Review of concert from 2002-08-25: Monte Carlo, Sporting d'Ete - with Imposters
- Michael Waldman

 

"Just Rattle Yer Jewellery"

I went to one of the strangest concerts on Sunday night.

We got the tickets on the web, in french, so when we saw two times listed we thought it meant two shows. When we picked up the tix we found it was for dinner and a show and jackets required.

We arrrived to a swank building housing a casino and a night club, jutting out into the mediterrean. The room was shaped like a piece of pie with the stage at the sharp end. A samba band was playing there behind a glittering see through curtain, in front of a lit square dance floor The walls were covered in purple mirrrored material and the back curved wall was open except for arches that held up the ceiling, with a great view of the sea and the city. The ceiling from time to time would open and let the stars shine in.

Small dinner tables for two were lined up from the stage to the back wall, holding just a few hundred people. We were taken to our seats by tuxedoed matre d's, about half way back. It looked like a cross between a hollywood representation of a 40's vegas night club and a wedding. The place was pretty empty when we arrived and we tried to bribe our way to a closer table. No luck with $20 or $50 so we gave up.

People started arriving and this was not a rock crowd. Mid East folk with designer clothes, ederly couples from Monaco who hope to see the Prince, German tourists who were compted by the casino. All and all, it didn't look like Elvis's crowd.

We were seated next to a very nice couple who were actually there to see Elvis. He ran a local restaurant and knew all the wait staff. After dinner he asked us if we would like to sit closer, spoke to the staff and boom were were at a table next to the dance floor in front of everyone, including Julian Lennon and his entourage. (very hot girlfriend).

Dust starts and as the curtain raises, the dance floor also starts to rise to the same level as the stage and the stage with Elvis and band mechanically moves to rest on the upraised dance floor, right next to us. If we were a foot higher we'd be on the stage. As it is we are just feet away from anyone on the band and can talk easily to each of them.

We were very excited, jumping up and down, cheering, until we looked around noticed that we were literally the only people who were standing, yelling or even clapping loudly. The crowd looked they'd been embalmed. It reminded me of the John Lennon blurb - just rattle yer jewelry! The two tuxedo clad hotel security were eying us very suspiciously.

After 50 minutes Elvis leaves the stage which was a little surprising and comes back after 15 minutes wearing street clothes. The amps are still on but they arent' moving toward the instruments. After a few minutes I get an autograph and shake hands but they are still just standing there. A few others come up for autographs but maybe only 5. Then the ceiling opens and a 15 minute fireworks display begins, really beautiful, lighting up the sea and the city. Screens come down and pronounce Happy Birthday. Then at the end of the display, Elvis leaves, not to come back.

Did he hate the audience? It's been known to happen. Did he always plan this so he could party in Monaco for his birthday? In any case after seeing him play 2.5 hrs at home it felt like a let down, although at this point I look back at the whole spectacle and am glad I saw it. The band played well with great versions of I Don't Want to Go to Chelsea, Amost Blue and I Want You as stand outs.

A third band then came on and played a disco version of Imagine. Lots of the folks got up to boogie. I bet Julian really liked it.

Michael