A musical feast fit for the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll
If you love the songs of Elvis you will love this tribute show, ‘The Elvis Years’, starring Mario Kombou, the World Champion ETA (Elvis Tribute Artist) who starred in the West End Hit Musical ‘Jailhouse Rock’ over twenty years ago, writes Linda Emmanuel.
Mario is so convincing that Elvis’s 1st cousin, Donna Presley, has said that Mario was more Elvis than Elvis, with his mannerisms and movements that we have all got to know from having seen him in movies and documentaries.
For the fans of Elvis, and Mario, who queued for at least an hour in advance of doors opening, the expectation and excitement of a good night out could be felt in the easy camaraderie of people who had one thing in common, love for the music of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and also for Mario himself.
Mario Kombou and his all-star band took us on a spectacular, epic, chronological journey of over fifty classic hits, twelve costume changes, spanning more than three decades and all this despite him having laryngitis, which, of course, affected the sound of his voice. Even so the loyal fans supported him by singing along, determined to enjoy the show.
It was a treat to hear classic hits including That’s Alright Mama, Suspicious Minds, It’s Now or Never, Heartbreak Hotel, Blue Suede Shoes, Hound Dog, Love Me Tender, If I Can Dream and many more accompanied by nostalgic videos capturing the essence of each era.
In the second half of the show, Mario, who wears Elvis like a second skin, mentions a few names of those in the audience who have birthdays; he does so with charm and humour, he then steps into the auditorium to hand out scarves to the fans who flock to the front of the stage to get a chance to get close and maybe receive a handshake or even a quick hug.
‘The Elvis Years’ show tours around the UK until January 2026 and returns to the Dominion Theatre, London, on the 21st of December 2025. If you know of anyone, young or old who loves Elvis Presley, Mario Kombou is a fabulous choice as a special present for them but be quick as tickets do sell fast as the full house tonight was a testament to.Tour dates, tickets, and more information available on the official website at: https://www.theelvisyears.com/tour-dates/
