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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1581 Posts |
 Posted - 10/08/2006 : 09:22:15 AM
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It's all Mike Ka`awa's fault, really. Lynn has "Hwn Boy" in her car CD changer, and she tells me that every time that CD came on she was stabbed by the pain of missing Sunday at Honey's and all the other great music on O`ahu. So, bust the budget, skip the new guitar I've been eyeing, find some bargain Aloha Airlines tickets and here we are in Kailua.
We were here earlier this year during the great 40 days and 40 nights of rain landslides and sewage spills, so I'm happy to report that the weather is beautiful, the water is perfect.
Last night was our first music event, Led Ka`apana's show at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Led plays out by the beach at the Mai Tai Bar starting at 4:15 every Saturday, and the setting is really something. The beach full of sunbathers, swimmers, and surfers stretches around to Kaimana Hila, it's almost possible to imagine the scene when the Royal Hawaiian was one of the only hotels on Waikiki.
Naturally Led was a knockout, and the front tables gradually filled up with Led Heads, both kama`aina and malihini. With the new "Grandmaster Slack Key" CD released, the master is mixing some of those tunes into his set along with old favorites like "Maunaloa Slack Key." Lynnie threw Led a suprise when she requested "Mockingbird Hill," a bonus track on the "Waltz of the Wind" CD. Toward the end of the show Led invited a couple of us up to play duets - well, yes, I did happen to bring my guitar along <grin>. I naturally asked for "Slack Key Lullaby" and "Ku`u Ipo Onaona" - those songs are fun to play but it's a whole other thing playing them along with Ledward. A young lady who's been a student of Led and Uncle Raymond Kane was in the audience and Led persuaded her to join him for a few tunes as well.
As one of the Led Heads said after my set, here I was on the beach at Waikiki, at sunset, playing alongside one of the greatest Hawaiian musicians ever ... one of life's memorable moments.
Fran
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E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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Edited by - Fran Guidry on 10/09/2006 09:45:27 AM |
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MahinaM
Lokahi
USA
389 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2006 : 11:57:57 PM
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Eh Fran!
I always look forward to reading more of your "Kiho'alu and Other Musical Adventures" when you visit Oahu! It's almost like being there! Lucky you! I can't think of anything more thrilling, and at the same timy scary (for me, anyways) to share the stage with such a slack key heavyweight like Led. Wow! Keep those stories coming, Fran! Mahalo---Maggie |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1581 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2006 : 09:44:19 AM
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Hey, Maggie, I'm glad you're enjoying the travelogue. It's sure fun being on this side of it, I'll tell you. If you've followed these stories in the past, you can guess where we were on Sunday. That's right, Sunday means Honey's at the Ko`olau Golf Course, and Mike Ka`awa, Ocean Kaowili, Paul Kim, and Uncle Eddie Kamae. This is regularly a fantastic musical and personal experience. These guys are each absolute masters, and together they are a powerful musical force. You should have heard their "Pupu Hinuhinu," it's still ringing in my head.
Ocean was playing a nifty trick on us, somehow he made his six string acoustic guitar sound just like a stand up bass, the effect was uncanny. After I played my little guest set with the guys, Ocean mentioned that he wished his real bass sounded as good.
We've missed Paul Kim the last few times we've been to Honey's, and it was just wonderful to hear him again. The guy plays it all, bluesy, sweet, staccato or legato, growls and chimes and chirps and swoops. And Ocean cracked me up when the guys did Myrna Kamae's request for "Maui Chimes." He quickly retuned his guitar to get the necessary harmonics as the song changed keys, twisting the pegs back and forth with a flick of the wrist. Ocean and Paul traded leads as the melody went through it's evolution, and by the end Ocean was pulling those tough harmonics at the third fret (try it, but expect some frustration).
We had to do the unthinkable and leave Honey's before the show was over, so we could get out to Hawai`i Kai and the Kona Brewing Company for Ledward's Sunday evening gig. It was a long haul (in Hawai`i terms, that is) but we made it in time for the last set. The KBC was packed but we found a couple of seats and joined the crew of Led Heads for another great show. While we got settled in a gentleman came up to me and introduced himself as Ivan. We talked a little and when I asked if he played slack key he gave me the stock answer: "Oh, a little bit." I shoulda known <grin>.
