BLUE SUEDE
The Premier Elvis Bash
Finally a show that shifts the focus away from the smoke and mirrors associated with Elvis tribute shows….back to what it is all about: The GREAT MUSIC!
There are certainly no shortage of Elvis shows or Elvis impersonators. Elvis “look alike” contests abound and you don’t have to search too far to find “young Elvises”, “Vegas Elvises”, Hollywood “Elvises”, child “Elvises”, Asian “Elvises”, female “Elvises” and, yes, even the occasional kilted “Elvis”. In most cases, the shows seem to shine most of the spotlight on the the kitschy jump suits, the dancing girls and the stereotypical razzle dazzle around “the King”–often to distract from what is lacking artistically.
But those who really followed this great legend would have you look much deeper…
The Elvis that they loved was a hero not because of his swiveling hips or because of his carefully sculpted side burns. The Elvis that true fans remember could sing “It’s a Wonderful World” and make you cry…he was a man who took his love for gospel and shared it through his rock n roll… he had the magnetism of a superstar, but the sensitivity of a true artist…. It is rare that one gets to look deeper than the caricaturist-type portrayals that have become the vogue, but these two master performers deliver an Elvis experience with superb reverence and a purity that will give you chills.
What these entertainers perform is a musical concert, that is finally in the same spirit that Elvis did his own concerts. He didn’t have (or have the need for) dancers and other distractions. Elvis and his music was so charismatic that it turned him into an iconic legend.
Meet Scot and Mike
Scot Bruce
Originally from the Pacific Northwest, where he was a radio personality and a drummer, Scot is lived in the Los Angeles area since 1990. While pursuing music and an acting career and having been a musician and a big Elvis fan all his life he’s, he started doing a 1950s era Elvis show as a way to survive the lean times. The result was a surprise to Scot… What was meant as a part-time “gig” to supplement his income, blossomed into a full-time career! Because of his uncanny resemblance to the young ” King” (and his ability to saying, strummed guitar, and so was hips), his live show has taken them across The US and all over the world.
Portraying a young Elvis, Scot Bruce has appeared in music videos with Faith Hill and Sheryl Crow, and has been heard as the “Resident Elvis” with his pals “Mark and Brian” on their highly rated Los Angeles morning radio show. Scot has also appeared in recurring roles on the hit soap operas Days of Our Lives, and The Bold and the Beautiful, a Pizza Hut commercial, the California lottery “Elvis” ad campaign and his several successful productions of Idols of the King, including the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the Barter Theater in Virginia and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery.
Scot is not only had the honor of performing with the legendary Jordanaires (Elvis’ original backup singers), but in January 2011, Scott appeared as “Elvis at 21″as part of the prestigious Elvis exhibit at the Smithsonian.
Martin guitars is been so impressed with his performances that they presented him with an exact replica of Elvis’ original Martin guitar. If you saw the True Hollywood Story: Elvis in Hollywood on the E! Entertainment Network, that was Scot playing Elvis in the recreation scenes. He performs at Disneyland on a regular basis, and tours with The Legends of Rock ‘n Roll – Buddy , Roy and Elvis
Mike Albert
Mike Albert’s “Ultimate Tribute” show has become known worldwide for the respectful portrayal of the late Elvis Presley. The show had its beginnings with Mike using sing-a-long tapes of Elvis’ hits. Mike won several major world “Elvis” contests, and demand for his shows resulted in putting together a seven piece Big “E” Band, to emulate the sound Elvis’ band had in the Vegas shows and on tour.
Mike’s powerful voice lends itself well to every type of Elvis’ music – 50’s, 60’s and 70’s rock and roll and love songs, as well as a very successful gospel/Christmas show. Since Elvis had so many hits, Mike makes it a point to keep the show fresh with an ever-changing song line-up!
About The Shows
Scot opens the show with his rockabilly band—including a real stand up bass (as Elvis had in his Sun Record years) and even an upright piano (with that rockabilly twang!). Lighting is 1950’s simple, but the energy is rocking! Scot is not only on point for his renditions of the early hits, but he adds an additional layer by sharing some of the history of Elvis’ rise to fame. It is sixty minutes of charismatic shake, rattle and roll that spans the early years of Elvis’ career all the way through the Hollywood years. He is SO authentically captivating as the young Elvis that Martin Guitars actually gave him a replica of the guitar that they made for Elvis as a token of their admiration.
The concept of the “Premier Elvis Bash” began literally two decades ago when the State Theatre in Easton PA wanted something more than the typical Elvis tribute show. Two of the most highly respected Elvis performers in the world were asked to share the stage for one evening of authentic Elvis rock n’ roll. Audience feedback was immediate and overwhelming, with fans traveling hours and flooding the box office phone lines. Twenty consecutive years later, the fans are still raving ….
Elvis had too many hits to be shared in one brief evening, so, audiences soon inspired these two performers to grow the one show into 8 different “Elvis Bash” options. Scot Bruce performs as Elvis, the way we remember him during his early career, followed by Mike Albert, who is superb as Elvis in his Vegas years.
Following intermission, Mike Albert takes over the second half of the show with the Big E Band and back-up singer. The look is of course reminiscent of the later years: 70’s style suits for the band, gown for the singer and of course, those “dazzling” jump suits for “the King”. Mike is truly untouchable as the older Elvis. Not only is he vocally stunning, but the reverent passion that he infuses into the songs has reduced many a hard core Elvis fan to tears. It is no wonder that he wowed audiences on both the Oprah Winfrey Show and on Maury Povich’s “All Things Considered”.