LIve Music at the Honolulu Night Market: MOJO, and Jerome James & Activ8 Electro Jazz (4-20-2013)

 

This was our 2nd visit to the monthly Honolulu Night Market on Auahi Street.  Check out their website: http://www.honolulunightmarket.com/.  

The event has grown since the first one and and we suspect it will continue to grow all in part of the Kaka'ako Redevelopment Plans by KSB.  We highly recommend everyone checking it out.  It's a safe event to bring the family to, including pets!  We even saw the famous 'Hokulani' there with Norman Dung.  Entry to the Honolulu Night Market is free and so is the parking!  We like!  Be sure to bring cash to make it easier on the food trucks and the garden bar.  And if you need coffee, there are 3 locales to get your fix.  Lots of street treats, arts & crafts, fashion, and of course music! 

On this clear starry night in Kaka'ako, we caught a sample of 2 bands.

MOJO - which stands for Music Over Judgement and Oppression, is a reggae band that combines ska, punk, rock, dub and hip hop to create a sound that can not be categorized.  Check out their website at http://www.mojoreggae.com/band_bio.  This 3 piece band puts out a lot of energy.  We sat in the front row to get a better look at the band.  After 30 minutes or so of watching their drummer, we felt like we had worked out too.  We enjoyed watching the young ladies free-style dancing on the side of the stage.  Whether their moves were choreograph or not, it excited the band and gave them more MOJO to play (no pun intended).  You can caught MOJO on May 17 at the Mai Tai Bar, and on May 25 at Hawaiian Brian's.




JEROME JAMES & ACTIV8 ELECTRO JAZZ - We had the pleasure of meeting Jerome at a Jazz gig a few years back at the former Aku Bone Lounge.  The son of a noted drummer, this guy is very innovative.  Check out Jerome's website at http://www.jeromejamesjrums.com/index.htm.  Each time we see Jerome perform, it's sometime outside of the box.  We were not surprise when we saw his group of horn players, jugglers, and minds parading down Auahi Street with Jerome in a one of it's kind portable drum set complete with sound system, wheels, and lights.  An instant crowd magnet!  It was kinda like Modern Acid Jazz.  I'm sure we'll be seeing this group invited to other street festivals. You can catch Jerome James Activ8 Electro Jazz at the Dragon Upstairs in Chinatown located
above Hank's Place every 2nd Friday night.




Pictures from the Night Market............

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 for a great night in Honolulu! & Don't Stop The Music!

LS 34 Live for the Moms On a Mission Rock & Roll Night for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii (4-6-2013)

Okay, I have to plug one of my favorite bands, LS 34.  This band plays classic rock from the 60s and 70s.  Music that I grew up with and enjoy very much.  It's also the band that my wife Sandy sings for. Yes, I'm being partial, but they really are good.  'LS' stands for Lovin' Sounds, which is the band's original name when they played the high school and military circuit back in the late 60s.  Members graduated from high school in 1970 and went their separate ways to pursue college, careers and family.  However, in 2004 guitarist Harold Kageura got the band back together to jam for fun.  In Summer of 2004 the band (with a few new members) got invited to performed at their 1st gig - the American Heart Association Oahu Heart Walk at Kapi'olani Park.  That was 34 years from the last time they played together in High School. Hence the '34' in LS 34.  It's been 9 years now and the band (currently 11 members) still meets monthly to jam and perform at selected gigs.  Check out their website at http://ls34.blogspot.com/

On this night in Waikiki at the Hale Koa Hotel Banyan Tree Showroom, LS 34 was the featured band at the 1st Annual Moms On a Mission Rock & Roll night, a benefit for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii; hosted by Lina Girl of KCCN FM100, and a special performance by Drill Team Hawaii.  The music lineup - purely Rock & Roll! CCR, Santana, Spirit, Rare Earth, Doobie Bros, Grand Funk, etc.  The event was so successful, the band was invited back to perform next year (March 22, 2014).  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.

You can catch LS 34 at their next public gig on June 29th at Dot's  In Wahiawa, a benefit fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Wahiawa-Waialu.  Tickets on sale at Eventbrite.com.

The LS 34 Band:
Craig Kim - lead drums
Eugene Nakabayashi - guitar
Jenson Tamanaha - congas, percussions, vocals
Karl Nishio - timbales, drums, guitar, percussions, vocals
*Kenneth Uyeno - vocals
Mike Gonsalves - bass guitar, vocals
*Milton Matsusaki - lead guitar
*Ronald Ishikawa - lead guitar
Ronald Hanagami - vocals
Sandy Tsujimura - vocals
*Wesley Nakashima - keyboards
Chad Nugal - sound

* Original Lovin' Sounds

Mahalo for the great time LS 34! & Don't Stop The Music!

Dr. Jazz Quartet Live at JJ Bistro & French Pastry (3-22-2013)

There's Live JAZZ in Kaimuki?   Well it's about time! 

JJ Bistro & French Pastry now hosts live music on Friday nights from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.  Come early for free preferred parking at the back lot, or you'll have to hunt for street parking and might have to pay the meter.  The food is European and Lao cuisine.  Very fancy.  The prix fixe menus are a good deal.  Also owners of the adjacent Crab City restaurant, the menu will also offer a Seafood Basket filled with steamed lobster, crab, shrimp, scallops and corn on the cob.  This seemed to be a popular item with families and couples.  It was entertaining to watch people being creative and working with their shell fish.  No liquor license here, so feel free to bring in your own wine and beer. And don't forget to check out the dessert showcase and bakery counter.  So many delicious choices to pick from.  They also offer espresso and French pressed coffee.  We like!  Reservations are recommended.   This place is no secret to the community and gets busy early. 