It's no Kapono's but this place has really good energy and a great sound system, so Led was coming across really sweet. After I played a couple of tunes I left the guitar plugged in and Led called up his cousin, Ivan Ho`opi`i - oooohhh, yeah, he just plays "a little bit." They went through a pretty brisk version of "Manini" with pulloffs and bass runs bouncing back and forth, oh my, the fingers were really flying. Then Ivan did the unthinkable - he twisted my poor guitar into standard tuning. Hey, I didn't even know you could do that <grin>.
Well, that's what it's like on a Sunday on O`ahu these days. Back in Kaleponi we wait for months between shows, drive for hours, and pay $30 for tickets. Here we wait for days, drive for minutes, and the shows are free. You should come on over, folks.
Fran |
E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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Edited by - Fran Guidry on 10/09/2006 09:50:32 AM |
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2006 : 09:57:05 AM
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You know Fran, you have the best time traveling and write the best reports. I still remember the time you and your wife found a little unknown treasure of restaurant at a little unknown treasure of a spot on the coast of Southern Italy. The kind of experience that boldly exploring tourists long for but rarely get.
BTW, Does anyone know if that was the same Ivan that showed up at Waihe`e in Feb. If so, he is one major player.
More Fran...
...Reid |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2006 : 10:52:27 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Reid
BTW, Does anyone know if that was the same Ivan that showed up at Waihe`e in Feb. If so, he is one major player.
Kind of torn between letting Ivan speak for himself or not, but I've got to give credit where it's due. Yes, that's the same Ivan. |
Andy |
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2006 : 1:42:38 PM
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Fran, don't want to hijack the thread, so consider this a digression and continue, please.
Thanks Andy (were you there? or am I having another senior moment?)
I think Waihe`e has become the kind of place for Slack Key that certain clubs in the Village in NYC was for jazzers, during the `60s and `70s. You gotta stop off and play there in front of a very talented and knowledgable bunch of people. No tourists, no fans. So, that day, there was Kevin and Sheldon and Pekelo and Geri and Jared and Sarah (who Pekelo made a special effort to compliment, bless him) and me {near Sheldon, my `uke hero) and Jared whose friends won't play with him because he plays too fast, and (I think) Duke, and others who will hate me because I forgot they were there. So, the lead goes around, as usual, and directly, 2 feet away from me, is Ivan and a friend of his. During all the other leads, he plays nice backup, and fills, and fits in. Then, Kevin says "Take it Ivan" or maybe just nods Ivan's way. And Ivan purely hammers that guitar. As I said, I am 2 feet across from him and it was like being in a Slack Key tsunami. Stunning, physically and truthfully. I was paralyzed, although everyone else maybe could deal with it.
So Fran, If your guitar stil works after Ivan, it is because Ivan knows his way around a guitar (or two or three).
...Reid |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1581 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2006 : 3:54:31 PM
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That's definitely the same Ivan. Like you said, Reid, a tsunami. When he started playing my guitar Lynnie turned to me and said "They turned him up a lot louder than you." I had to explain that it was the player, not the amplifier <grin>.
Fran |
E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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MahinaM
Lokahi
USA
389 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2006 : 6:00:32 PM
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Hey Fran! Can't wait until your next installment! I hear you about waiting months between shows (you even live in the Bay Area, and not some outpost like Eugene, Oregon). Is Ivan also related to Richard Ho'opi'i? Didn't know they were all cousins. Man, it sounded like you were in Hawaiian music heaven, as usual.
Reid: The Pekelo you mentioned, was it Pekelo Cosma? Just curious. - Maggie |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1581 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2006 : 9:57:01 PM
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Maggie, Ivan is related to Richard. And to Sol.
We paid a visit to "Rollo" Scheurenbrand http://www.koaguitars.com/ to see his guitars and `ukuleles. These were some scary gorgeous guitars and the `ukulele he showed was breathtaking. Heellllp!
