Ben Portsmouth
The King is Back
Embassy Theatre
Skegness
7 October 2022
Opening with an actual radio introduction to the Louisiana Hayride, given to Elvis himself at 19 years of age, Ben Portsmouth brought his show with the Taking Care of Elvis Band to the Embassy Theatre, Skegness. During the course of the evening, we were treated to the "Ages of Elvis" beginning with his time at Sun Records as he star was in the ascendant and finishing with the so-familiar jumpsuited Elvis of the Vegas Years, stopping along the way with movie Elvis and 68 Comeback Elvis.
This is the third Elvis tribute show I have reviewed this year, I feel I am something of an expert in this field now. Having heard that the three tribute artists who performed earlier in the year on the World Tour, speak so highly of Ben Portsmouth, I was eager to see why. Physically, Ben Portsmouth is not a carbon copy of the King and he doesn't profess to be an "impersonator" Portsmouth seeks to recreate the performances of Presley and does so with style and charisma.
Vocally, you cannot fault Portsmouth's recreation of the Elvis drawl and the grit behind the vocal. I was told, "If you close your eyes, you won't be able to tell them apart". I tried at times and have to say that I could hear differences but mostly in the arrangements of the band rather than in his vocals. He demonstrated his four-octave range brilliantly throughout the show as and when called for.
I really do think that there is considerably more than a passing physical resemblance to Presley too. In profile, it is often like looking at The King singing on stage. This is definitely the gold standard of Elvis tribute artists. His thoroughly entertaining show was designed to play to Portsmouth's strengths, but he patter between songs - almost always performed with the familiar Elvis speaking voice - was terrific. He really respects his audience and their love for the original and does his utmost not to disappoint.
I particularly enjoyed that fact he performed some songs I have not heard other tribute artists perform, alongside the "greatest hits catalogue" you might expect. I have always been a big fan of Love Me and really enjoyed his interpretation in this show. Regrettably, I feel I am possibly in the minority of fans in the audience who enjoy Elvis's early material more than his later stuff. I am a huge fan of the Hillbilly Cat with Scotty and Bill, and I felt that that section of the show was sadly all-too brief. I don't dislike Elvis's later work but feel too much emphasis is often given to the Vegas years in shows such as this.
Nevertheless, Portsmouth soon returned to the stage decked out in a GI uniform to perform hits from GI Blues and the associated movie period. He took the time to serenade a lovely lady who was unable to make it onto the stage, so Portsmouth descended onto the floor of the stalls and sang to her as she gently caressed his cheek, loving every minute of his warm and caring performance and sharing the experience with her husband.
There was an audible intake of breath however when Portsmouth strode out on stage to perform a medley from the 68 Comeback Special. The look is clearly a fan favourite, as he strode across the stage in tight leather, though he struggled to take his seat when he sat to do a couple of songs with a guitar. In this incarnation, I felt Portsmouth presented Elvis at his most sexually dangerous, when all the women wanted him and the men wanted to be him. His fantastic vocal delivery of If I Can Dream, based on the speech by Martin Luther King Jr. sent chills down my spine. It was note perfect as I had been led to expect.
The fact that Ben Portsmouth's shows command such fantastic audiences is a testament to him as a performer. We all know that the draw is Elvis, but retaining the audience is down to the tribute artist. He really sent the ladies' hearts fluttering. I was witness to a rather comical exchange outside, after the show, when a couple stood arguing because the wife had run to the front and got a kiss and a scarf. She was milking it for all it was worth, while her indignant husband was grumpy to say the least, accusing her of being a silly schoolgirl throwing herself at him when it wasn't even the real Elvis. He kept echoing "Elvis died in 1977. Get over it" His wife clearly refuses to. It was good-natured couples banter, but it made me smirk.
I doubt I will be rushing to see further Elvis tribute shows in the immediate future, but can safely say that I agree, Portsmouth was the best of five that I have seen in the last 12 months. My reluctance to review more, is not intended as any sort of comment on the guys I have seen, and is certainly no reflection on Portsmouth. His tour continues and long may he do what he does so well. He gives pleasure to hundreds and is keeping the style and the music alive for generations to come. Elvis has not yet left the building. He may be around for a while longer yet...
Andy Evans 8 October 2022
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