Techno Elvis plays 'live' show
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
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| Elvis Presley's music is winning new fans decades after his death in August 1977.
Advertiser library photo 'Elvis the Concert' 7 p.m., Aug. 15 Blaisdell Arena Tickets: $65, $45 and $35. On sale now at Ticketmaster outlets, (877) 750-4400) and ticketmaster.com |
"Elvis the Concert," a two-hour peek at some of his greatest moments on stage, will play the Blaisdell Arena Aug. 15, a day before the anniversary of his death on Aug. 16, 1977.
"For Elvis fans, his death is more important for a celebration than his birth," said Tom Moffatt, the entrepreneur who is booking this unusual reflection on the King.
"I've never seen him live before, though I had the chance at the Hilton (the Las Vegas Hilton, his premiere showcase)," said Stig Edgren, 49, a Los Angeles-based producer, who put together this audio-visual behemoth that pays tribute to "the finest entertainer in the world."
Edgren, who headed the production team and who had the blessing and cooperation of Graceland to produce "Elvis the Concert," said this homage was mounted to enable diehard fans and a new generation of music buffs to experience Presley in all his glory.
Lifelong Presley fans form the bulk of the following, but younger folks are discovering — and cheering — Presley as a rock superstar.
Edgren was able to access and isolate Presley's vocals from the vaults of RCA Records and other sources.
"Todd Morgan, the creative director of Graceland, knew of my previous work, including the video for Natalie Cole that resulted in a duet with her late father on 'Inseparable,' and had a feeling we could combine video and live music in bringing Elvis back to the people," said Edgren, who completed this project in 1997 and has toured it sparingly, perhaps playing to a million people so far. The film had been shelved for a year, and Honolulu and Singapore will be the only cities getting it in 2004.
"My challenge was to get two hours of the finest concert footage — the best of Elvis — using isolated vocal tracks from all of his recordings," said Edgren. The kicker was the hiring of musicians and back-up singers who originally performed with Presley in the later years of his career — the TLC Band, the Sweet Inspirations, and Stamps and the Imperials. The live orchestra is conducted by Joe Guercio, who originally was musical director for the touring Presley.
"It's a remarkable feat, to get these guys and these singers to come together well over 20 years of Presley's death, to perform music live and in perfect sync with his vocals," said Edgren.
The film is not a documentary; it's mostly Presley in concert, appearing in his signature sequin-studded outfits and capes, with one primary big-screen image and two subsidiary screens, recreating those swivel-hipped, karate-motion performances that characterized his artistry.
There are a few reflective moments, particularly when Presley performs "In the Ghetto" and "I'll Remember You," when the film gets out of concert mode. But essentially, it's a live show — with the Presley visuals the only element not there in the flesh.
Hawai'i has a big chunk of the visual time, too, since the footage from his "Aloha From Hawaii" satellite concert is part of the flow.
"I've been wanting to play the film at the very site where Elvis did that 'Aloha From Hawaii' telecast," said Edgren. "That should be a very emotional moment for his fans."
Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.
