Elvis impersonators are in the building
Wander into the Upper Hutt Cossie Club in September and you’re sure to find Elvis.
New Zealand’s biggest Elvis Presley celebration, Elvis Down Under, is returning to its original home in Upper Hutt – to mark the fact it has been 40 years since ‘‘the King of Rock’n’Roll’’ died.
Organiser Cathy Finau says this year’s event features both Australia and New Zealand’s best tribute artists, Jack Gatto and Brendon Chase.
Both are Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artists (UETA), meaning they have entered competitions sanctioned by Elvis Presley Enterprises in the United States.
Co-organiser Paul Fenech says having both performers together for an event is a first.
‘‘You’re actually going to have, for the first time, the South Pacific’s best together and this has never been done before ... You will see the best of the best from both countries.’’
He says Elvis’ voice was so unique, no-one can perfectly match it, but adds that Gatto is ‘‘probably is the closest that I’ve ever heard to Elvis’’.
There will also be a competition, with both amateur and professional divisions, so any impersonators – or budding impersonators – can have a go onstage.
Finau says Elvis fans are a very passionate ‘‘breed’’, but she cannot pinpoint exactly what it is that makes her love him. ’’It’s just the whole persona. The charisma, the looks, everything about him: his moves, his voice,’’ she explains.
‘‘It’s just a passion of mine. If I’m feeling sad or happy or whatever, I play his music. I play his music all the time in my car. It makes me happy, if I’m sad it brings me up.’’
Gatto says Elvis, ‘‘the biggest star ever’’, is often misunderstood.
‘‘He was just a crazy generous man. I love Elvis for what he did for the world ... If you talk to people who actually spent time with Elvis, they talk about him with such love in their eyes.’’
Auckland-based Brendon Chase was crowned Australasia’s Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist in January and will contest the world title in Memphis, Tennessee, this August.
After being a tribute artist for more than 20 years, the win was extremely validating, he says.
‘‘I’ve been trying to win that overseas for the last 10 years. I threw my hands up and felt like I needed to do a haka.’’
Chase is looking forward to both performing and being a judge at Upper Hutt’s Elvis Down Under.
‘‘They’ll need to be on their game because I know a lot about Elvis.’’