet.

Highlights included ‘Innocent When You Dream’, ‘Hoist That Rag’ and ‘Eyeball Kid’ for which he donned a mirrorball-hat.

Every song was greeted by riotous applause and many to standing ovations, to which he humbly bowed and doffed his trademark fedora.