The case of the unusual Elvis!

It was May 2009 and we were at Windemere in the Lake District of England and happened to see a pub advertising live music that night. As we’d missed a live music show the week before in Ireland we were keen to see some. The pub was called “Hole int’ Wall” and was the oldest pub in Bowness. It had pub small rooms, below street level and low ceilings. The décor was very Old English with stuffed animals, various ornaments and crockery hanging about, including a selection of potties. We were told the band would start at 8.30 and that they were “traditional” musicians.

When the first of the muso’s arrived and was loading in the gear I noticed he had a “lager-phone”, an old Australian Bush Music instrument made by attaching lots of beer bottle tops onto a staff of wood, and played by banging the staff onto the ground as well as striking it with a smaller stick. I commented to the guy that I was surprised to see the Lager-phone in an English traditional line-up and he informed me that they called it a “fun-stick” and that he’d gotten it from Canada, where he was assured they originated. I set him straight about the origin of the instrument and asked about their music.

“Well, we’re a traditional band with mandolin, banjo, guitar and fiddle. Tonight we also have an Elvis impersonator playing with us”, said he.

To say I was surprised to hear that was an understatement and I guess my expression said it all, because he then explained, “This guy is just a bit of fun, He comes along regularly and does his act with us, and a few people even come along to see him. He’s quite serious about it, though.”

“He performed with us a couple of years ago and someone told him he looked like Elvis. Since then he’s grown the side-levers & even has the clothes!”

Eventually the other players arrived. They we’re called the Millie Byrnes Band, but unfortunately Millie Byrnes couldn’t be there that night, so the boys were performing without their lead vocalist (insert irony). The singer/guitar player was the leader and his mate played tenor banjo or mandolin. The fiddle player arrived just before they started and fitted in well, so they were obviously well rehearsed and they did some great tunes and a few good songs. During one of the numbers a couple walked it and stood beside where we were sitting, right next to Di. They were middle aged and well dressed and I noticed the guy had BIG side-levers. He was also carrying a gear-bag, which looked like it might contain a mike stand or something similar. He had a bit of gaudy jewellery on, rings and a gold chain, and his shirt had a large collar. The band acknowledged the arrival of John “Elvis” and said they’d get him up shortly. Imaging my surprise when he opened his gear bag and took out a Lager-phone. Two in one night!! This was going to be interesting!!

When the band called him up his wife turned up his collar, to increase his Elvis “cred’” and he grabbed his Lager-phone and strutted out in front of the band. They started playing “All Shook Up” and he stood in front of them and played along on the Lager-phone! He didn’t sing. He just moved his hips, in a supposed Elvis-like manner and played the Lager-phone!!! I was gob-smacked! The crowd loved it! He finished to a huge round of applause and the promise of the band to bring him back on in their second, and last set.

After soaking up the adulation of his fans he made his way back to his spot next to Di. Lucky Di!! She got to hear all about his “career” as an Elvis impersonator. He was proud to admit that he was on You Tube as “John Elvis Bowness on his stick at Hole in’t Wall” (or something like that). He also stated that he’s now getting gigs and even getting people up dancing when he performs. Bloody amazing!!! As well as this he then told us that the Lager-phone was a New Zealand instrument! I set him right as well.

Unfortunately/fortunately (take your pick) he didn’t get to perform in the next set as an upstart Aussie had already done a number with the band, on the Lager-phone of course, and they ran out of time. I was very surprised to be asked to perform the last song with them and I performed Solid Rock with the Mando & Fiddle supporting.

After the gig the singer from the band was telling me that the whole thing had developed a life of it’s own. A couple of years earlier he even volunteered to perform at the Tsunami Benefit somewhere nearby, telling the organisers that he was an Elvis Impersonator. They gratefully put him on the bill, then when he got up to perform he arrived with the full Las Vegas style white jumpsuit, grabbed his Lager-phone, pressed play on his CD player and got into it. Once again no singing, just those magic hips and the Lager-phone. Needless to say the crowd was underwhelmed, but he doesn’t really seem to be aware that people don’t take him as seriously as he takes himself.

Another whacky adventure in the Sinclair’s 2009 UK tour.