If you haven’t witnessed how 70-year-old rock musicians play brilliantly live for an hour and a half and make an audience of 3,000 fans of all ages get up to their feet in ecstasy, probably you’ve missed your only chance (at least if you live in Bulgaria) last night, January 30, 2008, when the T.C.B. Band and The Sweet Inspirations – respectively the band and the backing vocalists that accompanied Elvis Presley from 1969 until his death 8 years later – did a memorable performance at the National Palace of Culture in the capital Sofia. It’s true that this rock storm came over Bulgaria half a century after the world started talking about the phenomenon Elvis, and three decades after the sad end… but better late than never, isn’t it?

Everything started at 7:20 p.m, when the stage was taken by the 18 musicians and singers. Ronnie Tutt‘s magnificent drum beat gave the beginning of "See See Rider", James Burton heated up his legendary guitar sound, strengthened by a second guitarist and a keyboard player, the three ladies from The Sweet Inspirations freed their mighty voices, accompanied by four additional backing vocalists, Glen Dee Hardin showed why he’s called a piano genius, and the younger Dennis Jale started singing with his strong, deep and clean voice the songs of the King.

The rock fiesta went on with "Proud Mary" and the lyrical "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me", "Are You Lonesome Tonight" and "Love Me Tender". Afterwards Jerry Scheff – the man who took part in the recordings of The Doors’ "L. A. Woman" – suddenly took his bass guitar backstage… but was replaced by Manfred Chromy who devoted to performing various monkey business stuff with his taller-than-him bass, while songs like "Heartbreak Hotel", "That's All Right Mama" and "I Got a Woman" blasted from the speakers...

The attractive Chromy – the "cowboy from Oklahoma" – was sent away with applause after stepping off stage to let Jerry Scheff back in. The heat in the hall was a bit cooled down with the tender "Always on My Mind", followed by an explosive medley of "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", "Roll Over Beethoven" and "Long Tall Sally", and then... a break. That’s right – exactly 45 minutes after the start the first of the two sets for the evening came to an end.

The second part of the show was even more varied music-wise that the first half. Again we got plenty of fastened rock classics ("Blue Suede Shoes", "Johnny B. Goode", "Burning Love"), as well as calmer tunes (the unearthly "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "In the Ghetto", "The Wonder of You"), however diversified with the rhythm and blues of "Steamroller Blues" or Elvis’ favourite gospel or "Sweet Inspiration", brilliantly performed by... The Sweet Inspirations, of course.

The end was devoted to two of the King’s greatest evergreens - "Suspicious Minds" and "Can't Help Falling in Love". These were enthusiastically welcomed by the audience that rose to their feet in total euphoria, applauding the living legends for a long, long time. They deserved it completely.

Words: Nicki Vassilev / Tangra Mega Rock

Photos: Victor Alexandrov / Tangra Mega Rock

More photos are available in theВ GALLERY.