CAPTURE: Hard Rock Battle, pt.II
Phoenix Rose
04.16.10 Part II. Bands: TTYM, Disaster Kit, Phoenix Rose & Black Prizm.
This one I knew was gonna be odd. I didn’t know anything about TTYM, which is sometimes good at these things. I knew D-Kit would bring something very entertaining to the stage with their bazillion notes and infinite instrument ensemble. Phoenix Rose would bring their polished metalcore sound and I expected at least one Killswitch song to be in there somewhere. But Black Prizm was the band I went to bang my head for. I love that band. The closest thing this islands ever gonna get to Dio or Sabbath.
(more…)
CAPTURE: Hard Rock Battle, pt.I
04.09.10
Hard Rock Cafes all around the U.S. held a nationwide Battle of the Bands over the last few weeks. Their goal, to give local bands a chance at opening for some big names up in London. Here’s the idea, at least to my best understanding. The bands would have to face each other locally, the video recording of the winner from each separate battle would be shown to a panel of judges, who then would choose the best out of those and from there it would go into an American Idol type of audience voting, then a winner would be announced. (more…)
CAPTURE: An AC/DC tribute
Back in Black @ Pipeline Cafe
01.30.10 Tribute bands are always entertaining. On one hand, you know these guys aren’t the genuine article. But on the other, the guys running around in full costume on stage as well as the audience they’re singing to, are so in love with this music that it brings out the true fans; the diehards willing to pay money to just imagine for a lil’ while that their at the foot of rock royalty.
(more…)
CAPTURE: Big Dawg
Big Dawg @ Pipeline Cafe
01.30.10 Big Dawg is one of those bands that embody everything rock n’ roll is supposed to be. They came on like a hurricane ripping through favorites from Led Zeppelin & Sabbath to name a few. Wailing anthems that make us proud to throw the horns in the air. (more…)
CAPTURE: Bari Bari 13
Bari Bari 13 @ Pipeline Cafe
01.30.10 Bari Bari 13′s live show always puts a smile on my face. Their high energy rock n’ roll is infectious as all hell and this time was no exception. The Japanese rock trio started the night with a small explosion of good times opening for Big Dawg & Back in Black: AC/DC tribute @ Pipeline Cafe. (more…)
CAPTURE: Dust for Angels
Friends of Adam @ JazzMinds
01.29.10 I can’t express how goddamn incredible this band is. Years of blood, sweat and tears have culminated into this one incredible night. Shying away from the obvious venue, Friends of Adam held their CD release party at the small but cozy JazzMinds. (more…)
Hellraiser
Hellraiser @ Sand Island R&B
01.23.10 One more in the name of metal. Had a hell of a time supporting my friends Before Fire @ Sand Island R&B. One of the few if not “the ONLY quality death metal band” worth seeing in the islands. (more…)
Kamuela was here
Kamuela Kahoano
01.22.10 After the beatroot competition we were treated with an awesome and unexpected surprise by Mr. Kamuela Kahoano. (more…)
Beatroot 2010
Beatroot @ Easy Music Center
1.21.10 Music is a universal language. It doesn’t matter how you create it, if you can feel it in the pit of your soul and project that same feeling onto the masses than consider yourself an artist. (more…)
SK808 Roller Derby 2010
SK808 Tournament @ Windward Mall
01.09.10 Some of the most insane roller derby girls from around the nation gathered once again at Pacific Roller Derby’s annual SK808 Invitationals. 6 hours of derby insanity in one giant empty parking lot @ Windward Mall. One word: EPIC!!! (more…)
The radar… it appears to be… jammed.
