Magaphone - 'Delorean'
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Adorable, nerdy anti-folk: yes, please.
Painted Highways - 'Hurricane'
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Painted Highways display a broad range of rock timbre on their self-titled EP, but I like them best when they're at their darkest. Slow arrangements underscore mournful, layered vocals on a track that lands somewhere between Mogwai and TV on the Radio.
The Behaviorists - 'Running in Circles'
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I'm almost positive that's a 1980s Casio keyboard on the "flute" setting going on throughout this song, which makes me happy because I have two 1980s Casios and they're among my favorite things to play. Good instruments for psychedelic bedroom pop, to be sure.
Welwing - 'Dimension'
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Since we last checked in on him, Honolulu producer Matthew McVickar changed the name of his solo recording project from Lapwing to Welwing and also emerged as the victor of a local beat battle called Beatroot. He put his full set up on Soundcloud to download or stream for free. I'm really into the developing personality of his newer work; it's dense and glitchy while still retaining that playful edge that made his debut EP so enjoyable.
Jack Johnson: Man of Many Hats and Talents
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Hawaii's Native Son Gives Back
Son of famous surfer Jeff Johnson, Jack learned to surf at the age of 5 living on the North Shore of Oahu. At 14 he learned to play guitar with the songs “One” by Metallica and “Father and Son” by Cat Stevens. He was the youngest surfer to be in the Pipeline Invitational Surfing Competition but got a career ending injury at 17 which caused him to lose some of his teeth and several stitches in his face.
He pursued an education in filmmaking at the University of California Santa Barbara and began making surfing films while also playing rhythm guitar for a band called “Soil”.
His films include “Thicker Than Water” and “The September Sessions” which he also produced the soundtracks on; He also starred in the surf film “A Brokedown Melody”. Jack Johnson also produced the soundtrack for the animated film “Curious George” titled “Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies” in 2006.
He got his big break in the music industry when he provided backing vocals for the band G. Love and Special Sauce in their song which he helped write “Rodeo Clowns” in 1999.
Thanks to his surfing peers circulating his original music, he was soon known in circles around the world including France, Australia and South Africa.
Ben Harper introduced Johnson to his producer J.P. Plunier who helped him release a 4 track demo and eventually his debut album “Brushfire Fairytales” in 2001 with Harper playing steel guitar. He eventually started his own recording studio called Mango Tree Studio and recorded his full length album “On and On” in 2003. It was this year that Johnson also formed his own band with studio musicians Adam Topol on drums, Merlo Podlewski on bass and Zach Gill on piano, percussion and background vocals.
Jack found commercial success with the release of “In Between Dreams” which featured chart makers “Better Together”, “Banana Pancakes”, “Sitting, Waiting, Wishing”.
“Sleep Through the Static” was released after the success of his “Curious George” soundtrack in 2008. Johnson, being an advocate for a greener earth, recorded the album with 100% solar energy in Los Angeles. He followed up this album with a world tour which in turn spawned the DVD “En Tour” released in 2009.
Jack spent the majority of 2009 into 2010 on his many charitable causes. He is a strong advocate for a cleaner greener earth, animal rights and Amnesty International. During his 2010 World Tour he donated 100% of his profits to charity. One of the charities he and his family started is called “The Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation” which he and his wife formed after the release of his third album. From 2009 to 2010 they raised over $750,000 which they gave away.
Johnson has managed to stay a family man with his wife and kids, despite being a touring musician, a filmmaker and activist which to most critics is a hard thing to do.
He has also donated $50,000 of profits from his latest album “To The Sea” which was dedicated to his father, to the Japan Tsunami Fund. He and his wife were staying at a hotel in Osaka when the Tsunami hit.
Virgin Mary Taking The Island By Storm
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local alternative (don't ever call it a girl) group
A fairly new group, the members of Virgin Mary are no stranger to music. They’ve been together since 2010 and since playing that first gig at The Pipeline, they’ve opened for Owl City and Everclear and have now finished recording their debut album “Ecstacy”.
Fronted by Denver native Marc Holyoak, he is backed by five very HOT and very talented women. They are local girl Alyssa Onaga on the drums, Brit Haynes on the guitar, Cassie Fillhart on the keyboards and vocals, and another local girl Daphne Morlan on the bass.
Marc describes their sound as “Weezer meets Psychedelic Beatles”. Everywhere this band has played they’ve gained momentum with a growing fan base.
Their songs are catchy and you’ll find yourself humming and singing their songs well after listening to their album or seeing their show.
One of their most popular songs is “Black Pearl” but I’m going to have to say I love, love, love “Favorite Songs”. It is very Beatlesque/Oasis and find myself singing this one. Already playing my guitar to it.
The band is currently working on new songs and a new album for release in 2012 and they also look forwards to touring in the next year. They’ve got a few gigs to finish out the year on December 23rd at 7pm at Hawaiian Brian’s and it’s an all age show; December 27th at 8:30pm they are playing an acoustic set at The Apartm3nt and that show is 21+. They finish up the year back at Hawaiian Brian’s on the 30th at 8pm and it is an all age show.
