By Jason Genegabus

Courtesy photo

It’s not like DJ Eskae needs a lot of help promoting his monthly Soul Clap party at thirtyninehotel.

Of all his gigs, this is the one that draws the biggest crowds on a consistent basis. But I’ve noticed a bigger buzz than usual over DJ Nick Catchdubs’ visit to Chinatown tonight.

Not familiar with the New York-based DJ/journalist/record label owner? Here’s an excerpt from his biography:

Equally at home opening a packed show for the Clipse or spinning between bands at the SXSW and CMJ festivals, Nick has shared stages with the likes of Ghostface, MIA, Spankrock, and the Pack, and played back to back with club champs like Diplo & Low Budget of Hollertronix, Flosstradamus, and Kanye West’s DJ A-Trak. He has been a featured guest at The Rub in Brooklyn (”Best Party To Dance Sweatily To Smart Music” - Village Voice), and helped found the beloved Superfriends bash at Milk in San Francisco (”Best Serial Party” - SF Weekly).

If you happened to run into Eskae this month, he probably would have given you a copy of “Fool’s Gold: Remixed,” a two-disc sampler with tracks by Kid Sister, Kid Cudi and Jokers of the Scene. Catchdubs worked with Scion to produce the CDs, and he’ll spend the beginning of February touring Canada in support of it after appearances here and in Los Angeles.

“To me, Fool’s Gold is the modern version of what labels like Sleeping Bag and Nervous were doiing back in the 80’s and early 90’s,” writes Catchdubs in the sampler’s liner notes. “I want Fool’s Gold to represent the absolute best in club music on all levels.”

To give you a taste of what’s to come tonight, check out “Cross the Dancefloor (Chromeo Remix)” by Treasure Fingers, below:

 Treasure Fingers - "Cross the Dancefloor (Chromeo Remix)": Play Now

By Jason Genegabus

More Picks:
In the Mix
In Concert: Cazwell
In Concert: Terror
In Concert: Shiny Toy Guns
Star-Bulletin Staff Picks
SB Nightclub Listings
Crawlspace: Upstanding Youth and Redda Fire

By Jason Genegabus

Courtesy photo

If you want to see legendary hip-hop duo EPMD in concert next month, you need to get to Ward Warehouse at noon today.

That’s when DIG Lifestyles will make 200 tickets available for the Feb. 6 show at Pipeline Cafe, which is the latest in a series of events presented in partnership with MySpace.com. EPMD’s latest album, “We Mean Business,” is available in stores now.

By Jason Genegabus

Image via Wikipedia

Hot on the heels of last week’s news that Jimmy Buffet’s at the Beachcomber would open for business on Feb. 2, the restaurant’s namesake announced two concerts in Hawaii to help commemorate the launch and open his 2009 summer tour.

I’ve heard rumors about this for weeks, and The Oahu Concierge publisher Pam Davis fanned the flames when she posted the potential show dates on Twitter. Earlier today, Buffett’s website posted the first five dates of his Summerzcool 2009 Tour with the Coral Reefer Band, which kicks off Feb. 24 at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center.

Oahu residents will have to wait until Feb. 28, when Buffett will headline at the Waikiki Shell. Tickets for that show go on sale Saturday at all Ticketmaster outlets; Maui residents will be able to purchase tickets via the MACC website.

And while there’s no official word yet, I’ve got a feeling Jake Shimabukuro will be on hand for the Hawaii dates of this tour. He’s performed in front of the Parrotheads before, but I don’t think he’s done so in front of a local audience.

By Jason Genegabus

More Picks:
Chinese New Year 2009
In the Mix: One Right Turn’s Mainland Tour
IYFI New Year’s Bash with Tiffany Ganotisi
Star-Bulletin Staff Picks
SB Nightclub Listings
Crawlspace: Sand Island R&B and The V Lounge

By Jason Genegabus

Heads up, especially if you were planning to check out Ozomatli with special guest Chali 2Na at Aloha Tower on Jan. 31.

According to promoter Tom Moffatt, nearly 200 tickets to the show were stolen from an official ticket outlet earlier this week. If you bought yours already, then there’s nothing to worry about.

But if you’re like a lot of other local residents and wait until the last minute to purchase, be wary of anyone who might approach you outside the venue with tickets to sell. If the number on it ranges from 1003 to 1200, you’re buying a stolen ticket.

Also keep in mind that Moffatt and the Honolulu Police Department are looking into the theft of the tickets. If you try to get into the show using one, there’s a really good chance you’ll end up missing the music while getting interrogated by detectives investigating the crime.

Consider yourself warned.

By Jason Genegabus

Jason Genegabus photos

Before I made my way to Waikiki for the final edition of SKYLiNE on Saturday, I stopped by the Blaisdell to check out Gloria Estefan’s first concert appearance in Hawaii since 1997.

