Tim E and the Yes Men

Tim E and the Yes Men, an 11-piece ensemble from London, Ontario, have been performing their Elvis Show for just over one year. Recently, I took in one of their shows in the Carousel Room at the Western Fair Raceway Slots. This was a combined dinner/show performed for a sold out audience of 560 people, and it featured a 90-minute “casino set” of ‘70's era songs. Tim E and the Yes Men also perform other Elvis eras at many of their shows.

You can see the “fanview” I submitted after the show, along with other favourable comments which appear on Tim’s brand new website at: www.tim-e-show.com

Tim E (Tim Hendry) is 37 years old and has been a professional musician for about l7 years -- mainly as a drummer, but he also plays guitar. He first performed as an Elvis tribute artist in May 2003, after being encouraged by his friends and family. Tim reports that, so far, things have been going very well and he’s having a blast portraying his life-long hero and performing with the Yes Men. Elvis has been a big part of Tim’s life, right from the time he was a baby..mostly because of his father, Diamond Jim Hendry, who, Tim says, is the biggest Elvis Fan out there! Tim also says he has never seen a bigger smile on his Dad’s face than when he’s watching Tim perform his Elvis songs.

Tim has been with several bands over the years in London, and, along with other band members, has written and recorded his own music. Currently, he also has a little side “fun” band (The Malachi Brothers). He plays drums and sings backups and they play a lot of fun party tunes on the weekends that they are not doing Elvis shows. Three of the Yes Men are also in the Malachi Brothers: Shaun Sanders (acoustic guitar and backups), Dan Fawcett (lead guitar) and Jeff ‘Stan’ Fountain (bass guitar and backups).

The rest of the Yes Men play in other side bands in the area as well. Tim says they are all close friends and sometimes fill in for each other at gigs that someone can’t make. Jeffy B (guitar and backups) and Steve Crew (drums) play in Sweet Leaf Garrett and Reverend Freddie and the Distillers. Jeffy also plays in a recording act called Bobnoxious. Sonya Gustafsson (their lovely backup singer) has her own Jazz show at a local venue, and performs with several others as well. Members of the horn section (Craig..trumpet, Cole...sax, Seth...trombone) are frequently involved with other shows too.....for local symphonies or plays or musicals. On keyboard is Michael Bonnell, who also manages Walters Music (a highly respected and well-known music store in London) and performs in various shows.

Although the band is busy with lots of work, the priority for all members is the Elvis Show that they do and have so much fun with. They hope to eventually make it their full time gig and they hope to play in more theatres (as they are doing on August 21st at the Atlantis Pavilions Theatre in Ontario Place), casinos and maybe even some cruise ships. They’d also like to take their show State-side and overseas in the near future. Tim says that they are working on their future plans and they are also constantly learning new songs to help improve the integrity of the show and add variety.

I asked Tim how the Elvis shows and audiences differ from the other types of shows he’s done in the past. He says: “They differ in a huge way. Way different! The other side band usually just plays in clubs and bars and the crowd is different. At the Elvis show, the crowds are way more responsive and the feedback and compliments, so far, have been very flattering. We do get a lot of good compliments when we do the other side shows but definitely not as much as with the Elvis shows. When we do the Elvis shows, the crowd is more attentive. They are there to see ‘Elvis,’ so we find they usually are paying attention and focused on the stage. We are loving it and having so much fun doing the show. “

As a fellow Londoner, I asked Tim how he and the band (along with another well-known London area ETA Roy LeBlanc), have managed to attract such positive press from the local media. As we all know, the media are not always “on board” when it comes to Elvis Presley and Elvis tribute performers. Tim says: “As far as the positive press, we have been just working hard on promoting ourselves and we work very hard to make sure the music is performed well and to the best of our abilities. We are very picky about that and at every show and every rehearsal, we try to get as close as we can to replicating Elvis and his band. I think that is the most important thing for sure and I think if you do that and are sincere, then the press will be good. We try to be as accessible as possible when it comes to press. Roy (LeBlanc) definitely got it going in the first place and because of that we have been very fortunate to be developing a good following and a good reputation. We only hope it can continue to develop that way. I thought that London was not an Elvis town, but have been finding out that is not true. I have met a lot of Elvis fans in this city since we have started doing this show in May 2003. This city has been aching for a good Elvis show and now, with Roy and me, that is happening. Also ETA Rick Duin (a very good friend) has been doing some successful shows around as well. ETA Dan Granger is now here and ETA Nigel Perreira came out to our rehearsal last week with Dan. So it's growing. Let's hope it continues that way. We all support each other because the bottom line is Elvis. I am a huge fan of Elvis first and foremost so when someone else is doing a tribute show I will be there to support them, if I can. All of the ETA's that I have met have been great people and fun to be around. “

Tim says that the age range at his shows varies from l9-80 (casino shows) and they are even younger at his other Elvis shows. He says he sees a lot of young people and thinks it’s because of the new re-mastered Elvis discs -- and also because Elvis’ music is just great music and fun to be around.

Kudos to Tim E and the Yes Men...and to Roy LeBlanc...for bringing tasteful and sincere Elvis entertainment to the London, Ontario area, getting large crowds of all ages out to enjoy Elvis' timeless and everlasting music, and for attracting positive coverage from the media.

DETAILS:
www.tim-e-show.com

email: Carol@ladyluckmusic.com