Spaceship Aloha - 'XENON'
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I have no idea who or what Spaceship Aloha is, except that it's a whole lot of fun. Trippy, bouncy electronica powered by sci-fi bleeps, vocoder yelps, and handclaps off a record that will drop next April.
First Wave Ska From A Third Wave Ska Band
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spotlight Go Jimmy Go
One of the biggest draw bands on the Honolulu night scene is “Go Jimmy Go”. A long running band that plays old school original reggae ska.
Go Jimmy Go began in 1996 when “3rd wave ska” was reaching its peak in popularity. Larry Gordon and Cameron Wright met up at a club called “The Vibe” on ska night and with a few other friends, decided to start up a band.
While the band has seen many players come and go throughout the years they’ve been together, the core group consisted of Larry Gordon on alto sax and vocals, Cameron Wright on bass guitar, Eric White on tenor sax, Ian Ashley on guitar and Tyson Balmores on drums. Founder Gordon left in 1998 and was replaced by Jason Friedmann taking over lead vocals. The following year Balmores left the band and was replaced by Shon Gregory . 2009 Go Jimmy Go brought on board bass player Andrew McClellan who took over Wright’s position and Brandon Hutton who came in with Trombone and keys.
Despite the change in the roster the band did plenty of time in the recording studio releasing five albums from Moon Room Records. They are: “Slowtime”, “Holiday Hell Yeah”, “Soul Arrival”, self titled album, and “Fish Bowl Eyes”. They also recorded a track on Moon Room’s “Ska Is Dead” with their song “Don’t Stop Everything”.
The band just celebrated their 15th Anniversary with a show at “Anna O’Brien’s”. You can catch them usually at any ska event as they have a huge following.
The Rodgers Family Legacy
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Beat in the Blood
It always a wish of a father to hand down a legacy to their sons. Some piece of themselves to leave with them as they grow. The legacy of music has been past down from one generation to another with the Rodgers family.
It all began with Merle “Buck” Rodgers who played for Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. They were the first recording artists in the country music scene at the beginning of recorded music. Then his son Buck Rodgers started a band called “Bill Rodgers and the Heartbreakers” in High School. After a stint in the Navy he returned to music in Las Vegas with the “Allright Family Band”.
Buck is joined by his two sons Jai and Danny and they’ve created “BuckzBoyz”. Their sound is a bit reggae a bit Hawaiian. Some call it “Jawaiian”. No matter what you call their sound you’ll be entranced by the powerful horn section behind the reggae beats.
Buckz Boyz made their transition as “Breath of Fire” adding more to their roster and reaching a larger audience. With both original and cover tunes they also reach over into the pop market.
Breath of Fire is Jai Rodgers (vocals/guitar), Daniel Rodgers(vocals/drummer), Tim James Oliver(bass), Mark Silva (trumpet), Trevor (sax), Buck Rodgers(trombone), Rico Walsh (guitar), Holly Cone (ukulele/vocals) and Red Eagle (percussion).
They’ve just recently won championship at the Battle of the Bands for the 2011 Big Boy’s & MMA Hawaii Expo and the 2011 People’s Choice Hawaii Music Award.
From albums, television appearances, radio play, outdoor jams, and all the hot music spots, be sure to catch “Breath of Fire”.
Honolulu's Queens of Cloning
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Clones of the Queen
In the summer of 2009, in an old bank vault atop a coffee shop in Honolulu; Ara Laylo, Paul Bajcar and Matthew McVickar got together and created a unique sound far from any other band coming out of the islands. This was the birth of “Clones of the Queen”.
Their name comes from the species of ant called Mycocepurus smithii, where every individual ant is a genetic duplicate of the Queen. Which really tells the style of this band as their talents mix so well it’s hard to tell where one leaves off and the other begins.
To be honest, I’ve never been a big fan of electronica except for some Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead. Clones of the Queen, or “COTQ”; opened my eyes to something new.
Ara’s vocals are like an intoxicating mix of jazz and synth-pop leaving ghost-like images in Technicolor. Paul’s guitar artwork with FX/Distortion pedals is like adding sugar to electric kool-aid. Matthews mastery of live electronics, mixing percussions and synth loops to craft together the signature sound of Clones.
“Gate” is their first self-released EP and they have a new LP coming out early next year. There is already buzz about their new song “Rapture” from the LP.
They’ve had the privilege to open for visiting bands in Honolulu like Menomena, Diplo, Toro Y Moi, Little Dragon and Warpaint. They’ve played every venue on the Honolulu music scene, including the Honolulu Academy of Arts and Contemporary Museum of Honolulu.
They’ve gained plenty of notoriety in the local media and the Boston Phoenix awarded them with the 2011 Best New Band in America feature.
Their live show is a psychedelic experience and you can catch them playing at the Mercury Bar on December 17th.