The Elvii Cometh: Scot Bruce and Mike Albert return to the Count Basie Theatre on January 20 for the eighth annual Elvis Birthday Bash.
In an interview a couple of years back, Scot Bruce offered that “When you introduce someone to the music of Elvis, itÂ’s like youÂ’re handing them the key to the universe.”
The LA-based soaps actor (Days of Our Lives) and veteran Elvis Presley tribute artist has worked that cosmic connection with TCB tenacity for much of the past couple of decades, taking his Kingly kung fu to such pop-cultural ports of call as Faith Hill videos, numerous TV commercials, a long-playing gig at Disneyland — and Red Bank’s own Count Basie Theatre. There, on the night of Friday, January 20, he’ll once again be part of an event that’s become the stuff of local tradition, a little thing called the Elvis Birthday Bash.
For the eighth consecutive year, Bruce will be paired with a fellow master of Presley-digitation, Mike Albert, whose own busy touring schedule brought him to the Basie in 2011 for a special salute to the King’s legacy of gospel recordings.
The two performers — who maintain stage careers independent of each other — are paired as co-headliners some 20 times each year, for a retrospective concert program that places a reverently sincere spin on the “Elvii” concept famously put forth by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd in a vintage SNL skit.
Following the format of past Birthday Bash programs, Bruce opens the show with hip-shaking evocation of the early-days Elvis: the stylistic savant who “changed the course of mighty rivers” way more than Superman ever did. He’s followed on the bill by Albert’s spot-on channeling of 1970s Elvis — he of the rhinestoned jumpsuits, championship belts, oversized shades and jet-black helmet of lacquered hair.
“Red Bank’s a beautiful town…lots of good music happening around there,” Bruce saidof his traditional January whistle stop — adding that “itÂ’s a great place to play. The King is alive and well around there, and the people there just love the music, even 50 years after it first hit the radio.”
Tickets for the 8pm concert are priced from $19.50 to $39.50, and can be reserved here through the Basie’s online box office.
