Un Operachi Romantico : Alamo Screens Tom Waits' Big Time

Tom Waits may not be coming to Austin on his upcoming tour*, but this week you’ll have a chance to catch his bizarre and riveting live show (sort of) as the Alamo screens Waits’ ultra-rare 1988 concert film, Big Time.

We happen to own a copy of Big Time, and we can say without reservation that it’s one of the most excellent concert films you’ll ever see. Comprised almost entirely of songs from Waits’ “Frank Trilogy” (Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs and Frank’s Wild Years), Big Time is Waits at his barking, crooning, sermonizing best.

Originally conceived as a film adaptation of Waits’ musical Frank’s Wild Years (first performed by Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1986), the completed film is more like a collage of songs, skits and visual experiments centered around a theatre ticket-taker who falls asleep and dreams of fame and fortune.

The performances themselves are fantastic – Waits spits, stomps and howls his way though the set, alternately cracking jokes and growling threats. Waits put so much energy into his performance, in fact, that after the Big Time tour, he felt drained enough to drop out of the international touring circuit for nearly twelve years. Strange, engrossing and thoroughly entertaining, Big Time captures Waits in all his vaudeville-on-acid glory at what many consider the strongest point in his career.

Screening of Tom Waits : Big Time
Tuesday July 18th, Thursday July 20th
Alamo Drafthouse Downtown
[Tickets]

* Undaunted by Waits’ choice of tour stops, Austinist will be traveling to Detroit to see him perform, and will, of course, relate a full account.