Michael Winslow @ Pipeline Cafe
12.30.09 I got a chance to check out “the Man of 10000 Sound Effects” Michael Winslow
at Pipeline Cafe. Well known from his Police Academy fame and those epic 2 minutes in Spaceballs, he had me laughing so hard I had trouble aiming my camera. That says a lot. (more…)
Kaleidoscope pt. III
Kamuela Kahoano @ 39Hotel
12.29.09 The last act of the night (and reason I showed in the first place) Kamuela Kahoano was about to take the stage. I’ve been listening to him for years, watched his songs grow into something so powerful I’m floored once those notes pass through my ears. I thought I knew what to expect during his set by now. Words can’t describe the explosive energy that radiated from that room in 39Hotel. But I will try. (more…)
Kaleidoscope pt. II
Lapwing @ 39Hotel
12.29.09 I was told to keep an close eye and open ears on the next musician to take the stage at 39Hotel by a friend of mine while waiting for the next act. I was also told that the majority of the audience was there to see him. What came next I was certainly not prepared for. Lapwing. (more…)
Kaleidoscope Pt. I
Braxton Olita @ 39Hotel
12.29.09 Every Tuesday night for the last month, 39 hotel hosted an amazing mishmash of musical genres collide creating an amazing landscape of sound. Last week’s Kaleidoscope was no different. With a room full of talented musicians and loads of friends surrounding me I was ready to have my brain explode. (more…)
Before Fire: in the beginning
Before Fire @ the Loft
12.26.09 Still pretty pissed off about Warbringer canceling their Hawaii dates, I had quite a bit of angst that needed to be released. Thank the metal gods Before Fire always deliver. (more…)
Battle of the Bands Final
Busekrus and fans @ Battle of the Bands
Last Sunday, 101.9fm hosted the final round of their Battle of the Bands. With just two bands left, both Phoenix Rose and Busekrus destroyed the rooftop at Dave & Busters. (more…)
Auditory Juggernauts Pt. VI
Before Fire @ Pipeline Cafe
11.12.09 “GET YOUR ASSES BACK HERE!” commanded Before Fire’s frontman, Lowell Gerry, to the remaining members of the audience who attempted to escape to the back of Pipeline Cafe. “I WILL FIGHT ANYONE HERE WHO WALKS AWAY!”
Brutality, Before Fire embodies it. (more…)
Auditory Juggernauts Pt. V
Disaster Kit @ Pipeline Cafe
11.12.09 Disaster Kit has grown-up quite a bit since the last time I’ve seen them. Luckily not too much. Their playful antics onstage and ridiculous knowledge of music theory make them a crowd favorite all the while carving their names in stone as one of the island’s most unique bands. (more…)
Auditory Juggernauts Pt. IV
Phoenix Rose @ Pipeline Cafe
11.12.09 There’s something to be said about a band who’s genuinely serious about their music. Phoenix Rose takes it to a whole new level. Their goal seems straight forward. Promote heavy music and destroy anyone else who tries to get in their way. (more…)
Auditory Juggernauts Pt. III
Technical Difficulty @ Pipeline Cafe
11.12.09 Technical Difficulty hit the stage proving that 3 guys can have just as much fun inducing neck pain in their audience as any 4 piece. I’m always stoked when a band isn’t afraid to educate the public with their favorites while injecting their own personality into them. Going from Tool to Rage Against the Machine, they had the audience screaming along with fists pumping to their favorite rock hits as well as a few of their own.
(more…)
Auditory Juggernauts Pt. II
Dawn of the Onslaught @ Pipeline Cafe
11.12.09 As the night rolled on and my eardrums started to ring a bit, a few more bands tore up the stage. The awesome variety of sub-genres in the family of metal & rock is what makes Nemesis & Phoenix Rose Productions stand out amongst other promotional teams I’ve seen on the island. This show was no different. Each band took to the stage, with an equal amount of intensity and showmanship as the one that came before. (more…)
Auditory Juggernauts Pt. I
Prevail @ Pipeline Cafe
11.12.09 Bands who might have never been heard outside the walls of a sports bar are finally getting their chance at the spotlight. Pipeline Cafe has started to transform into a venue where local acts can experience quality sound playing on the same stage that has seen the likes of Children of Bodom, Testament & Skinlab. (more…)
Gettin Groovy…
11.08.09 Last Sunday I went to support some friends of mine at Dave & Busters at 101.9fm’s Battle of the Bands. Its always fun to shoot around when I’m surrounded by friends and an awesome soundtrack. (more…)
Girlfest presents, HPRD vs. L.A. Derby Dolls
11.07.09 I’m running out of adjectives to describe how ridiculously badass these Roller Derby bouts are. So I’ll just put up some photos and get outta the way. (more…)