Adele Live 2016

 

On the last day of July, Adele stepped on stage in San Jose, California and you can believe we were there. We had bought these tickets on December 7, 2015. We had been waiting for this concert for almost eight months. As each month passed by and she performed concert after concert we were holding our breath that she wouldn't cancel. She started her world tour in Europe and then made her way to America. San Jose was near her last stop on the tour so we were very happy her vocal cords held up and that she didn't suffer any injuries. When the concert started she told us this was her 62nd show and her 13th in America.

 

Let me tell you. Adele is amazing live. I think she sounds even better in person that she does on her album. She has a live band behind her and at one point she does an acoustic set. She did a great mix of songs from her previous album and her current. While she is amazing when she's singing, she's equally entertaining when she isn't. In between songs and while drinking her honey she converses with the audience. Fans that are closest to the stage interact with and she even invited two little girls on stage to take a picture with her. She also gave away a jersey and signed it. She also offered to pose for selfies if the people would just turn their cameras around for her.

 

 

 

We sat up top at the SAP Center but that was ok! She was just amazing and I hope she comes back to California again some day. I would totally pay to see her again in concert. Since the concert, I've been listening to her album on repeat! I never buy concert t-shirts because their just so over priced but this time I did. I sported that sucker on Saturday while blaring her music. Seriously. If you get the chance to see her live in concert don't pass up the opportunity. She is worth the price and it'll be a memory forever.

 

My top 5 Adele songs...

Set Fire to the Rain

Someone Like You

Rumor Has It

Hello

Water Under the Bridge

 

I should mention that I also love Send My Love but then I'd get into the fact that I love all of her songs but those are my top 5. What's your favorite Adele song? Were you lucky to see her during this concert tour or in another setting?



Saturday Smiles

Every Saturday, I try to post five things that made me smile during the week. Often I find myself getting caught up in the small stuff but this year I'm making an effort to be conscious of it. This year is about being happy and finding happiness even in the small things! Want to join me? Go ahead and post your Saturday Smiles!

1. The Prince Concert

I went to the concert only knowing three songs and now I'm a Prince fan. He was great! It was literally just him, a microphone and a piano. He played for over two hours and he was just fantastic!

2. Our St. Patrick's Day Décor.

3. Galaxy Nails.

I love anything to do with space. Since I watched the Martian a few weeks ago my passion for space has been reignited so when I asked my nail lady to hook me up with some space nails she indeed did!

4. Birthday Planning.

No seriously it makes me ecstatic! I can't wait!!!

5. This wedding photo...

What's making you smile?

The Final Performance

Elvis Presley's final concert took place June 26, 1977 in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Market Square Arena. The Arena has since been torn down however a monument remains on site marking the site as Elvis' Last Live Performance. The concert began at 8:00 p.m. and included hits such as Release Me, I Can't Stop Loving You and Bridge Over Troubled Water. Elvis arrived at the arena was his girlfriend Ginger Alden. The Memphis Mafia and his father Vernon were also in attendance. His long time drummer Ronnie Tutt however, missed this show due to personal reasons. Sadly, he would never play for Elvis again.

Elvis arriving with Ginger Alden

Elvis was not in good health. During his 1977 concerts he had several incidents where he had to leave stage due to intestinal issues. Just weeks before, Elvis had filmed a live concert for CBS. To fulfill his duties they had to record two concerts to get the results they were looking for. Elvis agreed to these concerts because of the money and the fact that his manager had practically guilt tripped him into it. Elvis was paid the high price of $750,000.00 for the CBS concert. His manager took half. Elvis wore the Mexican Sundial Jumpsuit during all of these performances and it was the last jumpsuit he would ever wear in concert.



Elvis was in good spirits during his last concert. He even brought his father Vernon onto stage with him. Vernon had had several health scares in the previous months including a heart attack scare. His improving health no doubt helped lift Elvis' spirits. He gave out scarfs, spoke with the audience in between songs and played the guitar.

While Vernon's health was improving, the members of the band had grown increasingly alarmed at Elvis' erratic behavior. They noted he was forgetting words to songs, slurring his speech and his graceful mannerisms gone only to be replaced with a slower and sluggish Elvis. No one knew that only months later we would lose the King of Rock n' Roll.

Elvis & Charlie

You may have never heard this name before but you've probably seen him in photos.

