Good Vibes to Playing Dives

It is not that often I get to play REALLY GOOD MUSIC with more than a few like-minded individuals. Last week, some friends and I collaborated at Vibe Asylum, a recording and rehearsal studio off Ward Avenue. It is the best public studio on the island because each room is fully stocked with top-of-the-line musical equipment and ice cold air conditioning. For a drummer like myself, the latter makes a world of a difference! Tracy gave great customer service too by loaning out pairs of drum sticks and allowing drinks inside the room. Thanks Trace!

The jam comprised of Girish (gear-ish) on psychedelic guitar, HPU Ian on thumping bass, Joey Zeez on drums, old man Neil on the fluttering sax, and Dizzy Darren on keyboards. All of us were equally as hyped to play because we knew it was going to sound amazing, and it did! The mixer levels were perfectly preset, so my friends plugged right in as I threw down some funky drum breaks. We blended Reggae, Blues, Funk, Soul and Hip Hop with each of our own diverse improvisational styles. It sounded better and better till we finally tore the roof off!

My mission was to record the jam on my friend's MacBook but was not working with the PA and mixer. I was only able to record a few songs on my phone, therefore only crappy sounding versions exist. It is okay because I knew we would meet again soon...

A week later on May 8th, we had a chance to play inside Bar 35. Everyone was stoked again, but this time I was exhausted from school, printing, and selling at First Friday the day before. Despite my condition, we constructed some good improvisational jams to the soulful singing of Capp on the microphone, whose vocals complemented our overall sound very nicely (Capp performed with Mykah 9, featured on my Jazz Minds and Rhymes blog).

After jamming for an hour straight, my limbs started tensing up. I was determined to finish strong so I clenched my hands tight until that last chord struck. Then wow! I was spent, and could not imagine trying to carry the drums back up four floors.

For compensation they gave us gift certificates in which we used immediately on pizza and beer! Whew!It was all down hill from there.

Into the Scene

Katie Whitman is the brainchild behind the 808 Scene Zine, a free publication that supports underground music and all art forms. The idea for it came after Whitman started writing reviews of local bands she saw on Myspace. Each band contacted her shortly after because they were ecstatic someone was writing about them. Their appreciation for Whitman's reviews motivated her to expand the idea of a website into a zine, or mini-magazine, where people could find information on the expanding underground movement.

The publication showcases all music styles along with tattoos, album and show reviews, artist bios, and other material pertaining to the culture. Whitman claims "I've always wanted the publication to be all inclusive of all styles of music, while focusing on those styles that get very little press or attention elsewhere in Hawaii's media." Katie knows the city's crevices are exploding with diversity and expression yet feels there are too many oblivious of it. Therefore her goal is to inform the masses while simultaneously having an outlet for talent to gain exposure.

Her previous experience of putting together a show for HD Radio Free Hawaii inspires her to take the zine in a different direction. She would like to have the online version include a streaming radio show of local bands. The focus on other entertainment such as comedy performances at the Laughtrack Theatre and independent films add to where Whitman sees the 808 Scene Zine headed.

Artists covered in the zine are oftentimes those who approach Whitman about the exposure. She added "There are a lot of bands out there and it's difficult to know them all. It's a great help when people contact us about being interviewed in the zine". Here Whitman proves she is a supporter of all who reciprocate the love for the underground scene.

After four years at the controls, Whitman recently handed over the publication to a few individuals she says "have similar visions for the zine in the future". She highly anticipates what these new visionaries have planned. Whitman proudly mentioned that her exposure to the island's enormous amount of talented and dedicated artists who follow their passion molded her "transformative experience" at the zine.

The 808 Scene Zine's past, present, and future contributions are helping shape the art renaissance. It continues to inspire artists and enthusiasts alike to do-it-yourself. Only a handful of active participants in Oahu's underground art scene really make it thrive, and Katie Whitman is one of them. Thanks Katie!!!!

http://www.the808scenezine.com/

Fun, Inside and Out.

Kokua Fest is one of the biggest concert events of the year. The earthy, eclectic people of Hawaii come together at the Waikiki Shell to enjoy mellow sounds of such performers as Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley and Paula Fuga. This year, there were back-to-back shows on Friday and Saturday, possibly to make up for the festival's hiatus last year.

