If there’s ONE Christmas show you have to go to on any given year, it’s El Vez. He’s been doing this for about 35 years now. One would think it would be the same show year after year, but it never is. He’s usually got different songs, different arrangements, different people onstage, different dedications, different stunts, and a different backup band each and every year. This isn’t always the case for all those elements, but the one consistency is that you are going to have a good time!
And of course this year was no different. The backing band this time was the rockabilly band the Centuries, who are also known as the Whippersnappers when they’re backing up Deke Dickerson. And while I do miss the Elvettes on backup vocals from previous years, the Centuries/Whippersnappers did an excellent job on everything (including the backup vocals). Deke Dickerson was even brought up onstage for a song. Funny hearing the banter between Deke and El Vez before they sang the song. “Are we going to trade off vocals? Who’s first?” I don’t even think this was answered as Deke just went right into the song and being the professionals they are, they nailed it.
An El Vez Christmas show (i.e. “Mex-Mas”) is a full on event. A mishmash of classic Christmas songs with punk rock energy and groove with El Vez’s (Robert Lopez of the Zeros, and Zeros ’77) charm and charisma, complete with several costume changes. Songs played included “Blue Christmas”, “Loretta” from the Nervous Eaters with the lyrics changed to “When I talk to you Santa”, and “Claudette” from Roy Orbison changed to “Elvette”, and of course his classic cover of “Feliz Navidad” mashed up with “Public Image” from PIL.
Here’s some pictures.
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