Love Me Tender – Once again

“The King Lives” is a new show at Hooters Casino in Las Vegas, starring Pete Willcox as the “King”, as in Elvis.  I got to see this show last night.

Pete Willcox as Elvis at Hooter's Casino in Las Vegas

Now, I have to say right off, I’m no rabid Elvis fan.  I never was.  My mom was the Elvis nut in the family. Because I am an obedient daughter, I did stand in a very long line once in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to purchase tickets for her to see him.  That was probably in the 1970s, and mom is now dead, and so is Elvis, so I thought I was free from all things Elvis.  Wrong.  I didn’t wanna do it, but I had to do it.  I went to see the new Elvis show at Hooters.

Hooters always puts on the best shows in their Night Owl showroom.  I don’t know who picks their talent, but they do a fine job of it.  In the past couple of years, I have loved every show I’ve attended.  The tickets are always very reasonably priced too!

Have you ever wondered what Elvis might have been like if he had hit his 60s?  This show lets you know. Pete Willcox has been an Elvis impersonator for decades.  He has appeared on the TV shows Alf, LA Law,  Cheers, Designing Women and was even one of the numerous failed secretaries on Murphy Brown.  It seems he has been the ‘go-to Elvis’ since Elvis died.  And now he’s contracted in fabulous Las Vegas.

Pete Willcox in "The King Lives!"

I wasn’t expecting much.  How many Elvi does this little desert, gambling oasis need, anyway?  Good grief, you’d think just one would have it all covered, you know?  But yet, there I was, waiting for yet another rendition of “Love Me Tender.”

The band started and Willcox took the stage in his red Elvis suit.  When he began singing my foot started tapping.  I was humming along.  I was actually enjoying it.  Me! Enjoying Elivs! Go figure.  He sang a lot of the Elvis classics that everyone comes in to hear, but he also threw in some fun tunes that you wish Elvis was here to sing himself.  He even did a hip hop version on one of the songs and the crowd went nuts.

I tell ya, this guy sounds exactly like Elvis. I couldn’t tell the difference. Well, except I know Elvis is dead, that kinda helped me decide.  From the stage he told a little story about that  it was actually him who was singing the Elvis song on the juke box on Happy Days when Fonzi hit it.  He also reported that  he was told by someone close to the King that Elvis thought it was himself singing.   I don’t know if that was a true story or not, he kidded around a bit about whether or not that was true.  I can see that happening though.  I have a pretty good ear for sound and Pete Willcox sure could fool me.

The Ladies went nuts for Willcox when he put a scarf around their necks and got a kiss

Besides Willcox’s incredible voice, he also tells some humorous stories in between songs.  He tells a little bit about his career and a little bit about Elvis.  At one point the stories merge into the same tale.  The ladies in the crowd go ga-ga over him when he struts up to them and hangs a scarf around their neck and gives them a peck on the check.  All in all, it is an Elvis experience, just not as much wiggling around up on stage as the King did in his younger years.

If you are one of those Elvis crazies, you’re going to really enjoy this show.  If you don’t give a hoot about Elvis, you are actually going to enjoy it too.

The “King Lives!” is in the Night Owl Showroom at Hooters Casino Hotel. Tickets are only $24.99. “The King Lives!” will be presented Wednesdays through Sundays at 7:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Hooters Box Office at (702) 739-9000 or by visiting www.hooterscasinohotel.com.  Ticket price is $24.99. You must be 21 or older
to attend.

Elvis is going to leave the building! Thank you, Thank you, very much.

Now… whatever happened to those Flying Elvi??

UPDATE: Effective, Wednesday, May 19, 2010, the new ticket price for this hit show will be $29.95