Pictures from the show can be found here: https://paperandink.smugmug.co...
By: Roxy Ekberg
Republican Staff
Elvis tribute artist, Joseph Hall, returned to Wakefield for two nights of hip-swiveling entertainment at The Little Red Hen Theatre on Friday the 27th and Saturday the 28th.
Featuring Elvis’s classics, Hall and his team presented a rendition of Presley’s music, taking the audience through the progression of the King of Rock and Roll’s career. The performance was met with the age-old “Elvis fan scream” and at least one member of the audience whipped out an honest-to-goodness flip-phone to record the event.
Two weeks prior, Hall performed a series of shows in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Hall and his crew, consisting entirely of family, travel a Midwest circuit with the occasional distant performance. Hall performs every weekend, averaging 100 shows a year, similar to Elvis’s exhaustive touring.
“Just like Elvis,” said Hall. “Just like the King, baby.”
Out of his hometown of Lincoln, Hall began impersonating Elvis 17 years ago. Hall and his family ran a restaurant at the time and he performed at a company Halloween party in 2006. It became an “addiction,” said Hall.
He began working small gigs at birthday parties and nursing homes. Two years later, Hall appeared on NBC’s “American’s Got Talent” and finished in the top 10. Touring intensified and Hall launched into his career as an impersonator, investing in costumes, a sound system, and lights. Throughout his career, Hall traveled internationally, worked with Elvis Presley Enterprises, and was recognized as a top Elvis tribute artist.
Hall follows several Presley-principles, including extensive touring and maintaining a family business. His team consists of his nephew “the muscle,” his father “the Colonel,” his sister “the technical aspect,” and his mother who stays home and helps with costumes and jewelry.
“We have a very strong system at home. It’s a family business for sure. Someone once told me when you get in this line of work, you want to keep a tight circle, and in that tight circle you want to keep it your family and closest friends because it’s a circle of trust. You really got to keep those people close to you,” explained Hall.
Hall’s connection to the King extends beyond performing. He reflected on time as a kid listening to his dad’s Elvis CDs in their minivan.
“I remember being a child and hearing his voice. It was love at first hear,” said Hall.
To become Elvis Presley, Hall follows a set routine.
One hour before a show, he listens to his favorite music. However, he does not listen to Elvis before performing, but instead listens to metal music and draws from other artists. Music is calming, makes the time go by faster, and eases the anxiety of the show, said Hall. He disclosed that two minutes before the show, he starts to panic. With over a decade spent mastering Elvis’s many mannerisms and quirks, Hall admitted the hardest to imitate is karate.
“I feel like if you move fast enough, you can fool people,” joked Hall. “There’s nothing easy about Elvis. When I go out on the stage, my mindset is to sing well, move well, look well. I let the audience do all of the convincing. I’ll go out there: here’s my version of Elvis, but it’s up to them if they want to see it, if they want to hear it. I can only do my best. It’s up to the audience how deep they want to see it.”
Hall returned to Wakefield because of his feelings for The Little Red Hen Theatre, “I love this theatre. I do enjoy coming here.” On February 3rd, Hall performs in Red Cloud, before returning to Lincoln for another performance on Saturday the 4th.
Hall expressed gratitude for his family, friends, and fans, “It’s a good time to be an Elvis fan.