Last week, at 1 in the afternoon, in the middle of the week, a friend called and asked if we wanted to join her and her husband for dinner and a band at a restaurant downtown.
Here’s a video link to their performance that night.
Ah, the joy of being retired. There’s usually nothing on our schedule and it’s easy to do spur of the moment things.
Carla warned me that though they’d been to this venue before, they’d never seen this band and didn’t know exactly what to expect. The band had been recommended to them, but since they’d never seen them, and (supposedly) their reputation, her husband joked that maybe she shouldn’t even tell us their name. I imagine he was afraid we’d say no right off if we knew the band was called Igor & Red Elvises. She did tell us though, and after looking them up on-line, we were even more intrigued to see them.
We arrived at Englewood’s on Dearborn and paid the $7 cover charge. Carla said they rarely charge a cover for entertainment so there must be something special about this group. She’d made reservations and we were shown to a table in their outdoor patio area. The bandstand was set up next to the bar, between the bandstand and our table was a large, gorgeous fig tree. The setting was truly beautiful, it was a outstanding southwest Florida Fall evening for open air entertainment, but the tree completely obscured our view of the stage and the band.
We asked if we could move and after extensive deliberation and a bit of luck (another couple moved to a different location) we scored a high-top table just to the left of the stage. The view was great and the sound, to the side rather than right in front of us, was tolerable. We ordered our meal and the band took the stage to begin the show. And what a show it was.
Here’s a little background from the Red Elvises website:
Igor Yuzov was born in Germany, raised in Ukraine and studied in Russia. He grew up in the former Soviet Union, where folk music was the norm and rock’n’roll was illegal. A rebellious streak, however, led him to seek out the forbidden music. As soon as it became possible, Igor left Russia for America with his “Folk’n’Roll” band Limpopo and was personally greeted by Ronald Reagan. In 1993, Limpopo won Ed McMahon’s Star Search and their popularity began to blossom. In 1995, Igor dreamed that Elvis Presley came to him and told him to start playing rock’n’roll. Igor and his Russian friends became Red Elvises and gave street performances on Santa Monica’s 3rd Street Promenade. As their crowds grew larger, the City of Santa Monica ordered them to discontinue their street performances. Evolving over the years, Igor’s music has been labeled “Siberian Surf Rock” which contains humorous lyrics and grooves that forces his audience to dance.
For more biographical information about Red Elvises, order or download the book “Igor and the Red Elvises” by Marla J. Selvidge.
They played only 3 songs we actually recognized. The rest were (we think) original music by the band and had titles like She Works at KGB, I Wanna See You Belly Dance, Closet Disco Dancer, Drinking with Jesus, Bacon, and I Want My Honda Back. The lyrics are simple, a bit inane, but loads of fun. And the music, ah, yes, the music. Suffice to say these folks didn’t appear to be master musicians but each one is quite talented and versatile. They create catchy party music, with a great beat, and that is eminently danceable. We absolutely had a blast. Some of the songs had polka undertones, and one song was their version of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, but for baby boomer dancers like us who don’t know a dang thing about ballet. And their ability to involve the audience in their show was extraordinary. Everyone clapped, danced, and sang the chorus of songs no one ever heard before. We stayed for all three sets and didn’t want the show to end.
It’s been a long time since Randy and I laughed all night long, and were still smiling when we woke up the next morning, thinking of how much fun the previous night was. If you ever get a chance to see Igor & Red Elvises, go! But for those of you who never get the chance, watch some of their YouTube channel here. Be aware though…experiencing live music is far more life affirming that watching it on a screen. Get up and dance!
P.S. I have a brother who’s a musician & songwriter. He needs to put this band on his bucket list. Are you listening, Denny?
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