A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson.
Ben Portsmouth “does what he says on the tin”, he is a tribute act to Elvis. He does most of the big hits: Suspicious Minds, In The Ghetto, Hound Dog, I Can’t Help Falling In Love and some of the lesser known ones too. My teenage companion commented that many of the audience had no colour left in their hair, and he had a point as even I felt young! Ben did play to this, asking for one of the older ladies to come up on stage with him. Phyliss was delighted, and left the stage with a big grin and a gorgeous bouquet. Her declaration that she had been an Elvis fan “all my life” pleased the whole audience, one of those warm, fuzzy feeling moments!
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The costume changes followed Elvis through the years with the army uniform, the tight black leather look, and the white sparkles of Vegas. He had the moves as well, although there was an out of character “bloody hell” as he finished one enthusiastic performance!
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There were a few such moments that gave it more a caricature feel, including when he told us about his Premier Inn suite, and going to Poundland for his fake tan and hair dye. This was as he started his well-known move of throwing teddy bears into the crowd whilst singing Teddy Bear. My son still has his from when we saw Ben at the AECC in 2017, and I still have my blue silk scarf as he hands out during Spanish Eyes. This time we were up in the balcony so just watched the crazy rush of ladies (and a couple of men!) whenever there was the option to get closer to “The King”!
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The evening was certainly a celebration of Elvis’ music, it was lovely watching people up dancing for The Wonder of You, even a security guard got involved twirling a lady down the front! Ben Portsmouth has an amazing voice and when he sings really does sound like Elvis, at one point I thought he
was going to burst the amps with his amazing vocals.
Further information: https://www.takingcareofelvis.co.uk/
Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
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