The King lives on in the form of Anthony Petrucci in this energetic tribute
Presented by: Markus Hamence Presents and Torre Entertainment
Reviewed: 1 February, 2025
Audience members at the Regal Theatre could be forgiven for thinking they had gone back in time last night, as they danced in the aisles to a set list of Elvis’s greatest hits. Anthony Petrucci looks and sounds so much like The King that it’s eerie. He has the moves and the body language down, and every nuance of the vocals — from the tone, to that iconic fast, wide vibrato, to the way he cuts off consonants — is perfect.
The sets were packed with hits, from Elvis’s early rock’n’roll era, such as Blue Suede Shoes, Hound Dog, and Jailhouse Rock, through his pop and movie career songs, including hits like Return To Sender, Viva Las Vegas, and Stop Look and Listen, and into his later recordings such as Suspicious Minds and Moody Blue. The house was singing along to Elvis’s cover of the Neil Diamond classic Sweet Caroline, and grooving to his version of Chuck Berry’s Johnny B Goode. Petrucci only spoke a little between songs, recognising that it was the music that the crowd really wanted.
Petrucci was supported by a flawless band, including Ryan Di Cecco on bass, Marco Agius on drums, Daniel Agius on keys, and Grover Harris on electric guitar. Together they brought the house down with unmistakable riffs from these unforgettable songs. While the sound balance was a little drums-heavy initially, after a few songs this was remedied by the sound tech and we were able to hear those brilliant guitar and keys solos.
While Elvis Presley’s life was undoubtedly full of ups and downs, particularly in his later life, this concert was a real celebration of what made him The King of rock’n’roll and pop, and why, even nearly 50 years after his death, Elvis’s legacy and songs live on.
Reviewed by Kristin Stefanoff
Venue: The Regal Theatre
Season: Ended
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