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PearlCityBoy
Lokahi
USA
432 Posts |
 Posted - 03/02/2008 : 7:47:25 PM
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As you all know, this past week was very sad with the passing of Hawaiian music legends Aunty Genoa Keawe and Uncle Raymond Kane. Although I didn’t know them personally, I was still saddened by the news. To cheer me up, I decided to go to the monthly Aloha Sunday Luau Buffet & Open Mic at The Templebar restaurant in Berkeley, http://www.templebar.org/Aloha%20Sun1.html . It was great to see a full house at the restaurant.
Ukulele wizard and multi-instrumentalist Hiram Bell and his ukulele academy were the host band this month, so I knew it would be a fun time. Hiram set the tone for the evening by paying tribute to Aunty Genoa and Uncle Raymond. If I’m not mistaken, Hiram played with Aunty Genoa during the past year when he was in Honolulu. Hiram and gang sounded great as usual, and on several songs he featured his students on lead ukulele, including my buddy and outstanding player Joe Ho on “Wave.” After playing for an hour or so, the stage was opened for the open mic.
Some of the special moments included Hiram’s teenage student Aaron’s rendition of “Classical Gas,” with Hiram backing him up on guitar. Boy that kid can play. Another student played and sang “Waimanalo Blues,” accompanied by Hiram on guitar and another student on blues harmonica--really cool arrangement. Perhaps the most poignant moment was when one of the kupuna, Uncle Hanalei, played old-style ukulele and sang one of Aunty Genoa’s signatures songs with incredible beauty and control. Talk about playing from the heart—real chicken skin. Uncle Hanalei mentioned that he had the opportunity to perform with Aunty Genoa and Uncle Raymond. Uncle Hanalei’s hana hou was another beautiful song (sorry I don’t know the names of the songs off hand) in memory of his mother who recently passed away at 97 years old. Another kupuna, Aunty Bernice, sang beautiful renditions of “Lei Nani” and “Suzana E” (sp?).
I was the last person to perform at the open mic. In memory of Uncle Raymond, I played his slack key arrangement of “Nanea Kou Maka I Ka Le’ale’a,” one of my very favorite slack key songs. For my second song, I sang an original arrangement of “E Ku’u Morning Dew.” As I was getting off the stage, Hiram came up and asked me to do a song with him. It’s always a thrill and honor to play with such a talented musician as Hiram. We played Uncle Dennis Kamakahi’s “Wahine Ilikea,” and Kumu Hula Kalena Gregory came up and danced a beautiful hula. For a hana hou, we played “Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai,” with Aunty Kalena dancing again. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the lyrics and no one had a “He Mele Aloha” book handy. Without missing a beat, Hiram put the microphone at one of the tables where the folks there knew the words, and they sang it while we played slack key and ukulele. Gotta love it!
After such a sad week, my spirit was lifted with tonight’s special evening and memory of Aunty Genoa and Uncle Raymond. Mahalo to Hiram and gang for the great entertainment and aloha. And as always, a big Mahalo to Uncle Kem, Aunty Roz, and the rest of the gang at The Templebar for the ono food, gracious support of us open mic performers, and making us all feel like ‘ohana.
Aloha,
Doug
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Keoki Kahumoku
Akahai
USA
93 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2008 : 10:14:11 PM
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I luv Uncle Kems Place! I always get good fun and da food always hits da spot when you away from home! Right on you guyʻs! keep on uking! I like to hang in Berzerkly! UCB- Golden Bears!
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PearlCityBoy
Lokahi
USA
432 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2008 : 07:50:52 AM
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Howzit Keoki,
Yeah, Uncle Kem guys are so full of aloha and we’re grateful that Templebar is one of only a handful of Bay Area places to have a Hawaiian open mic. They even let my 8-year-old son Pono and I perform. Real ‘ohana style over there. It’s always a good time, local crowd, ono food, and you never know who’s going to show up. I especially love to hear the kupuna singing, playing and dancing old style. This the place to see if you can “make da aunties cry.”
