It's something of a surreal evening at the Hippodrome, as radio station Xfm have decided upon a Mexican theme for their Christmas bash. Half the liggers in town have descended upon the venue for beer and tapas and are beset at every turn by bandidos dressed as Santa and serenaded by a mime version of la Bamba.
The warm-up act, Titan, are somewhere between Bentley Rhythm Ace and the Fun Lovin' Criminals, and fit the evening's theme like a glove, shouting Mexicana at the crowd while playing a sample-infused, heavily distorted version of the Starsky & Hutch theme.
El Vez, star of Alan McGee's new Poptones label, has bedecked his backing band as elves and the Elvettes, his two backing singers throw down some synchronised dance moves wearing the skimpiest Santa style mini-skirts. Then the man himself appears - a Mexican Elvis impersonator in a Santa suit with the same kind of madness as Gomez Addams glowing in his eyes.
El Vez does pastiches of Elvis songs, adulterating the lyrics into Mexicana and playing the role for all it's worth. But enough of what he does, it's the way that he does it that makes it so amusing. The guy can carry it off.
He knocks one of the Elvettes off her feet as he slides across the stage during the opening track and refers to the floor being very slippery for the rest of the evening. He disappears back stage for three changes of outfit, at one time returning to the stage resplendent in gold trousers with a pair of wings strapped to his back to revive the dead Elvettes.
He grins and thrusts and slides his way through the evening, like some American dream gone badly wrong, talking of his childhood in San Diego and singing of those Brown Christmases they used to have back in Mexico. He dedicates 'Hound Dog' to George Bush and strips to PVC Santa Claus boxer shorts to entertain the ladies.
Music-wise the band sound a little like the B-52s and Elvis, obviously, all done with a knowing smile and salsa style drumming. The King is not dead. Alan McGee has found him, if only for Christmas.
IMAGES: OLLY HEWITT
