Elvis of old excites 13,000 at Coliseum
by John Wenderborn
The Oregonian
April 28, 1973

There was a definite difference in Elvis this year, as opposed to his 1970 show. The Presley of 1973 performed for 65 minutes Friday night in Memorial Coliseum with a fast-paced, lively, tight and musical concert that had many of the 13,000 fans up and down throughout.

Presley sang old and new tunes backed by an orchestra and choir that pushed the arrangements into super productions with ease.

And Elvis was very much at home, whether it be the "Dixie" - "Battle Hymn of the Republic" medley of a lowdown rhythm and blues tune that employed Presley's own group playing the kind of music which makes his fans want to storm the stage or boggie the night away.

It was much difference than his previous Portland appearance. Elvis seemed contemptuous of the crowd then but Friday night he was entering to his fans all they way, even throwing a half dozen scarves and a pin to the audience (albeit only to the front row) while singing in his clear baritone voice.

He opened with "C.C. Rider" and a medley of his recorded songs before sliding smoothly into one of his greatest ballads, "Love Me Tender." Presley does have an exceptional ballad voice and Friday used it to great advantage on "Tender" and other slow ones, such as "You Gave Me A Mountain," "I'll Remember You," and "I Can't Help Falling In You," which finished the show.

Crowd goes wild

Elvis costumed in white with lots of sparkly things sewn in the suit, moved the audience to cheers with his gyrations, stage acrobatics and perpetual smile while singing some straight-ahead blues on the one hand and his oldie uptempo hits on the other.

Elvis also put a different kind of beat to "Hound Dog," livening it considerably, and then went off on a musically satisfying tangent which included two songs, the classic "Fever," sung with bass and drums for accompaniment and the large-scale production number, "What Now My Love," with a bolero backing that Presley took to nicely.

The concert had to be fulfilling for dyed in the wool Elvis Presley fans, who were allowed to shoot pictures of the man they call "The King". That was okay for th one-third of the crowd but those seated far back from the stage who tried to inch forward were restrained by the security officers who guaranteed that the fans would stay in their seats.

The show opened with some funny work by comedian Jack Kahane who gave way to the Sweet Inspirations trio, who moved soulfully through pop hits.

They returned to aid in the vocal background for Presley who occasionally satirized himself and the eight singers to their obvious enjoyment.

Courtesy of Francesc Lopez