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Scenes:Elvis impersonator lives up to praiseBy Pam FruehlingGazette staff writersTag most performers with a line of prophecy like destined to become one of the hottest acts to play the Cedar Rapids area” and you’ll find that the performance rarely lives up to the praise.But Elvis impersonator Artie Mentz is different. He matches and exceeds whatever effusive adjectives have been used to describe his appeal as an entertainer.Artie is back by popular demand at the Sheraton Inn. His encore performance has been in the planning since January, when he first played the lounge and broke all house records.The Dubuque native, who now divides his time between the Midwest and West Coast, started doing Elvis tunes at the tender age of 13. He continued mixing Elvis music with current rock favorites until about four years ago when he switched to the show set concept.His current act is built around two nightly show sets, each featuring different tunes. The remainder of the evening’s entertainment is provided by his band, the TCB Express. (TCB, as true Elvis fans will tell you, stands for Take Care of Business — one of the late rock king’s mottos.)TCB Express features: Jack Mason, keyboards and guitar; Michael Dixon, bass; Craig Lyons, drums; Steve Kowalski, trumpet; and Lynn Kowalski and Ron Lubbers, vocals. The band plays a little of everything — Top 40, dance music, country. They like Kenny Rogers material and songs by Helen Reddy. Some of their strongest numbers are Help Me Make It Through the Night,” Ain’t No Sunshine” and Chuckie E.’s In Love.”TCB Express is capable of playing really good music. Anyone who heard them early last week when they were familiarizing themselves with borrowed sound equipment should give the group another chance. They can do better.The real star of the evening is Artie, who performs at 9:30 and 11:30. Dressed in one of two white jumpsuits complete with an array of brightMore ScenesFor listings of entertainers appearing in the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City areas this weekend, check the Scenes” column in Thursday's Cedar Rapids Gazette. This column is listed as a service to Gazette readers.Also on Thursdays, you'll find one group or soloist currently performing in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City area featured in detail.Msscarves, Artie gyrates and shakes through an hour-long presentation. His high-energy act features nearly two dozen Elvis tunes performed the way they were during live Elvis concerts — more upbeat and a little shorter than the recorded versions.In addition to looking like Presley, Artie sounds like him. He has the same deep, smooth voice, although not quite as powerful, and he has the Elvis body language down to an art, thanks to hours of studying videotapes of Elvis concerts.Artie performs all of Presley’s biggest hits including: Are You Lonesome Tonight,” Teddy Bear,” You Gave Me a Mountain,” Jailhouse Rock,” It’s Now or Never,” All Shook Up,” Hound Dog,” Love Me Tender,” American Trilogy,” Hurt,” Blue Suede Shoes,” Can’t Help Failin’ in Love” and My Way,” a Frank Sinatra trademark that Elvis adopted in later years. Artie’s delivery of each number is superb. My only criticism is that the background vocalists occasionally come too far out of the background.Elvis impersonator Artie Mentz is a talented entertainer whose show will be appreciated by those who are Elvis fans and those who aren’t (whomever they may be). His short encore performance at the Sheraton should not be missed.Artie Mentz, an Elvis impersonator, lives up to praise accorded him as “one of the hottest acts to play the C.R. area.” He’s appearing at the Sheraton Inn.
Newspaper Details
The Gazette Weekly News Magazine
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, US
Wed, Aug 22, 1979
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Lori J.
USA 15 Sep 2022
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