I thought maybe there was something to be said for the America he seemed to represent, a country that had been more optimistic, carefree, expansive and excessive than the more serious and angry United States than we have seen in recent years. Maybe the nostalgia for Elvis was also the nostalgia for America?
But what I found – as you can see in my post, with amazing photos of Abigail Varney – was simpler and more local, if not shallower. America really wasn’t the issue. Small Towns Australia and Participatory Australia ‘try it’ hosted the event.
According to Elvis tribute artists – and the former Elvis tour manager, who made the trip from his home in the US – Australians of all social classes, political persuasions and ages were more likely to dress up, sing, march in parade or play rugby. , while dressing up as Elvis, while encouraging each other to get involved and have fun.
The Australian festival was unique because the lines between serious and silly were blurred. While Americans listened to and admired Elvis, Australians made him their own.
I’ve written extensively about this Australian penchant for drawing people into an activity – it’s a big part of the idea-driven memoir I’ve published here, called ‘Into the Rip’, which will be released in the US in the next months. with a different title. But in Parkes there was an extra layer of verve that only the combination of Elvis and small town Australia could possibly provide. My daughter loved it. Me too.
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