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chunky monkey
Ha`aha`a
USA
1025 Posts |
 Posted - 12/11/2016 : 09:27:10 AM
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My annual review of Tula's Makaha Sons Christmas concert in San Diego.
Tula has been doing these for 16 or 17 years and I've made it to all but 1 or 2. She skipped last year for whatever reason ( I think it was health stuff) and 2014 had just Gerome Koko in a solo appearance after Moon retired. Anyway, Gerome has reinvented the Makaha Sons with some long-time Hawaiian performers. Mark Yim on 6-string has played for years in Hawaii and was in the Peter Moon Band and Olomana. Kimo Artis on base was in Kanilau and Kapala. Both have been around for decades and both are masterful musicians.
Anyway, we went to this year's show just to see what the new bunch was all about. They're not the same, but if you'd never seen the old Sons, you'd say "These guys are really good". They played a lot of the Makaha Sons standards and nailed every one of them. Three great voices; great harmonies and lots of fun chatter on stage. Imagine having to learn the Makaha sons catalogue and replace Moon and John!! We will always miss Moon and John, but this rendition is pretty entertaining.
Daniel Ho and Gerome Koko did a Makaha Sons Memoirs CD last year and it is pretty good. Gerome has a wonderful voice and Daniel Ho plays a bunch of different instruments on the CD. He played with the sons last night and I have to admit that adding a piano and ukulele to the standard Sons sound was pretty impressive. I know some of you had some issues with Daniel Ho a few years back, but I know him and he's a pretty nice guy. He's also an boffo talent on piano, ukulele and guitar.
There were 2 halaus dancing and that added some special moments to the show.
Over the years Tula has put on some impressive Makaha Sons Christmas shows; a couple of them were severe chicken skin events for me and we always look forward to what this event will bring. While this one wouldn't crack the top 4 or 5 , it was very good. It was satisfying to see a full house (not SRO, but well attended). I know Tula has some seriously good helpers, so I hope this bodes well for future shows.
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Makaha Sons in San Diego
