When the King sang “Return to Sender” in 1962, was he singing not only of a rejected love letter, but the cyclic nature of history itself? Did songwriters Winfield Scott and Otis Blackwell have an inkling that another song, “Return2Sender,” would echo through the halls of Graceland half a century later?
Such questions are likely to crop up whenever pop culture perennially reinvents itself, in this case when the the latest pop phenom, Scarypoolparty (aka Alejandro Aranda), brings his solo Acoustic Tour to the Graceland Soundstage on June 14.
But Aranda is no mere flash in the pan. Rather, his rapid ascension into the pop stratosphere (with 15 million combined streams and over 700,000 social media followers) was done with an uncompromising sense of purpose. When he first catapulted into the national spotlight with multiple appearances in season 17 of American Idol, he distinguished himself as the only artist in the show’s history who refused to play cover material, instead performing seven of his own songs as the season wore on.
Those songs, at once vulnerable, fragile, and impossibly glossy, sparkle with the finesse of his own guitar playing and the emotion of his earnest lyrics. They seem to have struck a nerve on a global scale, and Lionel Richie was even moved to give him a hug.
While “Return2Sender” was released in the heart of lockdown last year, he now has dropped a new EP, Los Angeles, which was actually recorded during that time. In contrast, it balances his more ethereal work with a harder-hitting approach that showcases his versatility, even as it keeps his expressive voice front and center.
Expect more of his introspective material at the Graceland show, as he carries out a tour with only his acoustic guitar by his side. But don’t let that lull you into complacency: Even the quieter side of Scarypoolparty is a draw, and tickets for the Memphis appearance are being snatched up.
This will be an especially intimate kick-off show for a venue that’s typically more boisterous. Once Scarypoolparty wraps, the Graceland Soundstage carries on with more world-class national acts well into the fall. After the isolation of quarantine, Elvis himself would be proud that the party, no matter how scary, is once again revving up.
Scarypoolparty
Monday, June 14, 2021
Bill Cherry
Saturday, July 3, 2021
Hardy
Thursday, July 8, 2021
Blackberry Smoke – Spirit of the South Tour
Friday, August 6, 2021
Cheap Trick
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Friday, September 24, 2021
The Monkees Farewell Tour
Friday, October 1, 2021
Jelly Roll
Thursday, October 7, 2021
Greg Gutfeld
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Trey Kennedy – Are You For Real Tour?
Friday, October 22, 2021
Drive-By Truckers
Friday, February 4, 2022