Ted Roddy & The King Conjure Orchestra's Memorial Tribute to The King

Ted Roddy & The King Conjure Orchestra return to The Continental Club on Saturday, August 15, for their memorial tribute to Elvis Presley. It's a long-running Austin tradition: Roddy and the orchestra have played this tribute at the club twice a year since 1986. What started as a hoot night grew into a full-tilt rock-n-roll show played by some of the city's finest musicians.

The evening is split into two halves. The New Blue Moon Boys open with a set paying tribute to early Elvis, and then The King Conjure Orchestra takes over to tackle the Vegas years. It's a broad look at the man's career, from the rockabilly roots to the big stage production.

Roddy's approach is a specific one. He deliberately avoids the fat-Elvis mockery: no comic-book jumpsuit, no fake mutton chops, and no accent when he isn't singing. He treats the music as music and celebrates a period of Elvis's career that often gets denigrated. Over the years, the stage has welcomed guests like the rockabilly trio High Noon, Stevie Ray Vaughan's keyboardist Reese Wynans, Elvis's 70s bassist Duke Bardwell, and 60s pop sensation P.J. Proby. A 2004 Austin American-Statesman review by Joe Gross called it a triumph.

The show runs from 7 PM to 10 PM, with doors opening at 6 PM. Tickets are $25, and DOS admissions may be available at the door depending on capacity. It's 21+ only.