When we saw Mike Ka`awa on Sunday several people mentioned his Elks Club gig - he's there Tuesday and Friday. We joined the gang there tonight, the club is in a pretty primo location at the foot of Leahi (Diamond Head). Check in with the receptionist, sign up as the guest of a member on the convenient clipboard, and pay $2 for a parking pass, put the pass out on the dash of your car.
The club is an easygoing setting with a comfortable lounge and a good sounding PA. Mike played with Analu Aina, a bass player who has been one of my favorites since the first time I saw him at Honey's. I usually prefer a simple, sparse bassline, but Analu lays down a rich harmonic and rhythmic tapestry. He makes it work by keeping the groove solid at the same time that he punches and colors like a one man big band. His sophisticated style locks in soooo well with Mike's equally deep 12 string guitar.
As it this were not enough fun, watch closely as they make up medleys on the fly, egging each other on with new ideas. Mercy.
The second set was audience participation. We had guest singers, Herb?? (I think he's from Boston) and Danny Lopez, local hero and social lion who sang his own composition, "The Hospital Song" and followed up with "Route 66." Since the gig is only 5 to 7 PM it was over all too soon. Some of the gang were heading to Waikiki for some more music, but we spent the morning bouncing around in the waves off Kailua Beach and were pretty beat, so we headed home.
Fran |
E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2006 : 02:06:33 AM
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Yes, Maggie, it was Pekelo (Peter) Cosma. He has been playing gigs for quite a while with Kevin, Ikaika and Geri (on steel) and, I think, Sheldon. The band goes by the name Ola Hou (New Life or Live Again). So, he comes to Waihe`e occasionally.
...Reid |
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ArtSap
Lokahi
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2006 : 07:26:47 AM
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| Fran, Analu Aina was the long time bassist for Iz (along with Mel Amina on guitar) and for Uncle Moe Keale (Iz's uncle) afterwards. Not only is Analu an outstanding bassist but he is equally adept on guitar and ukulele as well. And I can't forget to mention his terrific vocals as well... |
Art
SF Bay Area, CA / Mililani, HI
"The real music comes from within you - not from the instrument" |
Edited by - ArtSap on 10/11/2006 09:57:56 AM |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1581 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2006 : 09:16:51 AM
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You're right, Art. The first time I saw Mike, Ocean, Paul, and Analu at Honey's I thought they were great musicians and nice guys, talked to them all, played a couple of numbers, no hoohoo. Then I got home and started doing research: Sons of Hawai`i, Iz, all this history at the top of the Hawaiian music scene - these guys are superstars!! Next time I visited I was nervous as heck <grin>.
Fran |
E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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MahinaM
Lokahi
USA
389 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2006 : 09:23:28 AM
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Thanks for your reply, Reid! Gosh, all those guys are so talented. I must make it to Waihe'e one day (maybe just to listen. I think I would be too intimidated to jam!).
Fran, thanks again for yet another great installment to the travelog and answering my question. Keep 'em coming! I'll check the website you sent, too. (sigh!) Looks like it going to be dangerously tempting. - Maggie |
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shakabrah
Aloha
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2006 : 11:39:10 AM
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ALOHA Everyone
Just wanted say YES, I am the Ivan That was in Waihe'e invited by Brahda Kevin Brown and his gang, I wanted to say Mahalo Kevin for that... I am so Honor to met all the wounderful people there and especially when they are playing Slack key and Uke. NOT to mention the man who brought all of us together were ANDY,For having this awesome web site..well I got go for now so I practice " LITTLE BIT " e-mail me if you plannig a trip to HAWAII, maybe we can get together and play a little bit together.
ALOHA U ALL |
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ohanabrown
Lokahi
281 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2006 : 9:10:24 PM
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Eh, Ivan i can "practice little bit" with you too......haa,haa, sorry i didn't call you back i left the services early. I'll give you a buzz.
Me Ke Aloha
Bruddah Kevin
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Kevin K. Brown |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1581 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2006 : 09:08:05 AM
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Even with the power out all over the island, there's music. We spent the evening playing, singing, and grinding at our neighbor's house. Kelly La`a and her family have a gas stove, so they cooked up the rice, chili, pork and cabbage, hot dogs, and more, and had the whole block in for a disaster party.
Fran |
E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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