By Jason Genegabus

Mountain Apple Company photo

The fine folks from the Mountain Apple Company got in touch earlier this week with an exclusive sample from Brother Noland’s upcoming album, “Hawaiian Man.”

That’s Mr. Conjugacion, above, in one of the MAC studios last November. His last album, the Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winner “Mystical Fish,” was released in 2006.

“This entire album is different than his usual sound,” wrote Mountain Apple’s Mike Pooley in an e-mail. “His back to basics repertoire on ‘Hawaiian Man’ is enhanced by his evolution of style.”

I’ve got to admit that Noland’s music doesn’t rank very high on my iTunes library’s play count, but I respect his fresh as an artist (“Coconut Girl” is still the truth!) and admire his ability to persevere in an industry that’s incredibly difficult to navigate.

He’s like a soul surfer, making the music he wants on his own terms while clearly enjoying the ride.

Check out “Hawaiian Man” after the jump. The album hits stores and iTunes on March 24.

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By Jason Genegabus

CNN photo

If you miseed this week’s “In the Mix,” I had the opportunity to talk story with Emily Chang a few days ago. The Punahou graduate called from China, where she works full-time for CNN International out of the network’s Beijing Bureau.

Check out my column to find out more about the former KHON reporter, or click on the links below for clips from our conversation:

 Five Minutes With: Emily Chang - Part 1: Play Now
 Five Minutes With: Emily Chang - Part 2: Play Now

By Jason Genegabus

Jason Genegabus photos

I almost stayed home on Saturday night after watching BJ Penn get dismantled by Georges St-Pierre in Las Vegas.

Thousands of Hawaii residents flew to Sin City in hopes of witnessing history. Back home, countless others crowded around television screens when UFC 94 went on the air shortly after 5 p.m.

Less than three hours later, those Penn fans were speechless after watching his corner and the cageside physician almost simultaneously declare the fight over. I know the right decision was to stop the punishment (Penn was taken to a local hospital immediately afterward), but couldn’t help but wonder how the move would clash with Penn’s “fight-to-the-death” mentality.

Anyway. It’s a good thing I got over the local MMA superstar’s heartbreaking main event loss, because there were a number of fun parties going off around town.

I hit up two spots on Saturday: Ozomatli in concert at Aloha Tower Marketplace with special guest Chali 2na and the second Wave Waikiki Reunion at Pipeline Cafe.

Check out my pictures from the night, plus exclusive performance footage from both parties, after the jump.

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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

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.

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By Jason Genegabus

Whatever works: A sandwich bag protects DJ Packo’s new mixtape from the elements. (Jason Genegabus photo)

It’s going to be quite an evening in Chinatown tonight.

In case you missed my column last week, the team behind Contrast Magazine will introduce themselves with “The Get Go” at thirtyninehotel. But you won’t have to walk very far to check out another solid party.

Over at the Loft, Future Underground hosts “re:LOAD,” with help from Contrast and SIQ Records. The local label’s newest project, Murder Mainstream, will be on hand to earn some new fans.

Also in the building: DJ Packo. The Clubland veteran will release his new mixtape, “Mosquito Diesel: The Glitchtape,” tonight at The Loft.

Packo just dropped off the CD last night (see picture above), so I haven’t had a chance to listen to all of it just yet. But so far, I’m enjoying the variety of tracks and the inclusion of a few favorite local MCs, and dude is no slouch when it comes to scratching vinyl.

I’ve got two exclusive samples off the new mixtape after the jump: “DJ Packo’s 73-D Glitchroduction” and “Freestyle On Memory Lane” featuring Seph1.

Enjoy… maybe I’ll see you in Chinatown tonight?

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By Jason Genegabus

KITV’s Jill Kuramoto, third from left, stopped by Senor Frog’s Waikiki last week. (Star-Bulletin file)

Very few – if any – Hawaii residents can lay claim to having a cameo on a Queen record.

KITV weekend anchor Jill Kuramoto, however, is one of those people. And she had no clue her voice appears on the new Queen + Paul Rodgers single, “Surf’s Up … School’s Out.”

The Star-Bulletin’s Erika Engle broke the story on Sunday in her column, where she got a label representative to admit Kuramoto’s voice was lifted without her permission.

“Hearst-Argyle’s attorneys are looking into (the situation),” Kuramoto said last week Tuesday when I spoke to her at Senor Frog’s Waikiki. “One of our cameramen at our station bought the album and was listening to it, and then he let everyone else in the newsroom listen to it.

“And then I heard it, and I thought, ‘Oh yeah, that does sound like me.’”

According to Kuramoto, the sample in question was taken from a Dec. 1, 2007 newscast on KITV. While Erika’s column mentions Queen’s people found said clip of the newscast on YouTube, she couldn’t find it during an online search.

“I’m trying to think how they got it,” said Kuromoto last week. “Maybe one of them was on vacation out here and they heard it then?”

You can listen to Kuramoto’s cameo after the break.

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By Jason Genegabus

Jason Genegabus photos

I had a feeling it was going to get a little nuts at Pipeline Cafe on Saturday.

Maybe it was the MySpace bulletin from the BAMP Project crew that warned procrastinators just NINE tickets were left by Friday afternoon. Or maybe it was the feeling I got while doing some background research for my cover story in last week’s HiLife.

After more than a decade on the grind as independent artists, it seems that “If Life Gives You Lemons…” and the “Paint the Nation” tour are the final steps Atmosphere needs to take before reaching critical mass with mainstream listeners.

During their third visit to Hawaii last weekend, Slug and Ant gave longtime followers what they needed while gaining fans with a high energy set of both new and old material.

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By Jason Genegabus

The Toadies performed in Dallas, Tex. earlier this year. (Peter Marince photo)

Judging by the results of a quick Google search, the last time Pau Hana Productions was in the news was last year, when Reel Big Fish returned to the islands for a concert at Pipeline Cafe.

When I ran into promoter Nikki Robinson at a press conference for this year’s Kokua Festival, we did the usual catching up (we worked at the same radio station years ago) before I asked when she’d be putting on her next show.

I didn’t get a solid answer. Robinson’s been doing well outside the concert game, and she’s always been one of the few promoters who always put family first.

That’s why I’m happy to report that Pau Hana Productions will return to the scene in 2009 with the Toadies at Pipeline on Jan. 9 (doors open at 6 p.m.). The Texas-based band reunited in 2006, more than a decade after their debut album, “Rubberneck,” was released.

Tickets, priced at $25 and $50, go on sale Nov. 29 at all Ticketmaster outlets.

I’ve got a sample off their latest album, “No Deliverance,” after the jump.

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By Jason Genegabus

Star-Bulletin file

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin’s John Berger wrote an interesting story that appeared in Sunday’s newspaper, which discussed the continued impact of the Internet on the local music industry and what Hawaii-based recording artists (and their labels) are doing in response.

One of those artists is Raiatea Helm, pictured above. She’s partnered with Hawaiian Host Chocolates to release a CD single of her new song, “Where I Belong.”

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