Gifts from the King - songs that Elvis taught me.
Diverse-City 116 Grote Street, Adelaide

Mel McCaig
Thursday 25/02/2021

On Thursday night I had a date with royalty. In two different ways. Let me explain, I had the pleasure of attending Mel McCaig's show Gifts from the King - songs that Elvis taught me.

It was a great night of music from the King - Elvis, sung by a lady - Mel McCaig, who must be regarded as Adelaide entertainment royalty after her years in the local entertainment scene.

Mel got the idea for the show after touring as a back-up singer for an Elvis impersonator many years ago. Spending considerable time doing this, and not having necessarily been an Elvis tragic before getting the job, she grew to love the depth of the King's performance style and arrangements, and came to regard him as much more than the stereotypical (and in later years very tragic) image that most people identify with Elvis.
Mel is a performer who needs no introduction in Adelaide having been involved in such shows as Flat on your Bacharach, Women with Standards, Fiddle and the Drum and the Fabulous Singlettes. She is also the resident vocalist with the band of the SA Police, and makes regular appearances with the local on-line band sensation Hindley Street Country Club (one of my favourites is the band's version of Rickie Lee Jones' hit Chuck E's in Love with Mel on vocals. Youtube it !)

Whilst one must acknowledge Elvis Presley's body of work, he was not a songwriter but more a purveyor of other people's work, and I suspect back in the day, writers were clamouring to have their songs recorded by the King. The fact that many of those songs were recorded by many other people, and many different arrangements created, is in fact a great cornerstone of the success of this show.
Mel attempted to breathe new life into these old classic songs by presenting virtually all of them, with fresh (non-Elvis) arrangements and succeeded in spades.

The opening number was the old American standard C C Rider, but was presented in a slow-tempo Jazz style. Right from the get-go, it was clear we were in for a great show!
Mel and her band took us on a nostalgic journey as she worked her way through fifteen classic songs in a performance that lasted a bit over an hour. Her band consisted of 5 highly capable and experienced players with the stand-out member being Dave Burvill-Holmes on Sax and flute providing many terrific sax solos.

Carol Young - Keyboards, Steve Todd - Drums, Sean Duncan - Bass and Kathie Renner - Rhythm Guitar / Keyboards were all fantastic.
Elvis apparently loved Olivia Newton John and recorded two of her songs - If You Love Me, Let Me Know and Let Me Be There. These were performed in a medley as homage to the great Australian artist. Similarly, he also loved the Beatles and the band presented his song Little Sister as a medley with the Beatles' Get Back.

As mentioned previously, the songs were presented as arrangements by many and varied artists such as Bonnie Rait, Shirley Bassey, Nancy Sinatra and Roberta Flack, which gave the show its twist of uniqueness.
During the course of the show Mel introduced her back-up singers Pina Del Re (also a Hindley Street Country Club regular), and Kelly O'Brien. These girls are serious vocalists and complemented Mel's style flawlessly when they performed Sweet Inspiration.
The stand-out number of the night (amongst many), for me was the Aretha Franklin arrangement of Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Waters. The three girl's velvet harmonies transported you to a spiritual gospel church in the deep south of America and would have converted a non-believer. It was simply stunning.

Performed in what was previously known as The Promethean Theatre in Grote Street, the small and intimate venue was perfect for what the band was trying to achieve.
It's always great to have something like the Adelaide Fringe to remind us of the talent that abounds locally and has sadly been under-utilised during the Covid crisis.
A GREAT night out!
     
5 Stars
Rick Williams for Adelaide Review Team

#fringe2021 #adlfringe #melmcaig #elvispresley #Elvis #giftsfromelvis #adelaidereviewteam

Editors Note: It is a shame that Mel only put this show on twice 25 and 26/02. From Rick's comments it sounds like Mel should have done a lot more shows. Well done Mel always amazing.

Stephen Foenander