Now I used to be a huge EP fan in my youth but as time passed my music tastes changed and his "albulbums" were consigned to the charity shop along with the much kissed EP mirror that used to hang above my bed.
Then, much to my families amusement, I married a stalwart Elvis fan. K has probably got most of his albums either on vinyl or tape and has duplicates in CD/DVD format of much of the mans work. He can name band members and dates songs were published, he can also name that tune in one - not only supplying the title of the song but, if required, which edition was actually released.
This present then was a great one for him and a night out for me.
We set off towards Newcastle Arena in silence. We misplaced the arena for a while but eventually got onto the right road and found a place to park, we approached the arena in almost total silence, we found our seats - Slap bang in the middle right near the front - Great seats!
K went for beer and I sat and people watched. There was a huge variety of folks surrounding us. Folks ranging from 6 to 90, People dressed up as the man himself, some good some very nasty (I'm saying nothing but if your 5.6 and over 2o stone you really shouldn't wear white lycra - not matter what) and others just sporting thier own Elvis t.shirts/Shirts/wigs!!!
K returned with beer and we sat in silence staring at the stage. I spilt my beer down the back of a guy sat in front of us and spent 10 minutes mortified apologising and attempting to smear the beer further down his shirt - a big thanks to the lady with tissues and sorry to beer back guy!
Then the lights dimmed and the show began.
Elvis's signature tour song "2001 Odyssey" music filled the stadium and the crowed howled in adoration. K was suddenly animated and cheering - I have to say it was "FANTASTIC".
There were three main screens - the middle screen played old footage and the two side screens flipped between close ups of the band members and old footage and pics of the man himself. I was mesmerised; there were a couple of sections that he talked to the audience and for moments you forgot he was actually dead.
The only sad moment was as the band struck up "You've lost that loving feeling" K turned to me and said "They're playing our tune". Needless to say the darkness hid the tears and I was glad to return back to the trailer in silence.
