Aloha mai! The Na Hoku awards will be televised on Wednesday, May 21, starting at 7:30 p.m. on channel 5, but you might also want to keep your computer on and run back and check the HARA page during the commercials, because Keola Donaghy, who is running the site, will be running a chatroom with some of the nominees and other luminaries.
Results of the awards will be posted at the HARA site at:
http://www.interpac.net/~nahenahe/HARA/na_hoku97/voting.html
The big news for my page this month is that Keola has made it searchable! This will assist those of you looking for CD info and mini-reviews. Check the details on my main page at:
http://www.interpac.net/~nahenahe/susanmusic/
Some great island music TV info below -- check it out! Make friends this summer with someone who has a VCR. [g]
The Keali'i Reichel concert originally scheduled for May 17 and then postponed to July 9 has been cancelled. A full refund is available for all ticketholders. Check out this URL for the details:
http://www.worldsound.com/bren2pr.htm
I also have info on when the tickets for Keali'i's July 12 Carnegie Hall concert will be available: they will go on sale the third week of May and they'll be $35 and $45... quite reasonable for Carnegie Hall, and for the great show that Keali'i. Kekuhi, and Uluwehi and the gang will be doing!
I heard that Skylark is hosting weekly live Pau Hana Hawaiian Music bashes at the Naniloa in Hilo. It's a benefit to bring a 14' statue of Kamehameha I to Wailoa State Park there. Friday May 23 will feature Willie K. and Amy Gilliom, and Teresa Bright will play on June 13. Contact the hotel for more info.
But first, for newcomers, this is how this page works: every two weeks I
list the latest Hawaiian music CD releases, and the Hawaiian music concerts
for the ensuing two week period around the world. I also list new concerts
that I hear of, no matter when they are, to give those of you out there a
"head's up" to get those front row seats.
Recordings
The Makaha Sons, On the Road Live (Poki Records SPCD 9061).
Actually, I'm not quite clear on the title of this CD: the front of the CD
reads "On the road LIVE,"
but the CD itself and the side of the CD reads "LIVE On The Road." Try ask
for it by both, eh? Onto the CD. I bought this one right off the shelf.
First, I generally like live albums. The immediacy and the energy make up
for any small flaws in
performance. Second, I just plain like the Makaha Sons. To me, they are
the epitome of Hawaiian music (and that Jerry is sooo funny!). This CD
is a
little different from what the title implies, because it combines numbers by
the Sons with those featuring their fellow performers in the Portraits of
Hawaii's Music tours to New York and Boston, as well as last year's Makaha
Bash. Thus we have two songs each by Robi Kahakalau, Loyal Garner, and
Cyril Pahinui, and one by Dennis Pavao and Chinky Mahoe (who chants). The
Sons themselves do only 6 numbers.
I like the presentation and the energy, and the quality of songs is good,
as well. It's not as kolohe as Makaha Bash 3, but I still am very happy to
have it playing on the stereo as I type this. Songs include Hilo One/Pili
Aumoe (Sons), Ke Alaula (with new intro) (Sons), E Ku'u Morning Dew/Ke 'ala
(Sons), Holo Wa'apa (Sons), Kaua'i Nani La (Robi), Kokee/Maui Waltz (Loyal),
and Hi'ilawe (Cyril). My only quibble is that they kept the live intros to
the songs on the CD, which are going to get pretty stale with repeated
playing, -- but that's easily cured by making your own tape [g].
Robi Kahakalau, Keiki o Ka 'Aina (Kanai'a Records KNRCD 1263). This
is a
bubbly, upbeat second solo CD from Sistah Robi. The title track is already
getting a lot of island airplay. The CD follows the pattern of her first,
with Hawaiian songs interspersed with contemporary songs. Songs include the
title track, Nani Ko'olau, Firelady, Himene Tatarahapa, and Every Child a
Promise.
The Muumuus and the Pupus, Living in Parodies (Quiet Storm Records QS
971). Go back and read the title if you didn't get it first time through
[g]. Yup, this is an album of parodies with an island twist. None of it is
profound, insightful, or will build your body 12 different ways -- it's just
pretty funny. Songs include Little Old Tutu From Uppa Kalihi (to the tune
of the Beach Boys' Little Old Lady from Pasadena), Town or Ewa (sung
dramatically to the tune of "It's Now or Never": sample lyrics include
"It's Town or Ewa/My love won't wait/ I drive to Ewa/She's all frustrate/
"My darling, you spoiled the mood -- with such a long drive -- no like get
nude!"), and Ala Moana (to the Beatles' Lady Madonna: "I like all the
friendly salespeople/ They're trained to make you think you're having
fun/But when I try to return something/See how they run!"). I just had an
awfully good time with this one, and if you can listen to it and not go away
strumming air guitar and singing (to the tune of Louie, Louie) "Li Hing Hui
-- whoa, baby! -- salty, ah?", you're a better person than I.
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