On October 14, 2008 the Belgian/ Dutch fan club ElvisMatters organized the first leg of the two concerts from the fan club in the 2008 original cast tour.
The Opening Act
After an entertaining video on the two big screens showing how the fan club kept the memory of Elvis Presley alive the last five years. The presentation of our man striking various poses with the bombastic “Oh Fortuna” really worked great.
The evening was opened by the Dutch singer Maarten Jansen; a well known singer in the European Elvis circuit delivering the Kings legacy with his big voice. Tonight he did a nice set of fifties classics backed by two guitarists and a drummer. They performed an entertaining set with some original choices like “Shopping Around”.
The Main Act
The main act was of course the TCB Band – almost complete – with the Imperials, the Sweets, keyboard player John Feur, the orchestra backing Terry Mike Jeffrey. Ronnie Tutt wasn’t present in Eindhoven, and to be honest, I didn’t miss him musically. His replacement, Paul Leim, really drummed the skin of is drums.
The set list a pretty recognizable Elvis show, so was the performance of the songs themselves. With Glenn D. Hardin and Joe Guercio on stage that is not so strange as the provided most of the original arrangements we know so well.
Terry Mike proved to be a great singer with a nice voice and plenty volume, but sound-wise I would have preferred Maarten on several ballads like “You Gave Me A Mountain” and “Just Pretend” for the warmth and bass is voice has. That doesn’t take-a-way the great performance Terry Mike Jeffrey gave on show stoppers like “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling”.
The only minor during the show was that the orchestra and band were out of sync a few times or certain sections were too loud. Just like with the original "Elvis The Concert" details of all that happened on stage were shown on two big screens by two cameramen running a small marathon trying to capture it all for the fans in the audience.
Usually “Suspicious Minds” is the highlight of the evening, but yesterday my personal highlights were “Johnny B. Goode” on which all TCB members showed why Elvis picked them for his band and the Gospel Medley performed by the Sweets, Imperials and Terry Mike Jeffrey. That segment got the audience off and on their chairs.
In a smaller venue like you enjoy this version of “Elvis The Concert” with a real singer in front of the original cast more up close and personal. If it was the last time the original cast sets foot on European ground with a show like this, I can say I was there.
I have to disagree... They are in Oslo, Noway this evening, a few hundred meters away from my apartment even, and I'll stay at home playing playstation this evening instead. I saw them some years ago. If I were able to enjoy them as a "new" band with a new vocalist I might perhaps have enjoyed it (though I seriously doubt it), but seeing them as the backing band of someone who's been dead for thirty years gives a sad, pathetic aura to the whole event. I wish they stopped after the "virtual" world tour with Elvis on the screens.
I saw and heard them twice during concerts in Belgium. They were fantastic and to REAL Elvis-fans they are, in a way, living legends and part of the Elvis-story. One cannot overlook them! There is no place in my world for members of this site with a heart like their country : cold and icy . Always El.
I saw them on Wednesday in Trondheim, Norway, and it was a great concert. In my opinion, the use of vocalists instead of Elvis on screen has been a neccessary change in order to keep the dynamics of the show. Terry Mike Jeffrey is a great singer, and his version of "It´s Midnight" was O-U-T-S-T-A-N-D-I-N-G. Really sung with depth and feeling. "Johnny B. Goode" rocked as crazy. Although many of the musicians may be past their prime, there is so much experience upon that stage that you have to recognize it. Another high on Wednesday was a great "jam" of "Oh, Happy Day" with The Imperials really showing their abillities. And what a bass voice that Joe Moscheo has.
I was there in Eindhoven. It was fantastic. My whole group enjoyed it tremendously. Of course we missed the one around all this is all about. We enjoyed it as the show reminds us of him and his fabulous performances. The only minor (and that is something we always miss as it seems not done?) and that is the invitation to applaude for ELVIS himself. Without him this would not be there. Anyway. we applauded in his spirit. ANd we did enjoy just like the artists on the stage performed: wholeheartely and full of joy. We look forward to meeting them again!
So, Lex, you were talking about the club organising the event, not about the band ??? Why then writing "I'm sorry to have missed this one " ? I can't imagine you meant you were sorry to have missed the opportunity to meet the organisers. So what are you really sorry about , Better come out straight forward for you opinion instead of beating around the bush, just to please one of the members of this site. Always El.
Benny, just like some say regarding Lisa Marie around here: This is a *Elvis* fansite, not Lisa Marie/TCB Band. Last time I heard TCB was in Memphis last year and they are really getting old now. It is of course sad, and just adds to the rather awkward feeling I do get from seeing/hearing them now: James Burtn struggle really hard with keeping up with the tempo on songs one should imagine he could play in his sleep. His tired fingers are simply too old and he is skipping beats repeatedly while playing. You call me "cold and icy", Benny. But who is the cold one here, me who feel som humanity towards them, or you who just want to see them on stage working to bring back some "old Elvis feeling" to you again...
Benny, I was sorry to have missed the event. Not because of the music, I have heard them often enough, and with EspenK I have to agree that they are getting less nowadays (completely normal ). But meeting them as persons is always nice... and yes I love to talk to the organisers too. They are real friends, a rare fact in this world, but still a fact. And I am glad they (as club) stay away from those fools....
Lex, I agree the organising team is indeed OK and they are a really good team! I know some of the guys personally, and as a fanclub they do a great job. As for the TCB -band : reading Kees' review, I have the impression they must have been rather very good , and stating that "Johnny B. Goode" was , in his opinion , one of the highlights must be a proof that James Burton is still doing and playing fine. If I'm not mistaken, during Elvis' concerts the spotlights were for a big part on James everytime he was playing that particular song.As for you EspenK, the reason why you gave me the impression being coldhearted was the simple fact you wrote (quote)" I'll stay at home and play playstation " ( unquote) instead of attending the concert. Well, to me that came over as rather disrespectful. If this is your way to show some "humanity", well, so be it.Anyway, I don't think the TCB-band needs signs of humanity or compassion, I'm sure they really enjoy what they're still doing, and they don't consider playing music as a burdon. I agree with you that this site is dedicated to Elvis in the first place, but publishing a review of the Original Cast Tour 2008 proofs that the guys running this site have an open mind for such events. I hereby withdraw my remarks of " coldhearted and icy" ! No hard feelings anymore. Always El.
I also went to the James Burton and His Band session in The Netherlands. I was there with a friend. He was thrilled by the show, especially James Burton. Immediately he wanted to join to go to Eindhoven. So we did. He was overenjoyed by the two concerts and stated he would join me again asap.
I found it rather strange that Kees wrote such a positive review considering the bands age and my earlier experiences with them (of which there are several). But he is of course entitled to his opinion, as is everyone else... I guess this only goes to show that a review is and will always be a personal opinion about whats been reviewed, and that there will always be disagreements about reviews.
As for the Playstation remark, that was indeed what I did last Friday since it was the release date for the long anticipated game "Saints Row 2". A friend and me had a jolly good time on Friday. :)
Hey EspenK, talking about my review? Part of the positive review is of-course the "total" live experience of the guys that were there when the real thing happened. Guess you needed to have been there to enjoy the live atmosphere. But in stead of plying with your PS, why not write the occasional review yourself :-)
Outch you strike me where it hurts now, dude. ;) But seriously, there is of course absolutely nothing wrong whatsoever in enjoying that concert, who knows - maybe I'd enjoy it myself if I were there. I know I'd love to visit the Netherlands again, anyways. :)
