ELVANA | LIVE REVIEW
Tramshed, Cardiff, Sat 20 Oct
A somewhat novel approach to the tribute band scene, Elvana are – as you may have guessed from their name – an Elvis-fronted Nirvana tribute band, one creating quite the buzz on the live circuit. Upgraded from its original venue at the Globe, the Tramshed is packed to the rafters to see the King front the kings of grunge. I’d say the Nirvana element outweighs the Elvis in terms of fans in attendance tonight, but there is a group of ladies dressed as GIs, waiting for a glimpse of the King.
We are treated to a Back To The Future-themed introduction explaining how the band came to be, before the band bound onstage to Stay Away. It’s amazing – for all intents and purposes, we are watching Elvis sing with Nirvana. The King, in his sequinned white jumpsuit, pulls off his best karate moves as the band crash through a set, pretty close to what any Nirvana fan would like to see.
Elvis aside, the rest of the band are dressed in glittery suits and winklepickers – akin to how Nirvana themselves dressed in the In Bloom video – and are superbly backed by twin backing singers, who bring that extra bit of rock’n’roll to proceedings. Love Buzz ignites a small mosh pit and you’ve really not heard Breed until you’ve heard it with Viva Las Vegas interjected. In keeping with the surreal, Elvis reminds us that we are all moshing to Suspicious Minds.
Musically, the band are absolutely spot on. I wasn’t lucky enough to see Nirvana (although I did have a ticket) and I certainly never saw Elvis, so tonight goes so far in rectifying that for me and a few more in the crowd I imagine. Speaking of the crowd, we are invited to crouch down and, on Elvis’s command, jump up and dance during Drain You. A brief interlude allows the backing girls, now introduced as The Courtneys, to take centre stage for a rendition of Hole’s Celebrity Skin before Elvis re-emerges on the balcony, now sporting a pink jumpsuit for a run through of Can’t Help Falling In Love. The beautiful All Apologies provides a poignant moment in the set, before the crowd, smelling more like middle-aged spirit, explode for Smells Like Teen Spirit.
There’s still time for a bit more of the surreal as the frontman from Newcastle, dressed like Elvis, sings a Bowie song in the style of Kurt Cobain. The Man Who Sold The World brings a thoroughly entertaining evening to a close. I’m not sure Kurt would have approved at Nirvana being so entertaining, but Cardiff sure does.
words CHRIS ANDREWS