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(Updated
8:30 a.m., Aug. 31)
'Double Trouble' Elvis tribute pure magic
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
Let
me first say that I've never been to an Elvis tribute
concert. And though I am a fan of some of his music, I
am not a mega-fan like my old friend Earl McRae, who had
the privilege of playing squash with the King back in
the day, used to be. So
when a friend asked me if I wanted to go to the Double
Trouble show with her on Aug. 26, I said, "Sure,
why not."
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Pete
Paquette (foreground) and Dean Z sign autographs
afte their Aug. 26 performance at the Shenkman
Arts Centre. Fred Sherwin/Photo
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The
show produced by Paquette Productions features Pete Paquette
-- a Hawkesbury boy based out of Toronao who is one of
the top Elvis tribute artists in North America -- and
Dean Z from Branson, Missouri, who won the 2013 Ultimate
Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in Memphis. Whoever
put the show together is a genious. The two men's voices
are amazingly complimentary and they have identical body
types (although my friend notices that Dean's chest is
clean shaven and Pete's is not). The highlight of the
nearly three hour show were the three duets they did together.
After
the pair opened the show together with Elvis' 1967 hit,
Double Trouble, Dean kicked things off with an energetic
set that featured a number of early Elvis classics (as
if every song isn't a classic) performed with the same
gyrations that made Elvis a heartthrop to women around
the world including a few who were in the audience at
the Shenkman..
Paquette
picked up where Dean Z left off, singing a series of songs
from Elvis' movie career including King Creole,
Viva Las Vegas, G.I. Blues, Girl Happy,
and Girls! Girls! Girls!. The pair closed the first
set with a gospel medley performed with the Tonettes.
After
a brief 15 minute intermission, Dean was back on stage
singing a number of songs from Elvis' 1968 Comeback Special
including Heartbreak Hotel, Hound Dog and
I'm All Shook Up.
The
highlight of the set was when Dean recreated the moment
in the Special when Elvis did an off-the-cuff jam session
with his band. Dean did the same with The Rockin Royals
Band and the revue's three back-up singers -- The Tonettes
-- taking song suggestions from the crowd that included
Wooden Heart which he sang in English and German.
Paquette
came back on stage in the second set to cover the 70s
known as Elvis' concert years.
I
lost track of how many songs the two men covered, but
let's just say that the audience certainly got their money's
worth.
As
someone who does not listen to Elvis on a regular basis,
I had forgotten how many great songs he recorded.
During
the early part of the concert Dean Z and Paquette both
took the time to explain to the audience the difference
between an Elvis impersonator and an Elvis tribute artist.
It was obvious from their words and their performances
that their appreciation of the King goes well beyond mere
respect. They truly love the man and have a deep desire
to continue to pay tribute to the King of Rock and Roll.
I
was blown away by their voices. I was blown away by their
energy and the way they interacted with the audience.
But most of all I was blown away by the respect they had,
and showed, to both the legend and the folks who came
out to see them.
Paquette
will be returning to the Shenkman Arts Centre on Dec.
8 to recreate the Elvis' Christmas special and he will
be bringing the award-winning Patsy Cline tribute artist
Amberley Beatty with him. I know I won't miss it, and
niether should you. Tickets can be purchased by visiting
the online box office at www.shenkmanarts.ca.
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Dean
Z performs during the Double Trouble Elvis
tribute concert at the Shenkman Arts Centre
on Aug, 26. Fred Sherwin/Photo
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)
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TAPROOM 260 presents Crooked Creek live from 8-11 p.m. at 260 Centrum Blvd. For more information visit 
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OTTAWA CARLETON MALE CHOIR in concert at the Navan-Vars United Church 1129 Smith Rd. in Navan at 2:30 p.m. Tickets $20 at the door.
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