It was great seeing you, Uncle Cyril, Daniel, Herb, and Tia at Borders, San Francisco last month, http://www.taropatch.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6265 . Was such a good concert. I’m so glad to see you posting on Taropatch and sharing all of your knowledge, humor, and aloha. Congrats to all of you for winning the Grammy again.
I still remember the first time we met you. It was at your Dad’s 2000 slack key workshop (#3) at The Mauian. You used to come at the end of the day, after your day job, take off your shirt, and just start jamming under the plumeria tree. We were awed by how good you sounded. My older boy, who was 4-1/2 at the time (he’s 12 now—where does the time go?) came up to listen to you and you welcomed him to sit next to you. You’re a class act, bruddah! Hope to see you again at The Mauian this June.
Aloha,
Doug
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2008 : 08:42:58 AM
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| Doug - a very well written recap of the weekend. Makes me feel like I was right there with you guys. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Auntie Maria
Ha`aha`a
USA
1918 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 10:32:35 AM
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Temple Bar + Kahumoku reminded me <wave to Keoki!> to post this George Kahumoku gig:
Sat, Jul 19, Dinner @ 6pm
Concert @ 7pm - 10pm
Templebar Tiki Bar & Grill
Tickets: (510) 524-6403 Reservations/Messages -
$25 Dinner+$25 concert
Also...Slack Key Ukulele Workshop available from 3pm-5pm...
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Auntie Maria
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My "Aloha Kaua`i" radio show streams FREE online every Thu & Fri 7-9am (HST)
www.kkcr.org - Kaua`i Community Radio
"Like" Aloha Kauai on Facebook, for playlists and news/info about island music and musicians!
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PearlCityBoy
Lokahi
USA
432 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2008 : 11:13:06 AM
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Aloha Wanda,
Mahalo for your kind comments. I don’t have much time to post that often, so it’s nice to know someone reads them! I’m trying to spread the word on venues like The Templebar that support Hawaiian music and, in particular, support us amateur performers. When I went there about 1-1/2 years ago with my then 7-yr. old son Pono, we hardly knew anyone. Now we feel like ‘ohana. We’re known as “Pono and Pono’s Dad” (some guys don’t get much respect). It’s a special place.
Doug
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Steven Espaniola
Lokahi
225 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2008 : 1:15:46 PM
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Uncle Kem and ohana have been there for years and are one of the longest standing Hawaiian food eateries in the Bay Area. I've known them for a long time and they are indeed special people who run a very special place.
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hikabe
Lokahi
USA
358 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2008 : 1:34:24 PM
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Aloha Doug,
Mahalo for the kind writes.
I have seen many magic moments at the TempleBar since the first time I was there in 1990. Many of the same faces continue to come and bring their creativity. But I must say that Doug's performance was another magic moment for me. As I listened, I honed in on what he was doing. I am cursed with perfect pitch and figured that he was not in taropatch G tuning. He was instead in some kind of F tuning so I quit fretting about it and just enjoyed it. I also noticed that he threw in a trick phrase to make you think he was starting Kuu Home Kahaluu and then began singing Ekuu Morn Dew. I think that's what happened, ask him about the harmonics intro.
I have played with many musicians and sometimes feel that a rare moment has just happened. One such moment was when Doug and I sang Wahine Ilikea. He was kind enough to let me join him on ukulele and vocals. We were awash in the soothing glow of Doug's melodious slack key as I strummed very lightly on an ukulele for flavor. In mid song it struck me as I looked at the faces in the room, how much history has gone and will go through the doors of this 'island away from home'. Thanks Doug. Thanks uncle Kem and auntie Rosland for giving us your house to dance, make music and share the aloha in CA.
Oh yeah. Special thanks to the HOST BAND, The HUI Players(Hailama Ukulele Institute), Auntie Bernice(songbird), Chip(bluesman), Greg Funk(classical), Aaron Duffy(kid), Michelle Shiels(uke minister), Doug Wong(slackey) and Uncle Hanalei(kupuna) for their wonderful music. Mahalo also to the hula gang.
Don't forget my Harmonica workshops this weekend and my Ukulele Workshops in May. Please refer to another posting for details.
Doug... in regards to your comments 'getting much respect' and 'us amateur performers'... don't even get me started...lol
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