It's Friday night at Honolulu Harbor with the band that sports the Hawaii area code, EIGHT 0 EIGHT! No directory or operator assistance here. It's direct R&B and Soul Music to its fullest! Oh yeah! Lots of Chaka Khan, Bryan McKnight, Bill Withers, Eagles, etc. We like! NJ can surely belt those Chaka Khan songs, With Father's Day just around the corner, how sweet for Dana to dedicate a song by Charley Wilson called 'My Baby' to the late Dave Montero. Also spotted in the audience was Michi Moore and her cameras.
Check out these captured Golden Moments below.
Unable to view the slide show....click on this LINK. You will also be able to "Like" or "Share" your favorite pictures to Facebook.
Mahalo EIGHT O EIGHT! & Don't Stop The Music!
Eight O Eight Band:
NJ Chang Gottschalk - vocals
Dana Montero - vocals
Scott Schaffer - drums, music director
Robert Benson - guitar
Tony Trevias - key boards
Jansen Richards - bass guitar
Ricky Ricardo - saxophone, congas
We were so happy to attend and wear our duck colors to 'Winging It 3!' at Dot's in Wahiawa. This was one of the most entertaining fundraisers we attended in 2013. This event was hosted by Prayers On Wings, a non-profit organization founded by Devin Nakasone. Their mission statement: "Building bridges of communication & inspiring others through crisis, one feather at a time." How incredible is this organization? Well so much that the Governor Neil Ambercrombie declared May 26, 2013 the official 'Prayers On Wings Inspirational Day in Hawaii'. If you have not heard of all the incredible work this organization does, please go check out their website at: http://prayersonwings.webs.com. You will be moved and inspired.
We were so engrossed with the music at this event that we failed to write each name down in our notebook. (Shar, please email me) This was a variety show in a packed house! We simply enjoyed each and every performance! Patrick Koh Jazz Ensemble, Jesse Valour Band, Xcite, Pineapple Squeeze, Luna, Dave & Kelsie Watanabe, H20, MOJO, Level III with the Elements, etc, etc. Even Joy Waikaloa did a surprise dropped in after flying in from a Kauai gig. She and Devin did a beautiful duet to 'The Closer I Get To You'. We were awed with teen brown bag to stardom Kelsie Watanabe's rendition of 'Skyfall' and 'Empire State Of Mind'. This is one gal to keep on your radar. Joe and Shar took us back in time by singing songs from one of our favorite movies, 'Grease'. Dancers rushed to the dance floor for Devin's "Mustang Sally". There was even a Gangnam Style Dance off that got the entire house rolling in stitches.
Mahalo to the many hands (or should we say wings) that put this great event together! Mahalo to the many musicians and singers who donated their time and talent! You just can't beat LIVE MUSIC! Congratulations to Prayers On Wings & Happy 40th Birthday Devin! The evening ended with many hugs and smiles. Confirmation that great things can happen when great people come together for a common cause of 'Aloha'.
Please enjoy these captured golden moments, & most importantly....DON'T STOP THE MUSIC!
Quack! Quack!
Unable to view the slide show....click on this LINK. You will also be able to "Like" or "Share" your favorite pictures to Facebook.
This was our first time to Club Mambo (the former Terry's Place) at the Chinese Cultural Plaza in Downtown Chinatown. The hand painted ceiling tiles and window coverings at the entry are all gone, but good live music still fills this cozy place. We like the fresh new look, pupu menu and additional seating. Congratulations & best wishes to new owner Steve Ruiz.
Upon arrival, we were surprised and happy to run in some old friends, Scotty & Zenaida Malaluan. Sandy and Zenaida attend high school and college together. Sandy and Scotty used to worked at the Quality Inn Waikiki (former Napualani Hotel). Long story short, Sandy didn't know these 2 were actively dating. Happily, Sandy later became their wedding maid of honor. Also spotted in the audience were drummers, Alvin Fejarang and Leo Wisniewski, and jazz guitarist Steve Lucas.
