Question of the Day - 01 April 2007

Even with the closure of the Elvis-a-Rama museum and no further word on last year's rumored plans for an Elvis casino or an Elvis-themed Cirque show, there are still numerous ways to see the King, or at least someone who looks and/or sounds a lot like the real thing. Yup, it may be 30 years since Elvis permanently left the building, but he's still alive and well all over this city -- singing, dealing cards, showing up at weddings. Not to mention the fact that he gave us our theme song (see QoD for 9/27/05 for the list of over 30 artists who've covered Viva Las Vegas, but the Elvis original remains the classic).

Here are some recommendations for seeing him:

• Matt Lewis still performs in Legends in Concert at the Imperial Palace and has been honing his craft for about 17 years. We haven't seen the show lately, but the last time we looked he was belting out a 30-minute set twice a night (dark Sunday) backed by a seven-piece band and 10 dancers in the largest-scale Elvis act in town. And if you're at the IP, check out the Elvis "dealertainers" in the special pit there.
• Trent Carlini is right there with Lewis for talent and showmanship and is currently starring in The Musical History of the King at the Sahara.
• Steve Connolly does Elvis at Fitzgeralds. He's a straight impersonator, better than most, but a step down from Matt Lewis.
• Then there's "Big Elvis," who's still performing at Bill's Gamblin' Hall and Saloon (formerly the Barbary Coast) Mon.-Thu. from 3 p.m.–7.15 p.m.
• Finally, young Brandon Bennett has played gigs recently at Sam's Town and the Orleans. We don't know what he has scheduled now, but it's worth checking with those two venues to see if he'll be appearing while you're here. His voice isn't dead-on, but his look and style are, especially for a 23-year-old. It's worth the time to see him if he's performing.