Back with Legends review

[areding]

Tuesday: Legends in Concert (tickets Adults: $25.75 with coupon Child (4-11): $11.00 ) Show Lineup - Buddy Holly, Tina Turner, Blues Brothers, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Elvis (Reba was off that night)

This was the show I had most anticipated this year. Last year, it was Jim Stafford. Both times I left feeling very underwhelmed.

This is not a bad show. Buddy Holly was excellent. He even played one of my favorites Ollie Vee. Tina Turner was good, but the song selections outside of Proud Mary and We don't Need Another Hero were curious. Songs I was sure we'd hear, we didn't.

Michael Jackson was excellent. I'm not a fan, but who couldn't like the rigorous duplication of sound and moves to Billie Jean. (oddly, we didn’t hear Beat It.)

Blues Brothers: The Guy playing Belushi's Jake part is too short, too thin and doesn't have aywhere near his voice. The Elwood guy had the dance moves down perfectly, but said most nothing.

Celine: I know she is hugely popular, but I only vaguely recognized one song. I know there was one from Titanic, but I still haven't seen that. She has a beautiful voice by any standard.

Elvis: (Tony Roi) The most highly anticipated moment of the trip came when the sound of Also Sprach Zarathustra came up. Having listened to many of Elvis' live recordings over and over for years, I came to love the segue from the classical 2001 theme to what is called Elvis' "opening riff" . When the Legends band (just 4 pieces) went into the riff, my anticipation dwindled like air leaking out of a balloon. Roi’s Elvis sounded pretty good and had the moves, but he had a habit of trying to be funny by using goofy child’s voice at points in the song. This is hard for me to describe, but it gave me the sense that I was watching an Elvis caricature.

The Elvis I saw at legends in LV made me forget I was watching an impersonator for a few moments. This guy looks the part, and had the Elvis sound some of the time, but overall he was fairly disappointing.

A couple of last points: the Legends theater was miserably hot. I complained to the ushers and was told that the air was working as well as it could. After the show many people were heard talking about how uncomfortable it was there.

Outside of Roi’s un-Elvis like antics, I think the biggest problem with Legends is the band. The four guys give it all they’ve got and are pretty good, but the lack of horns, other supporting instruments and mature backup male and female vocalists give the show a cheap sound. This is obviously a financial decision, but it's hard for me to buy Tina Turner backed by a Ramada Inn lounge combo.

The only exception to this is the opening Buddy Holly routine. The makeup of the band was perfect for Holly’s simple arrangements and not unlike the one Holly used.


Quality: 79 -- Value 75 -- Overall Grade 77
Recommendation for families. - The kids really liked it, but I'll pass on this one.

[QueenAngie]

This one surprised me. It was the first set of tickets my DH wanted me to order. We really enjoyed his previous shows.
Thanks for the update.

[areding]

Like I said, it surprised me too. I really expected better. I hope they get the air conditioning fixed before you get there. Even the Tina Turner girl was talking about it after the show in the lobby.

[lsheagney]

My goodness I can't believe it was necessary for you to take such a personal affront to this. It is possible that people may not enjoy a show and they ought to have the right to say so. I also have been disappointed with the Legends show in the past and in fact have not gone back. I think it is perhaps a matter of personal preference and not that the person posting the negative comment "just doesn't know how to have fun." I think this was totally inappropriate. Everyone should be able to say what they feel about things without being insulted like this.

[areding]

Well Vanessa, do you always rate every restaurant you visit a 10? Even if the food was cold and the service left much to be desired? If you do, that's quite a disservice to people who follow your advise.

This show wasn't cheap. I think I spent about $120 for tickets to the show. I appreciate everyone's opinion on this board even though I may not always agree with them. A multitude of opinions helps people to make good choices on how to spend their limited funds.


I gave an honest opinion and legitimate comments. I also said that I didn't think it was a bad show, but I did note what I viewed as problems.

For what it's worth, I had a great time in Branson. I'm just not going to present an unrealistic, Pollyanna view of it.

No hard feeling, okay?

[soonermagic]

I Know I am new to this message board and may not be my place to comment since I am so new...BUT(always a but)I have gotten such great info and help from this board i would like to comment...so I will comment as a soon to be visitor...
I for one think it is good to hear others comments on places they visited, what they did, what they liked, what they didn't. If you have seen areding's/allen's other posts you will notice they were fair and in my opinion didn't sound sugar coated JUST their expierences.
ALSO it is very nice to be able to get info about just about anything you could possibly want in Branson, since this board isn't directly linked to buisnesses that pay its owners/moderators to ONLY refer visitors to a particular biz that is registered within the site, I frankly find it FRESH to be able to get answers to my questions quickly and honestly whether it's something I wanted to hear or not(meaning good or bad replys)
I for one am glad I found this board before our trip to Branson in July...message boards are one of the absolute BEST ways to get info fast and it is mostly unbiased and you get MANY suggestions good AND bad. Bravo to the owners/moderators and message board junkies that help keep this a wonderful source of info to visitors new and old!

[Cheesecake]

I was really impressed by this threads author, and the responses.

I too, believe that hearing the good, the bad and the ugly, is an important part of a non biased board. Actually that is why this board is here, to give everyone a chance to review their trips and to ask questions. The purpose of this board is to get information and give information.

As long as the author of the post isnt mean and trying to bash another *poster*, all opinions are fair, as long as they are family orientated, in composition.

And first and foremost, we NEVER bash the poster. That isnt polite. After all, all opinions count, re: the shows, and activities, and lodging, etc. Personal attacks are not acceptable.

IMHO, areding, has really gone the extra mile to give us fair and unbiased reporting.

[Suselit]

I have only see the Legends Christmas Show....but that was fanastic....filled with nostagia.

"Nat King Cole" sang wonderful 50s Christmas songs in amid a beautiful set.
"The Andrews Sisters" sang 40's style and really cut up.
"The Blues Brothers" were high energy and lots of fun.
"Neil Diamond" and "Barbra Striesand" were great and their duet together was a show stopper.

I loved the Christmas Show.

Suselit

[jakwi]

I have a different view of the band for the Legends. Because they play such a wide variety of music, I have really admired their talent. I am not a musician of any kind, but I do enjoy music.

[areding]

I have nothing bad to say about the job the 4 pieces did. They are obviously talented, but no matter how good they are, a 4 person band can't come close to producing the sound of a much larger group without supplementing the live sounds with digital sound loops or other recorded music.

All of the acts except Buddy Holly regularly performed with bands close to 10-12 members.

[James Emfinger]

I appreciate the comments, both good and bad. They help in weighing how to spend our hard-earned money. Knowing that what one likes, another may dislike, I suggest that readers read for knowledge and make informed decisions. I particularly appreciate the fact that the original poster gave specifics of what was liked and disliked. It was not just a statement that "I don't like it, so it is not good." Honest opinions are greatly appreciated.

James in Texas

[LauraIowa]

Hope the AC is fixed by August... Legends has always been one of our families favorite shows. The entertainers this year are all new from what we've seen previously except for Elvis and Blues Brothers. I'll be sure and post my review. Has anyone else seen their summer line-up recently?? Be sure and share your thoughts....
THANKS
Laura

[jakwi]

We saw the show a few weeks ago, and my review is posted from around June 14-15.

[LauraAnn]

Who was your favorite Legend in the summer schedule? I know each night one doesn't perform so I'm not sure which one won't be perfoming when we are there. Thanks - I'll try and find your previous post. What was the headline called?

[areding]

I think I liked Buddy Holly the best.