Fifty million Elvis impersonators must be furious. They have enough trouble competing with each other, let alone a widescreen resurrection of their idol that is capable of packing out Wembley Arena while they struggle to fill Wembley's Dog and Duck.
Considered cynically, Elvis - the Concert is just another attempt to squeeze pots more money out of the dead King. Yet for such a tacky concept, it's a surprisingly affecting experience. Elvis appears in video footage recorded in the early 70s; flab is starting to puff out his face but he still has impeccable cheekbones, his lip still curls sultrily and he still looks like he's having rampant sex when he does that pelvic thrust. His smiling, sweaty face is so mesmerising, anyone could happily believe that the ghost of Elvis is in the building.
Included are some excellent recordings: Are You Lonesome Tonight, in which Elvis creamily asks "Did you gaze at your forehead and wish you had hair?"; a riproaring Burning Love; passionate renditions of In the Ghetto, Suspicious Minds and An American Trilogy that ooze schmaltz but are swooningly beautiful. Only the frenetically paced, dismissive performances of 50s hits disappoint.
Many of the musicians on stage are also in the videos; it's eerie to have Elvis introduce these band members, but also poignant comparing still-energetic drummer Ronnie Tutt and guitarist James Burton with their younger, mullet-sporting selves.
It could have been a brilliant night. But Wembley Arena has as much atmosphere as a morgue, particularly when filled with an undemonstrative crowd whose idea of a concert is to sit still and clap politely. Elvis is dead and doesn't care whether or not we hear him out politely. You wouldn't have guessed it from the way everyone stared reverentially at the appalling-quality images. A programme note encouraged the audience to take photographs, but dancing was banned: anyone who so much as stood up was scolded by a steward. This would have been understandable in the cinema, but it doesn't make for a fun concert.
• At NEC, Birmingham (0121-780 4133), tonight, Manchester Evening News Arena (0161-950 5000) tomorrow, then touring.
