Elvis Lives!
Dante’s throws a birthday bash
Posted by: John Chandler on Oct 02, 2009 at 11:00AM
5 Comments
What a show! Elvis is a marquee attraction.
View Slideshow »Ed Forman hits the stage, played on by rock duo the Dynamite Brothers. Professional that he is, Forman kept his back to the audience while buttoning his trousers.
View Slideshow »Ed Forman and city councilwoman Amanda Fritz agree that Portland’s official nickname should be “Awesomeville.”
View Slideshow »Elvis (John Schroder) regales Ed Forman and his producer, Jerd, with tales of his wrestling prowess.
View Slideshow »Elvis does dead-on impressions of Darth Vader, Jabba the Hut, and Yoda.
View Slideshow »Captain Booty Beard, the pirate troubadour, played a lengthy set of ribald sea chanteys. Yes, that’s a hook peeking out of his pants.
View Slideshow »Power trio Search Party played a vigorous set before backing Elvis on “Jailhouse Rock.” Several people remarked on the bass player’s uncanny resemblance to Ryan Seacrest.
View Slideshow »Metropolitan Farms fired off a brilliant set of shiny power pop.
View Slideshow »The joint version of “Don’t Be Cruel” by Elvis and Metropolitan Farms was nothing less than stunning.
View Slideshow »Mr. Howl covers the Chocolate Watchband classic "Are You Gonna Be There (At the Love-in)?
View Slideshow »Elvis returns for “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Burning Love” with Mr. Howl. At some point I looked over at drummer Jane Cowan Sullivan with a dopey grin. It really felt cool and exhilarating to play those songs! For a moment, it seemed we were part of something bigger than ourselves.
View Slideshow »And with a few personnel changes, Mr. Howl morphs into Giant Bug Village, Portland’s premier Guided By Voices tribute band. The lovely Jen Lane of BarFly fame shouts encouragement from the floor. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Happy birthday John Schroder, he who is known far and wide as Elvis.
You know the bird: local color doesn’t get more colorful than Elvis. Schroder himself is a bearded, hulking street singer, who puts his heart and soul into interpreting the works of one Elvis Presley, usually at Saturday Market or some other warm-weather, open-air location. Physically there is no resemblance, but the dauntless Schroder has been belting out the King for more than a decade, occasionally getting a group together called Elvis’s Last Band to play at clubs.
Last Tuesday was the ersatz Elvis’s birthday, and Schroder’s dear friend (and mine, too) Jen Lane of BarFly magazine threw him a hopping little soiree at Dante’s, showering him with a battery of bands, a big plate of cupcakes, and party favors (the whoopie cushion will definitely come in handy). The festivities began with Schroder as a special guest on the Ed Forman Show, a live talk show hosted by local smart-ass Ed Forman, who commands the stage every Tuesday at Dante’s. Elvis appeared right after city councilwoman Amanda Fritz (who was rocking some glamorous shoes) and proceeded to slay the crowd with his amazing repertoire of Star Wars impressions. Note to Elvis: don’t ever do Jar Jar Binks again. Please.
Your humble narrator happened to be in two of the five bands on the bill so I got some commemorative snaps from this totally off-the-hook happening. Have a look—it’s almost like being there.
Tags: Slideshow Holiday Events Elvis
I think Portland should invent it’s own version of knighthood, and Elvis should be the first honoree. Screw some tin key to the city. Real knighthood. In Portland style. With a composting option, community garden space, downtown parking, and guaranteed Friday microbrew every week. The occasional small plate meal wouldn’t hurt either. But, at least he got the Portland indie music scene tribute befitting a king. At least there was that. Hats off to all who made it happen!
It was a great night and it did feel good to be backing Elvis, showman that he is. The captain threatened to scuttle the show but Metro Farms got the winds back in our sails.
Great slideshow (click on it) but whats up with that GBV pic? Did Eric vanish in a puff of smoke?
Mr. Howl rules!
Mr. Howl does rule!
Thanks Lucy! Thanks Macemdixon!