Some Elvis fans never got to see The King perform live.
Randy ‘Elvis’ Friskie is the closest thing according to some who would know, and he’s bringing his Vegas show band to the Chilliwack Cultural Centre on Jan. 5 for his Real Tribute to the King of Rock and Roll.
He’ll sing three decades of hits, with some tantalizing special guests.
Because it’s the 40th anniversary of Elvis’ Aloha tour, Friskie is putting a big emphasis on hits from the famous Hawaiian trip of 1973.
“We picked what we think are some of the best moments.”
A few gospel songs, and some clips of Elvis live are coming, with a little high tech help and a duet of Elvis and Celine Dion.
“We haven’t done Chilliwack in a long time,” he tells The Progress over the phone. He’s taking a break from his gruelling two-hour gym workout.
Friskie has been an entertainer his whole life. He comes by it honestly. He’s won contests in Vegas and toured all over with his tribute act.
“My dad played 14 different instruments. We’d go camping and pull into the place with a full sound system and everyone would know there’d be a dance that weekend. I was brought up in a musical family.”
He’s looking forward to bringing the whole Elvis experience to the glorious Cultural Centre for the very first time.
“I just love the feeling of the theatre. It’s the setup. My dad taught me when you’re doing a show to treat the audience like your best friends. I like to laugh and joke. In some of the theatres I play, I can’t even jump off the stage.
“But this room is so intimate, I’m just going to have a blast, and the band is amazing.”
His show sold out three times in Las Vegas.
“It’s going to be high energy and lots of fun.”
Band leader Jake Stolz of Chilliwack, of the band Appaloosa is joining Friskie, along with his daughter Cassandra Friskie, Uptown Horns of Kelowna, and more special guests from near and far, and a few surprises.
“We put together the best show we could. Elvis really was the best live, so we always try to put the best Elvis experience for Elvis fans.
“I’ve had 13-year-old kids with purple hair come up to me and say, ‘I get it now.’
“Maybe their mom was always a huge Elvis fan, they’ll say, but they never got the whole thing until now. That’s why I keep doing this, when I hear kids with purple hair say something like that.”
Randy Friskie’s Real Tribute To The King of Rock and Roll – Elvis Presley at the Cultural Centre, Jan. 5, tickets: $39.50 (incl. tax & sc). They’ll be collecting blanket or a coat donations for street people to be distributed by Phil and Friends. 604.391.SHOW (7469).
