Not to sure if this is good news or bad news, but I got confirmation a few days ago that the annual Rock the Bells hip-hop festival will not make an appearance in Hawaii this year.
But… if you consider the watered-down version we got at the Blaisdell Arena last year (the picture above is of the crowd from that show), it’s probably a good idea to keep RTB on the mainland.
To quote this post on OG nightlife website QuadMag.com: “By the time it gets to Hawaii, it’ll be pared down to Phife Dawg, Coolio and a House Of Pain tribute act.”
Don’t get me wrong – I really hope RTB comes back in 2009. I hear Kapiolani Community College is a great place to throw an outdoor festival, and there are always the oldie-but-goodie spots like Kualoa Ranch and Andrew’s Amphitheatre.
They just gotta bring the heat, not this half-baked stuff with the lone goal of separating Hawaii hip-hop fans from their hard-earned cash.
It was quite a walk down memory lane at the Waikiki Shell last weekend, as two living legends from the local recording industry celebrated 35 years of making music together.
Cecilio Rodrigues and Henry Kapono Kaaihue have weathered their share of ups and downs over the decades – including a dwindling tour schedule at one point, and even a temporary split to pursue their own solo projects.
But thanks to the efforts of Kaaihue’s wife, Lezlee, in recent years, they’ve returned to the studio and gone back out on the road to perform for loyal fans around the world.
There are more pictures from Sunday’s “Back in the Day” anniversary concert after the jump; you can also check out my Flickr page for another 20 images that didn’t make it into the blog.
Star-Bulletin business columnist Erika Engle tipped me off to a report in this week’s Pacific Business News that longtime Waikiki eatery Eggs ‘n Things will close its doors on Aug. 31.
A quick check of their Web site confirms the closure, but fans of the restaurant shouldn’t worry too much. They’ll reopen by Nov. 1 in a two-story building across the street from the Waikiki Post Office on Saratoga Rd.
This isn’t the first time Eggs ‘n Things has changed its address. After opening in 1974, the restaurant relocated in 1986 from Ena Rd. to its current home on Kalakaua Ave.
I was driving through Kaimuki this afternoon and spotted a bunch of new concert posters on telephone poles near Kapiolani Community College.
Even in an era where text messages, MySpace bulletins and RSS feeds provide near-instantaneous communication between promoters and music fans, sometimes it’s the old-fashioned ways of guerilla street promotion that are the most effective. Until I drove by KCC, I had no clue that David Banner would be making a trip to Honolulu.
I’ve never been a fan of the television show America’s Next Top Model, but it looks like I’ll be tuning in when new episodes are broadcast next month.
According to multiplesources online, former Hawaii resident Sheena Sakai has been selected as one of 14 finalists this season. She’ll make her first appearance on Sept. 3, when a two-hour casting special kicks things off on the CW network (channel 93 on Oceanic digital cable).
Have you gone? If not, check out my Barfly column that ran in the Star-Bulletin earlier this month. And if you have, will you return anytime soon?
I’ve waited a bit to go back, since it was obvious the club needed to work out a few kinks. But with the launch of Privilege, the club’s new weekly industry party, I’m curious to see how things are going.
I’d sit down in front of the computer in an attempt to do some serious work, only to be distracted by the seemingly endless Olympic coverage on TV.
Tonight? Blame my procrastination on women’s synchronized swimming. And the Redeem Team.
I mention the Olympics because staying up late to watch on Friday made it tough to wake up Saturday for Band Camp VI at the Waikiki Shell.
Make no mistake, the guys from BAMP Project do a fantastic job of getting top mainland talent to perform in Hawaii. But after last year’s headlining set by Matisyahu, this year’s concert fell a little flat despite the return of Jason Mraz.
Okay, so it’s more like 10 minutes instead of five this time around, but here is the complete interview with Crucible guitarist Derrick Haderman (pictured) as promised in this week’s column.
I had the opportunity to chat with Haderman last week via Talkshoe about the band’s 11th anniversary show on Saturday at Pipeline Cafe. Crucible will be joined by fellow rockers Phoenix Rose and Hilo-based Augustine at this 18+ show; doors open at 9 p.m.