His name was Charlie Hodge and he was one of the privileged to be one of Elvis' closest friends. They met in 1955 briefly when Charlie was playing guitar in a musical group. In 1958, they were both stationed at Fort Hood together in the Army. They quickly became good friends and at Elvis' request they were placed in the same area and were both sent to Germany.

 

Once they left the army, Charlie came back to the States with Elvis. He moved to Graceland and  began playing back up guitar for Elvis. He also went to Hollywood with Elvis while he filmed movies. Charlie was given many back ground parts. When Elvis' daughter was born Charlie was there and got to be one of the first people to hold her.

 

When Elvis went to make his comeback appearance in 1968, Charlie was there to support him on the intimate stage. He played guitar and back up vocals. Once the comeback launched Elvis in to performing full time again, he brought Charlie with him to Las Vegas for his sold out shows and then again on the road.

 

In one concert, Elvis took off his guitar and threw it behind him. Luckily, Charlie was there to catch it. Afterwards, Elvis was so impressed he started incorporating it into the act.

Charlie was present and behind the scenes for all of Elvis' major life events. He was there performing in Las Vegas, on the road, movies, etc. He even had a permanent room in all of Elvis' homes. He lived in Elvis' homes for more than 15 years.

The Memphis Mafia (which was Elvis' bodyguards and closest friends) say that Charlie was one of the few people who truly cared for Elvis. Charlie was one of the people who didn't need gifts or expensive things from Elvis. He really cared about his friendship. He remained by Elvis until the end. Charlie and Elvis were real friends. Charlie was also asked to be a pallbearer by Vernon for his funeral.

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The Jumpsuits

When Elvis came back to performing on stage with the 1968 Comeback Special, he wanted to wear something that would allow him to move, feel comfortable and look stylish on stage. He worked with costume designer Bill Belew to create the looks. Bill would sketch styles for Elvis to approve. Once the designs were approved, the jumpsuits would begin getting made. Elvis wore jumpsuits once or several times. It all just depended on his mood and what he chose to go out on stage wearing. The more popular or well known jumpsuits are usually the highly documents ones. It didn't necessarily mean that he wore them over and over.

The majority of Elvis' jumpsuits came with a matching belt. However, there are some that had alternating belts which would help change the look of the suit. Elvis also had several two piece suits made that he would wear on stage. Under the stage lights, the suits could get a little hot and the belts would weigh down on Elvis. Once he was bestowed the attendance belt in Las Vegas, he would often incorporate that into his outfit. It is currently on display in Las Vegas at the Westgate (formerly the International) Hotel at the Elvis Experience Exhibit.

Many of Elvis' jumpsuits also had a matching cape that was detachable. He would usually enter the show wearing it and leave wearing it. The capes were often heavy so he would remove them for the duration of the show. Let's take a look at some of his jumpsuits...

The Black Cisco Kid Suit and Green Yokes 1974

Black Conquistador Suit

Every jumpsuit that Elvis wore on stage has been named. The above jumpsuits are just a sampling of the many that he wore in concert. One of the most well known suits worn by Elvis was the Peacock suit...

So what's your favorite Elvis jumpsuit? Is it one of the better known ones or an obscure one he wore only maybe once or twice? He brought a whole new level of cool to the stage.

Viva Las Vegas

Elvis performed in Las Vegas from July 31, 1969 to 1976. He started performing at the Las Vegas International Hotel. It is now the Westgate located off the strip. He would perform two shows at night. One being at dinner time and the other a midnight show. The arena held 2,200 seats and was sold out. He set attendance and profit records. He had the highest attended show in Las Vegas. They say that 1 out of every 2 people who visited Las Vegas saw his show. This stage is where he built that even bigger legend status.

Elvis rehearsing in his showroom in Las Vegas

 

Elvis is now back in the building at the Westgate formerly the International Hotel. They have an entire exhibit. They also have a Graceland Wedding Chapel on site.

Las Vegas is where the jumpsuit started. This is where fans could interact with him and he would joke and talk to the audience between songs. It's where he got his fans back and started his live performances again. The 1968 Comeback special launched his Vegas career. If you get to the Westgate you can relive some of his Vegas days. On display is artifacts from Graceland. It features, jewelry, his daily clothing, cancelled checks, home furnishings, jumpsuits and his Las Vegas attendance gold belt. It gives you a little glimpse into Elvis' Vegas days.

You can also watch a performance by an Elvis Tribute Artist on the very stage that Elvis performed on. The concert is a recreation from the July 31, 1969 concert. The band is in character of the original members. I watched it and it was very good!