Six Gigs, Three States: 6/29-30,7/1-2,8-9 By Willie

I had a rare opportunity this summer to see The Red Elvises six times in eleven days in three states. I started my vacation in Milwaukee Wisconsin at Summerfest. Summerfest is set on the lakeshore and has six stages that play all day and a main stage for the feature act in the evening. Our favorite band played on the smallest stage just inside the Midgate entrance, sponsored by "Piggly Wiggly" that has a giant pig head with a hat on it. They played two sets each day that rocked, but there were technical problems with the sound guy. At one point Zhenya's monitor quit working so the sound guy put him into Igor's, but didn't tell anyone in the band.

Thursday night their sets were about 40minutes apart due to a fireworks display, which gave them and Phelan plenty of time to sell CDs and shirts and sign autographs. The only advantage I can see to the stage that they played is that the SkyRider goes right over and quite a few people got to hear them.

At the Friday show I was up front as promised with my camera and got a few good shots and also got to meet Heidi Roho (hi Heidi) who I had chatted with one night at a chat session, and her family. Every set at Summerfest ended with Bellydance with the assistance of dancers from the audience.

Saturday was the Abbey Pub in Chicago. The opening act that night was a local Bluegrass band that played a good set but it didn't set the mood for the Elvi. During their first set when they did Bellydance not only women dancers appeared on stage one gentleman got up and joined the dancers. In the second set while performing Sad Cowboy Song Mr Z dropped trou (boxers for those who care). The gentleman dancer from the first set joined him and had "no pants to cover my ass" as the song says. In the second set I finally got them to play "Don't Stop the Dance" (another song you don't hear enough in concert). The encore that night was a medley of Elvis songs with Igor wearing a pair of glasses with large sideburns attached he really looked like Elvis.

Lori from Pennsylvania (hi Lori) flew in for the weekend shows around Chicago and it was a pleasure to meet her also. Sunday Fitzgeralds in Berwyn was the place to be. I finally got my daughter Marti out to see The Red Elvises. This being Fourth of July weekend Oleg announced his newly acquired US Citizenship to the crowd and received a rousing ovation. This show was outdoors under a tent and was quite warm, Avi and Mr Z both ended up bare chested by the end of the show (sorry ladies, no pictures. I ran out of film at Summerfest and hadn't bought more yet). At one point Phelan got swamped selling souvenirs and I was glad to help sell CDs and Shirts. My original plans had me leaving for So Cal on June 28 and returning July 8 so I would have missed all the shows in both places; fortunately for me plans changed and I was able to see two shows out west.

Saturday July 8 they played the Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach. It's an Arts & Crafts Fair that has an entertainment deck. The crowd ranged from a few months old to 70+ and a good time was had by all. When I first arrived I met Avi in the parking lot and he did a double take on seeing me there after being in Chicago. They played four sets each about 40 minutes long with 20 minute breaks. They opened with "My Darling Lorraine" (another song they don't play enough) and I was lucky enough to get 15 minutes of video before my battery died.

Each set ended with "Bellydance" and was assisted by JJ & the Habibis a local bellydancing group. During one break Oleg introduced me to Kayt (hi Kayt) and we had a good time talking together. Due to travel crunch (Cleveland to LA in one night) Oleg was playing his acoustic Bass Balilaika, which was a refreshing change of pace.

On Sunday night they played The Blue Café in Long Beach where due to confusion I missed the first set where Kayt was one of the bellydancers. The second set that night was excellent, the boys were going to have four days off after 89 shows in 85 days and they closed out with feeling. All I can say is if you get the chance go see the Red Elvises in a new town and meet some of the other fans we are all a fun group of people to be around.