Live Jazz: Adagio at Mezz 127 (5-11-2013 & 5-25-2013)

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....

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Pictures from 5-25-2013...

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Mahalo ADAGIO! & Don't Stop The Music!

Adagio Members:
Riya Davis - vocals
Joshua Kaye - piano
Mark Tanouye - bass
Bonny B - drums

Band contact: riya.davis@facebook.com

Videos!




 Special guest Steve Lucas on guitar.

Melodie Soul & Blue Light Funk Band Live at Gordon Biersch (5/11/2013)

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!

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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

Check out their website at: http://www.bluelightfunk.com/

CHaOs Live at Gordon Biersch (5-10-2013)

Sweet & sad endings on this clear starry night at Gordon Biersch, at the Aloha Tower Marketplace.  Sweet, the delicious desserts and drinks. Sweet, the great music. Sweet, the perfect weather for dancing.  Sweet, the gathering, laughter and smiles of friends.  Sweet, a birthday celebration (Happy Birthday Dayton!).  Sad, Chaos's last stage performance.  What!  After 12 years together, Devin Nakasone shared that tonight is Chaos's last performance.  Sigh!  The night was very emotional for fans, current members, and past Chaos members sitting in; sharing their love for music and each other.  Never fear, even though Chaos will be gone, we'll be seeing these band members immediately purging endeavors to new levels and elements.  If not already, as said by a duck!  Sweet! 

Please enjoy these capture golden moments.

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Mahalo CHAOS!  Best wishes always, & Don't Stop The Music!  

Chaos Band:

Vernon Lau - keyboards
Wendell Ching - drums
Dayton Arima - bass
Devin Nakasone - vocals
Joe Perez - vocals
Sharlene Aoki - vocals

Guests:

Grant Moniz - guitar
Lauren Moniz - keyboard
Gun-so Kawai - bass
Nate Ng - bass

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............

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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.

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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!