Grateful Red
By Azariah

I was recently asked why I drove for twelve hours across 5 states just to see "some band" with strangers from Chicago and Ohio, when I wouldn't even drive 20 minutes across town to see a movie with people I knew. Simply put, the Red Elvises are not just "some band." They are the best band in the world. This was the last show on the East Coast, and the only show I knew I'd be able to make. It was my first show, too, so I was a RE concert virgin. What a way to give up that title, too....

I'd been running on adrenaline for a few days before the show, excited that I would actually get to see one of only two bands that I absolutely love in concert. I think I may have slept a total of 4 hours in 3 days, all sleep being attained in thirty minute cat naps between working and periodically screaming "I get to go see the Red Elvises and you don't!" at my best friend, who had to work the day of the concert. Pity her--she missed an awesome show.

Let's skip the 12 hours of being locked in a tiny metal box on wheels with a serial-killer-in-training, and start when Marc (aforementioned serial killer) and I met up with Willie, Jackdaw and her husband, Ron. Skipping the opening act due to hunger, we went out to eat at a lovely little dinner (with beautiful red vinyl seats--RE fans do everything in red). We then get to the club, where the bouncer at the door gives me grief about my driver's license being old and not appearing in his license book, so "therefore it is obviously fake and you have to go around to the side door, miss. I can't let you in here." Jerk. I get in at the side door with no problem, despite Mr. Nitpicky Bouncer's efforts to bar my entrance.

The guys are just setting up when I get in, and since I can't find my group, I just wander up to the front of the stage, staking out my little area of temporary Heaven. Good thing I got my spot early, because five minutes later, I looked behind me--what had been a somewhat empty dance floor was suddenly sporting a good-sized crowd, all of us waiting for the show to begin.

What a show it was. They rocked the place like no one else could. In my hurry to get out of my house that morning, though, I left my journal on my desk, so I didn't get to write any of the songs down--this is all from memory, and I know I've left out many. They played "Who's Your Daddy" and "Space Cowboys", so that gives promise for a new album in the (hopefully) near future. Other songs included "Suzanna", "Rocketman", "Lovepipe", "Closet Disco Dancer", and "Wonderful Night". And of course, they played my two favorite songs in the world, "I Wanna See You Bellydance" (during which I was brave enough to allow Zhenya to pull me up onstage and dance--without my having imbibed any liquid courage), and "Voodoo Doll". I have a collection of little voodoo dolls and Tiki gods from various places that I've traveled, so I took the opportunity after the show to present the Rev. Zhenya with a bizarre little feathered voodoo doll from my collection. Avi did an awesome, amazingly long drum solo, during which Oleg, Igor, and Zhenya left the stage for a few moments. They returned, then closed the show with a wonderful and wild Elvis medley, Igor shakin' and gyrating all over the stage, and making all the girls scream with delight.

All in all, the show (and the entire trip) was probably one of the coolest things I've done so far; it just proved that the Red Elvises are, and always will be, my favorite band. I can't wait for the next tour to begin, and I'm already bugging local clubs to book them, forcing everyone around here to listen to them--I will prepare North Carolina, and claim this state for the Red Elvises!