June 30, 2005)

Presley's normalcy, grace are surprising
By Teresa Gubbins, Special to the Star-Telegram
DALLAS - That Lisa Marie Presley has talent might be expected; she is, after all, the daughter of Elvis. But what was surprising about her show Tuesday at the Lakewood Theatre, where she played for an audience of 1,000, was how completely normal she seemed.

Of course, who's to say who's normal? But Presley, who is on tour with a six-piece band to promote her new CD, Now What, came off as down to earth and supremely comfortable in her skin. She personified that whole casual-but-elegant deal, wearing a sea-green Cookie Monster T-shirt and green capris with a wide diamond bracelet that shot sparkly "these-rocks-are-real" darts all the way to the back of the theater.

Presley has definitely acquired an ease on stage that she lacked on her first tour in 2003, when she played the State Fair of Texas in support of her debut, To Whom It May Concern. The Lakewood served as a more fitting venue for her torchy tunes. With the uninhibited but respectful enthusiasm of the crowd -- a mixed group that included cheering women, gay men and older folks who were perhaps Elvis fans -- the venerable old theater felt a little wild by night's end.

One of her guitarists, Nick Lashley, did not perform because his mother died, so the band opted for an acoustic version of her oh-so-appropriate cover of Don Henley's Dirty Laundry.

"I think Don Henley wrote this about some blonde on a news channel, but I think it would apply to Nancy Grace," she said, referring to the aggressive Court TV reporter who covered Michael Jackson's recent court case.

We've all heard the offspring of famous people complain about how much tougher it is for them to make it than the rest of us. Lisa Marie never voiced that complaint. But hearing her soaring voice live, it was hard not to feel that she's been underestimated. Her best songs, including I'll Figure It Out and Thanx, were gorgeous, but with a sense of longing at the core.

When she introduced Raven as a song she wrote for her mother, there was that "ooooh, Priscilla" moment where it became clear what a complicated life Lisa Marie Presley has led -- and how gracefully she's carried it off.

so,what's her opinion of Mike these days? Does she think he was guilty? Is she supportive?

I don´t know. That´s the only comment from her so far.

Anyways I thought she said she wasn´t following the trial.

Honestly I have never heard one of her songs.

dag said:

Maybe she wasn't following the case. Nancy Grace can be pretty annoying, whether she's talking about MJ or anybody else. Who knows, maybe Nancy had something nasty to say about Lisa Marie at some point.

ella731 said:

Don't worry...you aren't missing a thing

OdysseyMiles said:

Nancy Grace is one obnoxious bitch,that's for sure