June 2-4, 2000: Red Elvises, Back Home in Southern California
Kayt

Try to imagine a Red Elvises show without "I Wanna See You Belly Dance." It's like Bill Haley and the Comets not doing "Rock Around The Clock..." It's like the Stones not doing "Satisfaction…" It's like Elvis not doing "Heartbreak Hotel…" It's like Chris Isaak not doing "Wicked Game…" Huh? Oh all right…technically speaking, it's like…not THAT huge a deal, since we've all heard and loved the song hundreds of times, collectively, either live or on CD, but it is a bit unusual. And at Rusty's on June 2nd, it did not happen. (Note: I'm certainly not complaining, just providing commentary for those who couldn't be there. Who, me, give my favorite band a hard time? Go on, make me laugh…).

Me, end of show: "What? No 'Belly Dance?'"
Oleg, leaving the stage: "No ‘Belly Dance.'" So sayeth the Red Haired One.

But no problemo…here in southern California, land of earthquakes, cell phones, and saline implants, we have a saying: "It's all good." And of course it was, even without a certain major song. All of you who have either been to a Rusty's show or have read my previous reviews of shows there know what it's like…wonderful pure-ass fun. Even without encores. The music was, as always, rocking and loud and thoroughly entertaining, with the current mix of older and newer pelvis-shaking songs.

The "Shake Your Pelvis" songs, by the way, must be experienced live, they're a completely different treat from the CD, as Rachel Romond so eloquently pointed out not long after the CD's release. Not that I don't love this CD, but I also love to hear music made by guitars, the beat of real live drums and the extremely talented men who give these instruments life right in front of me; there's an excitement there that even the most perfectly produced recording cannot totally capture. At Rusty's that night my soul was stirred once again hearing the intertwining of bass line, lead and rhythm guitars and drum beats tying it all together. I found myself listening intently for the familiar sweet notes and melodies, lyrics by now emblazoned in my brain (not quite as painful as that sounds!), and then getting swept away in moving to the sheer joy of the music itself. There's nothing quite like great music to relieve troubles and improve moods, and Red Elvises do that better than any other band. They provide us with consistently amazing and incredible good-time music…just let your mind rest, your heart fly and the rest of your body dance. It's good for you!

A Rusty's show is a wild ride but then all Red Elvises shows are parties waiting to happen, so my best advice is to get to a live Red Elvises show this summer if you have to drive, fly, walk or crawl. You'll be happy that you did. And if you happen to live here or vacation in southern California, be sure to catch the next Rusty's Surf Ranch show on July 21st!

These guys have precious little time to spend at home these days, and they still give us evenings of wonderful music and laughter. So, not surprisingly, we got another amazing show here in So. Cal. At The Blue Café, even though a little tired, they still put their all into it and rocked the small but enthusiastic crowd. The dance floor was populated from the first few notes and stayed that way. I was out there, not dancing this time but videotaping, and had to move several times so as not to have wildly gyrating bodies filling my viewfinder…except for the ones onstage making the music, of course! What the audience lacked in numbers they more than made up for in energy and enjoyment of the band and music, remaining a small yet appreciative crowd from beginning to end.

And now for something completely different, an actual song list! The following songs were thoroughly enjoyed by all: "Shooba-Doobah," "Voodoo Doll," "Girls Gonna Boogie Tonight," "We Got The Groove," " Techno Surfer," "Everybody Disco," a very cool rendition of part of the Beatles' birthday song ("They say it's your birthday…Happy Birthday to you!…" followed by the more traditional "Happy Birthday" song for a blonde birthday girl (no, not Britney Spears, another blonde!), "Lovepipe," "Boogie On The Beach," "Red Lips Red Eyes Red Stockings," "I Wanna See You Belly Dance," "Jumping Cat Boogie," "Gypsy Heart," "It's A Wonderful Night," "Girl From Malibu," "200 Flying Girls," "Stewardess in Red," "200 Pounds of Pure Love," "Suzanna," "Hanky Panky Kind of Love," "Rocket Man," "Sad Cowboy Song," which included introductions all around as well as a long kick ass drum solo, and last but definitely not least, "Flaming Cheese."

In between some of these songs, Zhenya kept urging the wild and wooly people of Long Beach to come closer. One of them came so close he jumped on the stage and danced several times in keeping with the spirit of things. It's no stretch of the imagination to say a good time was had by all. Red Elvises play The Blue Café again in July on the 9th and the 30th (but always check the Tour schedule on www.redelvises.com for any possible changes).