I remembered from past Kokua Fests that a very large number of fans congregate at Kapiolani park to listen from outside the Shell. I also remembered those fans were my JoZo!Prints target audience. At dusk, I walked with friends to the park and got ready for a live social networking frenzy.

What a turnout! By merely taking a stroll in the park, I sold 9 shirts and made some good contacts! I also threw a couple out to people that embraced my mission but had no funds. Some bought prints for sustainability support while others who were intoxicated flung ten bucks at me. Maybe it was my friend's bag that said "Feed the children of the world". Some girl insisted I sell the shirt off my back! I ended up walking home wearing a tight female shirt. I was most definitely going back on Saturday.

Saturday was a lot more calm; big family barbecues, lovers frolicking, and fans hungover from the previous night-like Joey Zeez. I took my chances with the not-as-enthused crowd anyway. It proved to be alright by selling 6 more shirts. Grand total for selling outside Kokua Fest-$150.

Not bad for just hanging in the park.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Geneva Convection

I walked in to the Honolulu Design Center without a clue my perceptions would instantly change on how I saw my work. There stood a Geneva sound-system in my CLIQ Lighting department. The Swiss brand has developed an iPOD dock stereo with the most wattage to date. The Large version I get to use is 400 watts (shown above) and sounds pretty dang crispy. My boss told me to turn the volume up to 100 so I did-right as an old man walked in with his fingers in his ears! We both jumped up, Sorrrry!

The second best part is now I get to sell Geneva's sound-systems alongside the crazy lights I'm already selling. The combination is actually good, but now I would rather only sell audio because I'm more comfortable with it altogether. My musical connection is an element that has been brought into the workplace! This will now be an advantage for me.

http://www.genevalab.com/v/vspfiles/default.asp

http://www.honoluludesigncenter.com/

Melodious Solutions

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to check out my friend's showcase of up-and-coming local bands entitled The Rising Melody. It was held at the Waikiki Nei Theatre inside Level 4 Nightclub. The concert hall/opera house is like no other on the island-it's humongous! The theatre has a really great soundsystem that made every band sound crisp and clear. Visual patterns were also projected onto a 40 foot screen behind the performers. The view was great from the balcony center front, bucket seats and all. Of course, the millions of dollars put into the theatre's construction paid off because it is quite an experience just to be inside there.

Rising Melody's root fundamentals are to expose talent who are passionate about their craft, promoting those more concerned about listener satisfaction than money.
The crowd was very supportive; a combination of students, scensters, veteran musicians, surfers, skaters, arists, and friends of friends, all who reciprocated what they saw and heard through a frenzy of cheers for each act.

Jazz Minds Finds The Rhymes

This past weekend I visited Jazz Minds, a local bar/lounge that plays live jazz, funk, hip hop and soul six nights a week. On this occasion, Los Angeles lyricist and freestyle wizard Mykah 9 performed to a packed audience, backed by local band Tempo Valley. Tempo’s deep grooves resonated from within the walls of the lounge, allowing opener and slam poet Bridget Grae to give her signature speakeasy-style lyrics. Both complimented each other well.

Mykah 9 walked up on stage as the dance floor filled with collective energy. He and Bridget collaborated for some improvisational songs that sounded like they could have been written. The audience looked satisfied one of Hip Hop’s ambassadors was performing off Chinatown’s beaten path.

The crowd was still charged by 1:45am, and only the disconnected felt the need to leave. Mykah’s encore was his Freestyle Fellowship classic and Gil Scott Heron cover song, Park Bench People. It was a very comforting rendition, reminding me of back home in L.A.

This was an all around great performance in an intimate setting that boasted seasoned musicians and a susceptive audience.

Palama Piece Yard

The Kalihi Palama Youth Center offers an activity not seen at too many other centers. The back field doubles as a designated area for Hawaii's best graffiti artists, kids and adults alike. All are allowed to put their works on built pre-fabricated walls for drivers passing by the Vineyard exit to see, as well as respected and non-respected peers. Every weekend, new colorful pieces, murals, and "throwups"( bubble letters and words, usually painted quicker than normal) are created. You can see local crews or solo-artists out there on the weekend having a good time, fulfilling their passion for "Graff". The designation of a yard gives the opportunity to let some of Hawaii's talent shine, and also signifies the embrace of an artistic, alternate activity.

