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PearlCityBoy
Lokahi
USA
432 Posts |
 Posted - 12/10/2008 : 10:37:58 AM
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On Sunday, we had a wonderful “Mele Kalikimaka Party”/Luau Buffet/Open Mic at Berkeley’s Temple Bar. Taropatch’s Hiram Bell and his Hailama Ukulele Institute (HUI) were the host band ( http://www.templebar.org/Hailama.html ) and boy did we have a lot of fun. Hiram and the HUI were very entertaining as usual, with Hiram playing a lot of guitar backup so he could showcase his students’ ukulele playing.
The restaurant was packed and everyone was in the holiday spirit. The open mic was very special and there were a lot of terrific acts--so many that they cut into Hiram’s second set, which I don’t think he minded because it gave him more time to eat at the buffet! 
Some of the highlights:
- A very talented 12-year-old girl (sorry, can’t remember her name) who’s an ukulele student of Hiram’s.
- My buddy Phil who played a moving rendition of “Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World,” which he dedicated to the memory of one of the Temple Bar waitresses who tragically passed away in a car accident last month.
- The Evan Tom Band (Evan, sister Lauryn, Uncle Marc, Joe Ho) which played an awesome original arrangement of “Sleigh Ride” with ukuleles and guitar. http://www.taropatch.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7620 Evan is one of Hiram’s former students and at only 14 years old is one of the most talented musicians/arrangers at any age that I’ve seen in the Bay Area.
- The Doelger Senior Center group who played in honor of an uncle/ukulele teacher who unexpectedly passed away last week.
- Uncle Hanalei playing ukulele and singing “Alika” in the old-style falsetto.
- To top it all off, we were treated to a rare performance by my friend Gerry, who has one of the most exquisite female voices around. She is Uncle Keoki Lindsey’s daughter and her sister Debbie and other members of the ‘ohana were in the house too. Backed up by Hiram, Uncle Kem and Carmen on ukulele, Aunty Roz on guitar, and Kem Jr. on bass, Gerry sang three beautiful Hawaiian songs. Her rendition of “Pua Lilia” was simply breathtaking. You can’t get more chicken skin than that.
We ended the night with Hiram & gang leading all of us in a Christmas Carol sing-along. It was so much fun and a great way to start the Christmas season. Mahalo Hiram and The HUI, Uncle Kem, Aunty Roz, Kem Jr., Carmen, Aunty Mary and all the other great folks at The Temple Bar, and all the fellow open mic performers and hula dancers. The next Aloha Sunday/Open Mic is on Sunday, January 4, 2009, http://www.templebar.org/Aloha%20Sun1.html . Hope to see you there.
Mele Kalikimaka!
Doug
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Edited by - PearlCityBoy on 12/19/2008 2:18:04 PM |
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tafkam1
Lokahi
USA
320 Posts |
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hikabe
Lokahi
USA
358 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2008 : 07:29:07 AM
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Thanks Doug,
Of course, you never mentioned your performance of the homesick medley followed by a most sweet rendition of Kuu Lei Awapuhi. We had a very receptive hushed crowd that appreciated the nahenaheness of kihoalu. I loved your set. Why don't you guys kani at the templebar instead of the bowling alley. That is the perfect venue.
Anyway, thanks for the kind words. Lila Dobroff is the 12 yr old who played Kona Wind and Pineapple Mango. We also had Skip playing harmonica and Mel Young backing on uke for Waimanalo Blues and Kenneth playing Kuu Home Kahaluu.
Because of the turn out of musiciians, we cut about 6 songs from our playlist. We didn't mind one bit. There were many fine moments. Mahalo to all who dropped in. |
Stay Tuned... |
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PearlCityBoy
Lokahi
USA
432 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2008 : 08:58:45 AM
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Mitch, sorry you couldn’t make it--we missed your beautiful ki ho’alu. You must be busy getting ready for the upcoming Southern Cal Slack Key Festival. Let us know when you’re back in the Bay Area.
Hiram, mahalo for your nice comments and mentioning the other talented folks I missed. Yeah, I noticed the room got silent when I was playing—I thought everyone fell asleep! The trick is to make friends with the bartender so he won’t run the blender during your set  .
Interestingly, one of the aunties asked me if I was playing slack key. I told her “yes,” and it occurred to me that many of the old timers, particularly the Hawaii transplants who have been on the mainland for 30-40+ years, don’t have the opportunity to hear slack key live. Often, they don’t have the means to attend the concerts or buy the cds. It feels great to be able to share the sound and tradition of slack key, particularly to the kupuna, who are so appreciative. That’s why I love the Temple Bar.
Aloha,
Doug |
Edited by - PearlCityBoy on 12/15/2008 12:10:41 PM |
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