Elvis painter also enjoys being Elvis

Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006 | 7:06 a.m.

Who: Elvis tribute artist Steve Connolly

When: 10:30 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays

Where: Fitzgeralds

Tickets: $33; $10 for locals for a limited time; 388-2400

Steve Connolly has been an artist most of his life - both performing and painting.

When he isn't performing his Elvis tribute show at Fitzgeralds, he most often can be found with a painting.

"As a kid, I was painting at a very high level," Connolly, a native of Boston, said. "Today I can paint a picture that looks like a Rembrandt. From a technical standpoint, I'm a master craftsman.

"I used to make most of my money from painting. I graduated from art school and went to work as a painter, restoring paintings in churches."

At the same time he was studying painting, he was performing in a heavy metal band. During the sets he would sometimes break into an Elvis song and eventually was told that was what he should be doing.

When the band broke up, he did just that.

After 10 years of performing as Elvis while painting on the side, he recently had an epiphany - why not combine the two: Paint Elvis.

"I've done a series of 11 Elvis paintings," Connolly said. "Some are specific Elvis portraits, others are paintings that include Elvis or have an Elvis connection to (them) ."

Until now his painting has been focused on commissioned portraits and other subjects. The Elvis connection came to him within the past year.

"I just thought of it," he said. "I had been doing things with his costumes. I have all this equipment at the house. As they say to authors, write what you know."

And Connolly knows Elvis.

He has been performing his "Spirit of the King" show at different locations across town for almost as long as he's been a professional Elvis. He has been at Fitzgeralds for more than three years. You might have to stay up a little later than you used to if you want to see him. This summer, his show was moved from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

To make sure Vegas residents are aware of the change, the producer of the show is offering a $10 admission deal for locals until February. Usually tickets are $33 and up.

"The hotel asked us to switch time slots," Connolly said. The change was made to accommodate Breck Walls' "Bottoms Up!"

Connolly says he was reluctant to make the change, but quickly discovered it has many benefits.

"I thought attendance would drop," he said. "But it's just the opposite. Attendance is up, and the later time has opened up the corporate world to me."

Performing for corporate events is a lucrative proposition for many entertainers, one that Connolly had been unable to take advantage of.

"Most of the corporate offers I received were for shows between 7 and 9 p.m.," he said. "So this makes me more available. The big difference in the corporate world is they want you when they want you, and they're willing to pay for it."

Connolly has changed his show somewhat for the later crowds.

"I've loosened up a little bit, the aspects of certain jokes I tell," he said.

Connolly gears his shows to his audiences. If the jokes aren't working, he focuses more on the music.

"The other night I had an audience that was mostly European, many from Russia," he said. "I sensed certain things were not working. They didn't speak English.

"That's the night I just cut the jokes, which is the great thing about being a singing comedian. I can do that."

Actually, a singer/comedian/painter.

"I'm having a ball," Connolly said. "A few nights ago I painted 'til 3 or 4 in the morning."

Connolly says his artwork, Elvis and music have - in a manner of speaking - always been intertwined.

"Picking up a guitar is very much like picking up a paintbrush, creatively speaking," he said.

He tries to bring a freshness to both the music and the art.

"I'm always looking for the angle nobody else has done before," Connolly said. "My goal is to treat the Elvis performance as an art form, not just standing up there picking a moment but trying to recreate the spirit of Elvis."