This week’s Rolling with Scissors comes to you from a brand-new studio space—because, as life tends to do, it threw me a curveball.
Last Wednesday, I found out my lease wasn’t being renewed. By Saturday, the new studio was rebuilt and (mostly) functional. Let me repeat that: full teardown, move, and rebuild in three days. We’re not 100% yet, but we’re damn close—and close enough that I finally feel comfortable again behind the mic, surrounded by gear, wires, and music.
So what better way to break in the new space than with the sound of gravel and gospel, heartbreak and brass, smoke and stories? Tonight’s show is all about Tom Waits. Three full hours wandering through his twisted alleyways of sound, from the poetic to the percussive, the sentimental to the surreal. Whether you’ve known his music for decades or you’re hearing him for the first time, you’re in for a ride.
And a quick note on the episode number—some of you may have noticed we jumped ahead. That’s not a glitch. Last week, I realized I’ve done enough of these shows to hit a staggering number: 1290 episodes. So from here on out, we’re picking up with Episode 1291. The show’s been through a few eras, a few name changes, and more than a few existential tangents—but it’s all part of the same thread. So if you’ve been listening since the beginning, or you just joined last week, welcome to the next chapter.
Let’s raise a glass to that old devil moon, and dive into the world of Tom Waits.
| Artist | Song | Time | Album | Label | Year | New Release |
| Tom Waits | Chicago | 02:15 | Bad As Me | 2011 | ||
| Tom Waits | Raised Right Men | 03:24 | Bad As Me | 2011 | ||
| Tom Waits | Talking At The Same Time | 04:13 | Bad As Me | 2011 | ||
| Tom Waits | Get Lost | 02:42 | Bad As Me | 2011 | ||
| Tom Waits | Face To The Highway | 03:42 | Bad As Me | 2011 | ||
| Tom Waits | Pay Me | 03:14 | Bad As Me | 2011 | ||
| Tom Waits | Back In The Crowd | 02:49 | Bad As Me | 2011 | ||
| Tom Waits | Bad As Me | 03:10 | Bad As Me | 2011 | ||
| Tom Waits | Kiss Me | 03:41 | Bad As Me | 2011 | ||
| Tom Waits | Satisfied | 04:05 | Bad As Me | 2011 | ||
| Tom Waits | Last Leaf | 02:55 | Bad As Me | 2011 | ||
| Tom Waits | Hell Broke Luce | 03:57 | Bad As Me | 2011 | ||
| Tom Waits | New Year’s Eve | 04:31 | Bad As Me | 2011 | ||
| Tom Waits | Singapore | 02:45 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | Clap Hands | 03:48 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | Cemetery Polka | 01:46 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | Jockey Full of Bourbon | 02:47 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | Tango Till They’re Sore | 02:51 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | Big Black Mariah | 02:44 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | Diamonds & Gold | 02:33 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | Hang Down Your Head | 02:34 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | Time | 03:56 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | Rain Dogs | 02:57 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | Midtown [Instrumental] | 01:04 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | 9th & Hennepin | 01:56 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | Gun Street Girl | 04:38 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | Union Square | 02:25 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | Blind Love | 04:20 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | Walking Spanish | 03:07 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | Downtown Train | 03:54 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | Bride of Rain Dog [Instrumental] | 01:09 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | Anywhere I Lay My Head | 02:47 | Rain Dogs | Island | 1985 | |
| Tom Waits | San Diego Serenade | 03:30 | The Heart of Saturday Night | Warner | 1974 | |
| Tom Waits | Semi Suite | 03:29 | The Heart of Saturday Night | Warner | 1974 | |
| Tom Waits | Shiver Me Timbers | 04:26 | The Heart of Saturday Night | Warner | 1974 | |
| Tom Waits | Diamonds on My Windshield | 03:12 | The Heart of Saturday Night | Warner | 1974 | |
| Tom Waits | (Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night | 03:53 | The Heart of Saturday Night | Warner | 1974 | |
| Tom Waits | Please Call Me, Baby | 04:25 | The Heart of Saturday Night | Warner | 1974 | |
| Tom Waits | Depot, Depot | 03:46 | The Heart of Saturday Night | Warner | 1974 | |
| Tom Waits | Drunk on the Moon | 05:06 | The Heart of Saturday Night | Warner | 1974 | |
| Tom Waits | The Ghosts of Saturday Night (After Hours at Napoleone’s Pizza House) | 03:16 | The Heart of Saturday Night | Warner | 1974 | |
| Tom Waits | 01 Ol’ 55 | 03:57 | Closing Time | 2008 | ||
| Tom Waits | I Hope That I Don’t Fall in Love with You | 03:54 | Closing Time | Warner | 1973 | |
| Tom Waits | Virginia Avenue | 03:10 | Closing Time | Warner | 1973 | |
| Tom Waits | Old Shoes (& Picture Postcards) | 03:40 | Closing Time | Warner | 1973 | |
| Tom Waits | Midnight Lullaby | 03:26 | Closing Time | Warner | 1973 | |
| Tom Waits | Martha | 04:30 | Closing Time | Warner | 1973 | |
| Tom Waits | Rosie | 04:03 | Closing Time | Warner | 1973 | |
| Tom Waits | Lonely | 03:12 | Closing Time | Warner | 1973 | |
| Tom Waits | Ice Cream Man | 03:05 | Closing Time | Warner | 1973 | |
| Tom Waits | Little Trip to Heaven (On the Wings of Your Love) | 03:38 | Closing Time | Warner | 1973 | |
| Tom Waits | Grapefruit Moon | 04:50 | Closing Time | Warner | 1973 | |
| Tom Waits | Closing Time | 04:20 | Closing Time | Warner | 1973 |
WORT-FM Back Porch Broadcasting, Inc.
Over The Air Broadcast 2 AM to 5 AM Tuesday Morning.
I think we could all learn a thing or two from Tom.
Whatever you need, whatever you’re going through, he’s got something to relate to and a fresh way of seeing circumstances. Whether your looking for glory or grit, chaotic clatter or melancholy melody, demolition or reconstruction, he’s got the magic. It might take a while to find his meaning, and that’s fine. Experience the journey. Tom will wait. It’s what he does.