The last time she was here, nine years had passed since she had performed in Honolulu. The Star-Bulletin’s John Berger reported back then that Esteban promised not to wait so long before coming back.

Unfortunately, she didn’t keep her promise, waiting nearly 12 years to follow up on her show at Aloha Stadium.

But that didn’t seem to bother the few thousand fans who showed up at the Blaisdell on Saturday to see Estefan sing her hits, plus tracks off her latest album, “90 Millas,” released in 2007.

Check out my pictures from the concert, after the jump.

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By Jason Genegabus

Marina Miller photo

Tickets went on sale today for a pair of all-ages concerts by the Bouncing Souls at Anna Bannana’s in March.

If you haven’t heard of the guys from New Jersey, here’s a little background info from the band’s bio:

“Picture it: 1989, a Knights of Columbus Hall in Bernardsville, New Jersey. A supportive music-loving teacher throws down $120 to cover expenses. A bunch of sweaty high school kids gather to sneak beers and rock all night at the debut show of a band called The Bouncing Souls. And a Jersey institution is born.

What’s kind of cool about the Bouncing Souls is that even with two decades in the music industry, this band continues to make music and embrace new technology and trends.

In 2009, they’ll release a new single every month via the Internet. But in a nod to the past – and fans of vinyl records – the band will also release a 7-inch compilation record every three months. Fans who purchase them will be rewarded with an exclusive bonus track.

It’s a great idea: Make it possible for fans to download your music, but also offer an alternative with added features to encourage additional purchases. Genius!

You can check out the Bouncing Souls’ new single for January 2009, “Gasoline,” after the jump.

March 24
The Bouncing Souls with The 86 List and Make The Change
Where: Anna Bannana’s
Time: 7 p.m.
Tickets: $12 in advance; $15 at the door

March 25
The Bouncing Souls with Red Light Taxi (from the Big Island)
Where: Anna Bannana’s
Time: 7 p.m.
Tickets: $12 in advance; $15 at the door

Tickets are available for purchase online at 808shows.frontgatetickets.com.

(more…)

By Jason Genegabus

Courtesy photo

The Mountain Apple Company isn’t slowing down in 2009, despite the current economic downturn and a challenging business model.

Instead of feeling sorry for themselves when Tower Records and other music retailers began to disappear on Oahu in recent years, they regrouped and brokered new deals to get albums sold at stores like Longs and Wal-Mart. They also pushed hard to establish a presence online, marketing aggressively to Hawaiian music fans outside of the state and expanding their reach to untapped regions around the world.

Now, it looks like the MAC folks are bolstering their stable of artists. Word came earlier this week that local icon Cyril Pahinui, former HAPA member Keli’i Kaneali’i and ukulele legend Troy Fernandez inked deals with the label in December.

The three new signings came about seven months after Mountain Apple signed Mailani Makainai (pictured above right, with Lei Melket as the duo Keahiwai) to a solo deal. When I spoke to MAC president Leah Bernstein last year, she said Makainai was the first artist to sign with them in quite a while.

This week, Bernstein reaffirmed another belief she shared with me back then.

“We are committed to recording beautiful Hawaiian music … fans of local music are loyal and continue to support the industry by purchasing quality recordings of their beloved local musicians,” she said. “In these difficult times for so many families, Hawaiian music is comforting them and a reason for everyone to get together and enjoy each others company.”

Personally, I’m ecstatic to see Fernandez getting back into the swing of recording and releasing new material. I really, really, REALLY hope he’ll find a way to get Ernie Cruz, Jr. into the studio to record some sort of Ka’au Crater Boys reunion track.

By Jason Genegabus

Alex Farnham video

Before the Internet became the go-to place for instantaneous information updates, concert posters and event fliers were the primary means of getting the word out in Clubland.

When MySpace.com blew up about five years ago, savvy promoters realized they could digitize those materials and post them online. No longer did people have to visit a record store or clothing shop to find out when their favorite band was coming to town.

As digital camcorders get smaller and cheaper, it looks like the new frontier is video. I first noticed the trend a few months ago, but it looks like 2009 is going to be the watershed year for this new promotional tactic.

“The Aesop Rock” (above) by Alex Farnham is the latest in a series of videos commissioned by BAMP Project to promote their upcoming concerts. A graduate of Hualalai Academy, he’s messed with movie-making since he was 12 years old.

Like Da Braddahs, or Bu La’ia for those old enough to remember him, Farnham is blessed with the ability to make others laugh out loud. He pokes fun at local stereotypes without going overboard, and he’s also able to slip in promotional copy points without coming across as pushy.

Another good example of where the future is for party promoters is this video for Soul Clap at thirtyninehotel. Not as big of a production as “The Aesop Rock,” but a good look nonetheless in this new world of posting to Facebook and re-tweeting on Twitter.