Channelling The King Via The Gospel, And Beer
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday January 10, 2004
After crooning his way from Sydney to Parkes on the Countrylink XPT with just an open-chested bodysuit and a battery-operated amplifier, a travel-weary Elvis left the carriage.
On the platform, two more Elvises and a Priscilla had come to meet him.
The Elvis Express had arrived, carrying one singing Elvis and dozens of hoarse fans to the annual Parkes Elvis revival festival.
Elsewhere, in the town centre, a busking Elvis, aka T. J. McEnierney, was singing yet another rendition of All Shook Up outside the Clarinda cafe. A couple danced the jitterbug on the footpath.
``I'm a tribute artist, not an impersonator," McEnierney said.
``The difference is that I know I'm not Elvis."
Inside the cafe, the owner, Belinda Riordan, was beginning to tire of McEnierney singing about the time his baby left him.
``It's amazing to think they're so fanatical about someone who's been dead for ages," she said.
The 12th annual weekend festival which claims to be the nation's largest was due to open last night with move-a-like and look-a-like contests at a Gracelands-themed restaurant. Other events scheduled include a street parade, Priscilla, Lisa Marie and Junior Elvis competitions and a gospel service at the Uniting Church.
One of the festival's most popular, albeit unofficial, features is the antics of the rugby team, whose members spend the weekend in Elvis outfits on a weekend-long pub crawl.
In a weatherboard house on the outskirts of town, Elvis Lennox, who received his mother's permission to change his name from Steven seven years ago, was putting the final buttons on two costumes.
Lennox's garage the town will not let him call it a museum houses a memorabilia collection that includes cigarette lighters, gold records, a steering-wheel cover, stuffed hound dogs, blue suede shoes and a hip-swivelling clock.
He helped organise the festival but has trouble explaining its popularity.
``For nine or 10 years the people in town weren't so into it. Now they all love it. It brings people from all over. It's good for business and it's good for the town."
© 2004 Sydney Morning Herald