Everyone came for Elvis, and Elvis is what they got
In one spectacular gala performance called ‘Jumpsuit Heaven: All the Hits from the 70s’, Bill Cherry, Jay Dupuis, Bruno Nesci, and Ted Torres Martin opened the International Elvis Festival at the Arkaba Hotel. We’re talking four guys wearing rhinestone-studded, V-neck jumpsuits with collars raised and thick-waisted bejewelled belts heavy as the legacy of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll himself, singing the likes of Burning Love, Suspicious Minds and In the Ghetto. If you’re an Elvis fan, you might note that two of the aforementioned songs hit the charts in 1969 (only Burning Love is from the show’s titular decade), but maybe that’s close enough to be included in the night’s setlist. Is Blue Suede Shoes from 1956? The crowd didn’t seem to mind, readily singing along in the sold-out venue – one woman even got up on stage and hugged ‘Elvis’, something as iconic to Presley’s concerts as him kissing women in the front row and handing them scarves, which also happened.
Because they sing, dance, act and speak like the King, you’d be forgiven for calling Cherry, Dupuis, Nesci, and Torres Martin ‘Elvis impersonators’, but these people belong to something called the Elvis Tribute Artist World, so by definition, they’re artists. They’re actors, dancers and singers who’ve toured the world and performed with some of the same bands who played with the real Elvis. They’ve competed and won at major competitions taking place in Canada and the US and have been recognised by the likes of Time Magazine. With a little story here and a little joke there, close your eyes and you’ll hear Presley’s conversational transitions between each song. They’re spot on.
With brass crescendos at the end of every song, the singers were backed by the T.I.C (the Tributes in Concert band), whose name riffs off that of Elvis’ original band, the TCB (the Taking Care of Business band). Touted as ‘The World’s Best Elvis Band, they’re actually from Adelaide. More could’ve been done with the back-up singers, who sounded somewhat muted in comparison to those on the 1970 Elvis in Person at the International Hotel in Las Vegas Nevada album, but of course the show’s focus wasn’t on them. Everyone came for Elvis, and Elvis is what they got.
With five concerts over three days, the festival runs September 1-3.
Reviewed by Heather Taylor-Johnson
Photo credit: supplied
Venue: Arkaba Hotel
Season: ended
More News
