An Afternoon to Remember
ETA Matt Cage during the sound check with The Casino Brothers band.
The Port Colborne website had the time listed as 11:00 am, but Brent was sure their show time was 12:00. Not wanting to miss a second of seeing two of my favourite ETAs, I arrived in plenty of time to park my car and make my way to the stage. As I entered the park, I could hear the unmistakable voices of The Roulettes. In the far distance I could see Matt and Brent on stage doing a sound check with The Casino Brothers band. Matt and Brent sang only a few notes of familiar Elvis songs during the sound check, but from what I heard, I knew that they both were primed and ready to give the gathering crowd an afternoon to remember.
ETA Brent Freeman minutes before he took the stage.
I have not been able to see Brent perform as much in the past as I would have liked: at Flamboro and Mohawk, Brent usually looked after the sound system for Matt; at Collingwood, where Brent was the emcee, I spent most of my time in the media room and missed many of the performances on stage; and at the RHLI and the Fort Erie Legion shows, Brent performed as Jerry Lee Lewis. The only time I saw Brent perform a full show as Elvis was one magical night at Flamboro Downs when Brent donned an Elvis jumpsuit, a borrowed wig, and sunglasses—for the first time in public, and performed the heck out of Elvis’s Concert Years songs in his last set. Dot, Kimberly, and I were asked on stage by Brent as his backup singers and dancers. It was a riot! That night goes down in history as one of the best nights of entertainment that fans experienced at Flamboro Downs. I have always hoped that Brent would do a repeat of that performance—with or without the jumpsuit, and it looked like today was going to be the day.
I have seen Matt perform several times since since I first saw him at Flamboro Downs, but only once since CoVid when I was asked to a private party performance on July 26, 2020, held safely outside in a driveway in Stoney Creek. Today marks Matt’s second performance in Port Colborne (that I know of), having performed at Canal Days in 2016 on a stage near the canal. He and Brent are performing on the impressive H.H. Knoll Park stage that has been empty since 2019 and I can feel the excitement in the air!
Rather than spending time in the Green Room, ETA Matt Cage preferred spending his breaks hanging out with friend/fans in Perk’s Café.
Performing internationally and across Canada, in large venues and at private events and on stage in Million Dollar Quartet, Matt has a loyal following of friends and fans. With all his success, Matt remains one of the nicest ETAs of the many I have met. (At the Silver Aces shows in Niagara, Matt used to spend his breaks chatting with concert goers in Perk’s Café).
Both Matt and Brent are a pleasure to talk to in person; and on stage, they delight audiences with their tribute to Elvis Presley, often spicing up their performances with humour. (Good friends off stage, in a recent post, Matt called Brent a ‘big pink flamingo”, referring to the suit he wears for his 50s tribute. LOL)
While waiting for the show to begin, I had a few minutes to talk with some of my favourite people. Most of them I have met since starting SIDEBURNS Magazine. I was so pleased to see Arlene, Nancy, and others that I met at the Silver Aces shows at Casino Niagara. Canal Days regulars Doreen and Ron, and their “Elvis daughter”, Debbie, all of whom I saw in April at the Niagara Falls Elvis Festival were also there. I met some new friends from Hamilton and Hagersville who were with Cathy. I first met Cathy when I asked if I could take a photo of her for my ETA fan magazine way back in 2017 at Gordon Henderick’s show in Niagara Falls. Since that time, I have seen Cathy at many events. I knew that Danusa from Hamilton planned on attending, and I was happy to have a moment to chat with her at the end of the show. It was so nice seeing Linda and Shawn, and Lynn and Gordie, who provided so much joy during CoVid with their Monday night podcasts (tune in to Gordie’s FB for show #86 on Monday). Lynn introduced me to her mom, Betty, and her sister, Laurie, who was at Canal Days with her friend. Kare, Matt’s girlfriend, who looked lovely in her 50’s inspired red and white check sundress, posed for some great photos. I am sure I am forgetting some names, so please remind me if you were there. For me, it was like coming home. I knew that Arlene would have me up dancing—just like old times at Silver Aces. And it felt fantastic to dance after almost three years!
Fans and Friends Photos
The long shot views of the Canal Days event will give you an idea how vast this park is. The concerts are free, but you are encouraged to donate what you can. Not far from the stage were portable facilities, food trucks, and beverage booths. During Canal Days, there are plenty other events taking place throughout the town; and there are shops and restaurants on the main street. But I was here for one purpose…to see Matt and Brent.
Kudos to those who were responsible for the sound system—you could hear Matt, Brent and the band in every bit of the park. For those who chose to sit under the shade trees a ways back from the stage, two screens were provided on either side of the stage so they could see and enjoy Matt and Brent’s performances. One older fellow (sorry, no name; he is in the striped shirt and cowboy boots in the photos above), stood by the stage for the entire show. Matt chatted with him from the stage and asked with concern, “Where is your hat? I hope you have lots of sun screen on.” LOL
Rita, who is wearing a cap signed by ETA Tim ‘E’ Hendry hopes that next year that both Tim and Matt will perform at Canal Days.
A lady I met at the MOVE 105-7 Radio booth said that she came to the August 1st show specifically to see ETA Tim ‘E’ Hendry. Rita pulled a white cap from her bag that Tim had signed at his last Canal Days show. She had brought her cap to remind Tim that she is a fan, and although she really liked Matt and Brent, she was disappointed that Tim was not performing. Some others might have been expecting to see Tim ‘E’ Hendry, whom I saw in 2017 and 2019 at Canal Days, since the programs were printed before name and time changes could be made. In a classy moment on stage, Matt acknowledged Tim, “I think a lot of you came expecting to see Tim ‘E’ Hendry who could not make it this year; so let’s give a round of applause for our buddy.”
Matt and Brent covered all three decades of Elvis’s career. (I captured some of their performances in the videos that follow). First on stage was Brent in his 50’s sport jacket. Matt performed next wearing a gold jacket. Brent covered the Movie Years wearing a two piece pink suit. And also in the 60s decade, Matt dazzled on stage in the 68 Comeback Special black leather suit looking so cool on a very hot summer day. After a short intermission, Matt was back wearing a white jumpsuit with a black scarf that he gave to one lucky young lady that was patiently waiting by the stage. After a song set from the Concert Years, Matt brought Brent back on stage for a great close to a spectacular show.
Slide Show
Matt and Brent took time after their show to chat with fans/friends and pose for photos.
Thank you, Matt Cage, Brent Freeman, The Casino Brothers, The Roulettes, Canal Days organizers, friends, fans and SB Mag followers.
If I had one wish this August, it would be to repeat August 1st all over again. Cheers! C.M.
Photo and Video Credits: Carolyn MacArthur.