On this night, the DR. JAZZ QUARTET.  Dr. Jazz an assuming nick name, is a real physician by professional trade.  He plays the saxophone, and will sing a special song or two to his wife in the last set.  Sharing the stage tonight with Dr. Jazz, 3 exceptional guitar players: Nando Suan, Micheal Barquez, and Dale Macahdo.  Songs are typically standards and instrumental with fun rotating solos. The first time we visited they didn't bring a microphone.  This time they did bring a microphone and invited me to the stage to join them.  The stage area is small but once you start singing everyone stops eating and watches you.  A captive responsive audience is a good thing.  Especially when they clap and hana hou you.  Think we'll visit with them again over coffee, but only after we enjoy our seafood basket and a chocolate pyramid.

Mahalo Guys! and Don't Stop The Music!

Pictures 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.

Video!

Chris Yeh Quartet Live at The Dragon Upstairs (3-8-2013)

Even the Dragon enjoys Jazz!   'The Dragon Upstairs' in Chinatown that is.  It's been awhile since we last visited this venue.  A must to see!   A mysterious arrival at the top of the stairs.  Surprise!  Muted lighting with vibrant red, black and gold tones, giant face masks, and ornate dragons and mirrors everywhere. 
We like!

On this cozy Friday night in Chinatown, the CHRIS YEH QUARTET on stage belting familiar jazz tunes.  What a treat for our pau-hana week!  We enjoyed 'Cantaloupe Island'!   You can groove with these guys every Friday night between 7 and 10 pm.  Check out the captured golden moment below.  Mahalo Guys!  and Don't Stop The Music!

Slideshow! 

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 Chris Yeh Quartet:
Chris Yeh - sax, band leader
Bailey Matsuda - piano
Louis Benito - bass
Chuck James - drums

Video!

Magic Mushroom Reunion Party II at the Manoa Grand Ballroom (2/15/2013)

After the first Magic Mushroom Party in July 2012, Dennis said "this will be the first and last one." I told him, "never say never." Well, my intuitions were right. Here's the Hana Hou in February 2013 with a crowd just a big as the first one.

ED KANOI of 107.9 Kool Gold kicked off the 2nd Magic Mushroom Reunion Party with a bang! First to hit the stage in sizzling red and black colors, ELECTRIC FISH & THE TOFU FACTORY (aka King Pins) playing "Born On The Bayou". The dance floor immediately filled after the audience filled their tummies at the pupu buffet. Even the Wahiawa Wahine Line dancers had a private dance area near the stage while dancing to "Disco Inferno".

AUDISSEY & FRIENDS was next on stage sporting a new 4-piece horn section, and extraordinaire drummer Alvin Fejarang (former Kapalana).  Special guest appearances by former 'Natural High' vocalists Rob Yamamoto singing "Summer Sun", and Ken Uyeno singing "Soul Man".

WHITE LIGHT commanded the stage with all their signature songs from their days performing in Spencecliff Hawaii Restaurants. Tammie Kotani won a White Light T-shirt for being the first to name those restaurants. Dean Guzman also won a T-shirt for sharing his maki-sushi with Joy Waikoloa. The dance floor overflowed during the "Electric Slide". The evening ended with a hana hou of "We Are Family!" How fitting for this audience of baby boomers and music lovers of the 70s!

Slideshow ! ......





Unable to view the slide show....click on this LINK.  You will also be able to "Like" or "Share" your favorite pictures to Facebook.

It was good to see many friends and family enjoying themselves. Mahalo & Kudos to Dennis and Joy Matsukawa for putting together another successful Magic Mushroom Reunion Party.  Hey Dennis! Perhaps a #3? Special Mahalo to all the bands for bringing us back to a special moment in time! Don't Stop The Music!



Electric Fish & The Tofu Factory (aka The King Pins):

Harvey Yamauchi - lead guitar, vocals, band leader
Randal Rosenberg - bass guitar, vocals
Lance Tianer - guitar, background vocals
Harvey Yoshioka - key boards, background vocals
Brad Choi - drums

Band contact & Bio: http://www.kingpinshawaii.com/




Audissey & Friends:

Dennis Matsukawa - lead guitar, vocals, band leader
Alvin Ferjarang - drums
Brad Nakanishi - key boards, vocals
Paul Yokota - guitar, vocals
Galen Onouye - bass guitar
Isaac Nishimura - saxaphone
Chris Ostuka - saxaphone
Gen Miyashiro - trumpet
Kalyn Miyasato - trombone
Rob Yamamoto - vocals (special guest)
Ken Uyeno - vocals (special guest)

Band contact: audissey004@yahoo.com







White Light:

Joy Waikoloa - vocals
Don Tsuha - trumpet
Sherman Kang - saxaphone
Clarence Lau - trombone
Gerald Tomosawa - trumpet and drums
Layne Maeoka - drums
Arex Ikehara - bass guitar
Daniel Kurose - guitar
George Mosier - guitar
Larry Isobe - keyboards
Howard Nakata - vocals
Tommy Kamisato - trumpet

Band contact: joywaikoloa@facebook.com

Band Bio: http://www.70snightclubreunion.com/info/bios/white_light.html