On stage, SOUL PILOT! As noted on their Facebook page "Soul Pilot features 5 of Hawaii finest veteran musicians, Soul Pilot infuses their genre with a bit of Soulful R&B, Funk, Blues, Rock and Jazz." Vocalist Rachel Gonsalves may be a petite lady on stage but she surely can belt those cords. We love listening to her. Our second time seeing this band and still impressed. Catch Soul Pilot on August 31st at 'Summer's End' with The Caliente's and White Light, at the Manoa Grand Ballroom at JCCH. Russell Shiroma is also one of the original Caliente members. You can also catch Rachel at Duc's Bistro every Friday and Saturday night.
Please enjoy these captured golden moments. Mahalo SOUL PILOT! & Don't Stop The Music!
The Video....
The Pictures...
Unable to view the slide show....click on this LINK. You will also be able to "Like" or "Share" your favorite pictures to Facebook.
The Soul Pilot Band:
Rachel Gonsaves - vocals
Russell Shiroma - guitar, vocals, bandleader
Tony Trevias - keyboards, vocals
Peter Factora - drums
Gil Farias- bass
John Lundgren - sax
We decided to conveniently drop in at Mezz 127 at the Topa Towers (the former AmfacTowers) for some Jazz after our Gordon Biersch visit. Up 2 flights of steps (for those of you that remember the former lounge called The Landing), we discovered the band called ADAGIO.
Curious about the meaning of this word ,we goggled it. ‘Adagio' means 'at ease' in Italian, and denotes a slow pace, around and under 60 beats per minute. It is the second slowest of the most common tempo markings, after largo. Interesting relation.
Nothing slow paced about this band. But certainly 'at ease'. These guys are smooth. We like! We can groove to this music anytime of the day. Then enter a smiling Riya doing her rendition of 'Feel Like Making Love' by Roberta Flack, followed by some hot blues number that we never heard before. Wow! Good band pick Dancin' Dave (http://dancindaveproductions.com)! At the end of the night, we immediately become FB friends with Riya, and learned that she also sings on The Star of Honolulu, and for another band called Groove Evolution. We'll have to check them out one day.
You can catch ADAGIO at their next performance at Mezz 127 on June 8, 22 and 29 at 10:00 pm. BTW, parking at the Topa Towers is only $2.00 with validation at the Mezz. What a deal!
Please enjoy these captured golden moments below.
Pictures from 5-11-2013....
Unable to view the slide show....click on this LINK. You will also be able to "Like" or "Share" your favorite pictures to Facebook.
Pictures from 5-25-2013...
Unable to view the slide show....click on this LINK. You will also be able to "Like" or "Share" your favorite pictures to Facebook.
Mahalo ADAGIO! & Don't Stop The Music!
Adagio Members:
Riya Davis - vocals
Joshua Kaye - piano
Mark Tanouye - bass
Bonny B - drums
Another starry night at Honolulu Harbor. On this Saturday night at Gordon Biersch, we came to see for the first time, the Melodie Soul & Blue Light (formerly Blue Light Funk Band). We were immediately impressed with this band. Very talented musicians. Each vocalist a very strong singer that knows how to engage themselves with the audience. We enjoyed every song from the opening of "Ain't No Body" by Chaka Khan, to the closing rendition of "I'll Take You There" by the Staples. Al Neal was very kind to visit our table during the break and share about the band. We knew who their key board player was as we met Mofessa a year ago through Bobby Hernandez, a Jazz friend when they both played at the Smoke House Waikiki. This guy can rip a mean solo on his keyboard. At the end of the night, we thought perhaps someone from the Heart Ball committee should check this band out. Hint!
Please enjoy these captured Golden Moments below.
Pictures!
Unable to view the slide show....click on this LINK. You will also be able to "Like" or "Share" your favorite pictures to Facebook.
Videos!
Mahalo MELODIE SOUL & BLUE LIGHT FUNK BAND! & Don't Stop The Music!
Melodie Soul & Blue Light Funk Band:
Melodie Soul - vocals
Gyn Brown - vocals
Kyle Mc - vocals
Brotha Al - vocals
Marc Pearlman - guitar
Cecil 'Cat' Brown - bass guitar, vocals
Josh Guerra - drums
Mofessa - keys
AL Neal - congas, percussions, vocals
Juan Reys - trumpet
