Yoakam Reigns Supreme at Rocky Homage to the King

For all of the Beatles’ worship of Elvis Presley, the Fab Four recorded little of the King’s material.

So the prospect of Ronnie Mack indulging his recent infatuation with the Beatles-influenced L.A. power-pop scene gave an extra, promising dimension to the program he set up for the 13th annual Elvis Birthday Bash on Friday at the House of Blues.

How might Elvis classics sound with chiming guitars and ringing Mersey Beat harmonies supplied by various acts on the power-pop scene?

We still don’t know.

Celebrating Presley’s 64th birthday, the popsters for the most part either played it camp (the go-go-booted trio Dragster Barbie, the lounge-y Mello Cads) or merely blended in with the roots vibe. Of that crowd, only ex-Go-Go Kathy Valentine’s trio the Delphines--with dark-hued, ironic reworkings of the “King Creole” fluff “Crawfish” and “Hard Headed Woman”--really had a distinctive stamp.

That left the heart of the show to the annual birthday bash’s usual mix of rockabilly, roots rock and country music supplied by such event regulars as Ray Campi, Rosie Flores, Levi Dexter and Lee Rocker as well as such guests as country star Dwight Yoakam and ‘60s hit maker Johnny Rivers.

The King of Friday, unquestionably, was Yoakam, who swiveled some much-needed life into the evening. Waggling his legs (if not pelvis), he electrified the crowd with an acoustic “Suspicious Minds” before cranking it up for a dynamic medley.

Others who got it included the rocking Danny Blitz, rockabilly pioneer Campi and reviver Rocker. But as the parade of more than 40 performers marched on well past midnight, excitement diminished--despite Mack’s unflagging enthusiasm as emcee and house band member. Dwight had left the building.