Art as Influence

Last week a new exhibit opened up at the Honolulu Academy of Arts entitled "From Whistler To Warhol: Modernism On Paper". On display are pieces created by the great Realists, Surrealists, Minimalists, Expressionists, and Pop Artists from the last century and a half. The first few works upon entering are of Andy Warhol screen prints. The halftones and contrasting colors he uses are a wonderful treat in itself. After seeing Warhol's screen print on one hundred colored styrene cases of artist's faces (used in the picture above, entitled "Ten From Castelli", 1967), I was in love. Works by Roy Lichenstein and Frank Stella use multiple applications (lithograph, screen print, lino-cut, embossing) in a single piece which I find very interesting. Etchings using aquatint along with other methods and paintings by various artists round out the exhibit.

I highly recommend visiting this gallery if you are inspired by creative expression through various techniques of printmaking and drawings. It is located in Room 28 at the Academy of Arts and will continue until May 3rd.

Mighty Mighty Diamonds

The spirit of legends performing on Oahu continued this weekend with the Mighty Diamonds, a trio of singers who helped make the Roots Reggae genre popular in the late 1960's-early 1970's. They performed Friday night with their backup band at Tropics on the corner of Ward Farmer's Market. I found out they were going to be there while listening to KTUH in my car around 11 p.m. waiting for my friend to come out of his house.

The gig was not advertised in any paper, gearing it towards the island's underground music community who may not have 35 dollars to see them perform on Valentine's night at Pipeline. We immediately drove to Tropics to find the place almost at full capacity. I knew the door man so we got in for 10 dollars. The energy was powerful inside because it was the headliner's first time performing in Hawaii, and it was much anticipated.

The backup band played heavy on bass, drums, and keyboard, while adding echo effects to form what is known as dub versions. They performed Reggae classics with the offbeat wizardry only veterans of the industry can do. The crowd responded with a frenzy of cheers, including myself. An hour later, the Mighty Diamonds singers came on and swooned the crowd with their soulful harmonies and hooks. I looked around to see all couples joined at the hip.

Two o'clock in the morning came upon us quick as the band played their hana hou. The crowd wanted more but the joyous occasion had to come to an end. We left immediately after the last cymbal crash at around 2:15 am in order for myself to have a few winks before work.

An Eventful First Friday

February's First Friday was a milestone in the art renaissance of Chinatown, Honolulu. People came out in droves to see the Chinese New Year celebration along side the art walk that was simultaneously occurring. It was also the first time newly renovated artist lofts were available for open house. Hotel Street became the most concentrated I had ever seen with party goers. I looked inside Smith's Union Bar which is normally empty, to see customers filling it to capacity. Vagrants and homeless were interspersed with the crowd who spilled out onto the street.

It was a special night for me; I started off doing my T-shirt gig in Chaplain Lane where I participate in a flea market entitled Shop, Bop, and Grind. Later that evening, one of Hip Hop's founding fathers was in attendance down the street at bar/venue Next Door. D.J. Kool Herc, who is given credit for making Hip Hop breaks popular in the late 70's-early 80's, performed to a full capacity. The Jamaican born, New York native had the crowd roaring with his innovative style of blending old and new music genres. Many in the crowd had no idea who Kool Herc was, yet for myself, who is a Hip Hop head (enthusiast), it was an event I had been waiting for five years to witness (I missed his performance at Next Door in 2005).

Seeing many friendly faces on the dance floor reminded me that Honolulu is a collective area of society where artists, artisans, and audiences reciprocate positive energy in a way that few cities do. The city's cultural diversity is a major contribution that is paralleled by the tradition of ohana.

The February First Friday opened up Chinatown's gateway to a larger audience, combining dual festivities whereby helping its popularity. The art walk seems to get bigger every month as the number of reasons for attendance grows: art appreciation, shopping, partying, performances, relaxation, and cultural dining. The emergence of a well rounded art scene is giving the city a reason to be hopeful for an economical upturn.