From its humble beginnings at The Star Community Bar in 1996 to its twice-yearly “residency” at Variety Playhouse from 2005-2014, Big Mike Geier’s Elvis Royale was more than a tribute to the King of Rock ‘n Roll. It was a kitschy Atlanta tradition that blossomed into a Vegas-style spectacular. Backed by his powerful 12-piece band aptly named Kingsized and flanked by high-kicking bedazzled Dames Aflame showgirls, Big Mike Geier never dressed in Elvis costumes or tried to impersonate. Geier’s Elvis Royale was always a celebration of Elvis’ vast musical catalogue and showmanship, with an appreciation for some of the quirky southern culture that the idiosyncratic legend left in his wake.