A City Like A Tom Waits Song (living, pit bulls)

[Dawn.Davenport]

Tom Waits is my favorite singer. And I wanted to visit someplace seething with his ethos: El Caminos, cigarette smoke, nostalgia, cheap whiskey, cheap diners, broken hearts, unapologetic masculinity, poetic bar flies, pit bulls, Americana.

I went all the way Cotati, California (just outside of Napa), where Tom Waits lives. I was hoping Cotati would be the living, breathing epitome of a real life Tom Waits song. But, no, it was sterile, suburban, and stucco.

So if not Cotati, than where is the distopia that embodies this chilling, visceral music?

[Bobloblawslawblog]

New Orleans is about as close as you'll get.

[Cliff Clavin]

I was thinking rural Montana, except diners are more a east coast/north east phenomenon.

[Ghengis]

Originally Posted by Dawn.Davenport

Tom Waits is my favorite singer. And I wanted to visit someplace seething with his ethos: El Caminos, cigarette smoke, nostalgia, cheap whiskey, cheap diners, broken hearts, unapologetic masculinity, poetic bar flies, pit bulls, Americana.

I went all the way Cotati, California (just outside of Napa), where Tom Waits lives. I was hoping Cotati would be the living, breathing epitome of a real life Tom Waits song. But, no, it was sterile, suburban, and stucco.

So if not Cotati, than where is the distopia that embodies this chilling, visceral music?

Minneapolis, silly!


Tom Waits - 9th & Hennepin - YouTube


Tom Waits - Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis - YouTube

[2e1m5a]

Originally Posted by Cliff Clavin

I was thinking rural Montana, except diners are more a east coast/north east phenomenon.

That's actually what I thought of too-like an old western town; but I like the New Orleans suggestion.

[Bobloblawslawblog]

And then there's always Singapore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxB4GqYM0T4

[nslander]

Originally Posted by Dawn.Davenport

Tom Waits is my favorite singer. And I wanted to visit someplace seething with his ethos: El Caminos, cigarette smoke, nostalgia, cheap whiskey, cheap diners, broken hearts, unapologetic masculinity, poetic bar flies, pit bulls, Americana.

I went all the way Cotati, California (just outside of Napa), where Tom Waits lives. I was hoping Cotati would be the living, breathing epitome of a real life Tom Waits song. But, no, it was sterile, suburban, and stucco.

So if not Cotati, than where is the distopia that embodies this chilling, visceral music?

How about the place he is most associated with and from where he drew most influence?

Crawling Down Cahuenga: Tom Waits' LA | Esotouric

I realize many share a desire to ignore to Los Angeles, but c'mon. It's almost like asking what city most evokes the spirit of of Lou Reed.

[Bunjee]

Originally Posted by nslander

How about the place he is most associated with and from where he drew most influence?

Crawling Down Cahuenga: Tom Waits' LA | Esotouric

I realize many share a desire to ignore to Los Angeles, but c'mon. It's almost like asking what city most evokes the spirit of of Lou Reed.

The Nickel, L.A.'s Skid Row, doesn't exist anymore the way it did when Tom Waits was coming up. Or does it...? I dunno, there's a lot of contending conceptions about DTLA these days. But for comparison, I do remember what it was like in the '80s, and it was what the songs evoked.

[Vegabern]

Originally Posted by Cliff Clavin

I was thinking rural Montana, except diners are more a east coast/north east phenomenon.

Nope.

I was thinking somewhere in New Mexico.

[Deezus]

Some places in Nevada I've been to, are sort of Tom Wait-ish... Or almost like a scene out of a Cormac McCarthy novel.

New Orleans, yeah, there's still bars in that town that have that sort of vibe...