| Author |
 Topic  |
|
DanPadilla
Aloha
USA
9 Posts |
|
|
salmonella
Lokahi
240 Posts |
 Posted - 08/12/2009 : 11:40:49 AM
|
Is there going to be a live stream video for this for those of us who cannot get there? The web page is pretty outdated so I can't tell from reading it.
|
 |
|
|
DanPadilla
Aloha
USA
9 Posts |
|
|
Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 08/15/2009 : 01:02:46 AM
|
Posted by Admin on behalf of guitarded
quote:
This year's Oahu festival is partially being made possible by a $10,000 grant boost from OHA. click
Interesting addition:
quote:
Marking its first appearance in Hawai'i, MusiCares, a charity arm of the Grammys established by the Recording Academy, will have a booth at the slack key fest. MusiCares helps musicians who have fallen on hard times, providing job counseling, emergency financial assistance, educational workshops, health screenings, and can provide help with drug and addiction problems. "You don't have to belong to the Grammy organization, you don't have to belong to the local musicians union," Lau says. "If you're a musician they can help. That's what their function is."
|
|
|
|
Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2009 : 2:30:13 PM
|
| Is there a stream? Anybody ever get more info? |
Andy |
|
|
|
Pali
Akahai
64 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2009 : 2:53:13 PM
|
Aloha Andy, all...
Sorry, no stream.. what happened was HawTel didn't come through with the T1 line donation in time to get it going. It's been a rough year for grants all around. Hopefully next year...
Heading down there soon to jam a bit.
Aloha & A Hui Hou,
Pali |
|
|
|
kimokeo
Aloha
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2009 : 5:27:38 PM
|
| We were at the Slack Key Festival today for a couple of hours. We missed Ozzie Kotani, but we did see Danny Carvalho. We came too late to get a seat in the shade so we could only endure a couple of hours of sitting in the sun. I did get a few videos of Danny, which I will be happy to share. I will assume that it's probably not okay to upoad it here, but today I am one one happy kihoalu player . . . |
Edited by - kimokeo on 08/16/2009 5:28:41 PM |
|
|
|
hawaiianmusiclover06
`Olu`olu
USA
562 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2009 : 7:19:30 PM
|
Looks like I missed out again on this one. Wanted to go because I like slack key and ukulele music. Oh well, maybe next time.
Alana :) |
Aloha Kakou, maluhia a me aloha mau loa (Hello everyone, peace and love forever) |
|
|
|
PearlCityBoy
Lokahi
USA
432 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2009 : 8:37:01 PM
|
Did anyone else catch the following snippet from the OHA website that Andy/Guitarded referenced above, http://www.oha.org/kwo/loa/2009/08/story02.php ?
“The lineup for the Aug. 16 festival features more than one dozen artists – some young, some established, and many of whom have Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards to their name: Makana, Bobby Moderow, Dennis and David Kamakahi, John Cruz, L.T. Smooth, Donald Kauila, David Kahiapo, Danny Carvalho, Stephen Inglis, Ozzie Kotani, Paul Togioka, Ken Makuakane, Jeff Peterson, Dwight Kanae and Walter Keale.
ALL OF THE MUSICIANS ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF THE SLACK KEY KINGS, a group of rotating musicians whose albums were twice nominated for a Grammy for Best Hawaiian Music Album. This year, their album Hawaiian Slack Key Kings Master Series Vol. II took home a Hōkū award for Compilation Album of the Year.
In a tough economy, Lau says, funding sources were drying up for this year's festival, but organizers were "determined to get it done." Lau called OHA a "lifesaver" for awarding organizers a $10,000 'Ahahui Events grant to keep the O'ahu festival, the one that started it all, going after 27 years.”
I didn’t realize the Slack Key Festival has become what looks like a “Slack Key Kings” Festival. Other than a remarkable coincidence that all the artists “happen” to be “Slack Key Kings” artists, it appears that in order for an artist to be invited to perform at the festival, he/she must sign up (maybe a contract?) to be a member of the “Slack Key Kings” and allow the long-time festival organizer Milton Lau to use and profit from their performances via “Slack Key Kings” compilation albums and appearances. I may be reading too much into this, but something smells a little fishy.
From what I can tell, and having attended or watched on T.V./video many of the festivals dating back to the ‘80s, Milton Lau originally created the festival in 1982 to pay tribute to the contributions of Gabby Pahinui, continue his legacy, and “help to perpetuate and preserve a unique Hawaiian acoustic guitar art form known as ‘Ki ho’alu.’” See http://www.slackkeyfestival.com/festival_history.html . I didn’t have a chance to watch the festival this year, but in recent years the festival featured several acts that didn’t even play slack key (or Hawaiian music for that matter), which as I mentioned in previous posts adds to the worldwide confusion about what slack key is, dilutes the tradition, and does not help to perpetuate this “unique Hawaiian acoustic guitar art form.”
With due respect to some of the legitimate slack key artists on the bill, whom I suspect are unaware of being “used” under the “Slack Key Kings” business strategy, the Slack Key Festival sure looks like a means to promote Milton Lau’s “Slack Key Kings” cadre of artists, albums, and brand franchise in general.
What’s even more interesting is that this year’s “Slack Key Kings” festival was partially funded by a $10,000 grant from OHA, which I believe is a public organization. So, if my logic is sound, it seems like public money is being used to help promote a private for-profit business venture, i.e., the “Slack Key Kings” brand/business/affiliates, and perhaps exclude those artists who don’t want to sign up to be a part of the Slack Key Kings business venture. If this is true, it doesn’t seem pono.
Sorry if I’m raining on anyone’s parade--I’m just calling it like I see/smell it (smelling more like hum ha now). Am I missing something here? Anyone have any other insight?
Aloha,
Doug |
|
|
|
Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2009 : 12:58:50 PM
|
| Ya wonder why some of the other BIG NAMES weren't on the bill. . . . . |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
|
|
|
donkaulia
Lokahi
249 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2009 : 08:43:15 AM
|
I was not able to be at the event because I was with another King, Ledward Kaapana all weekend. May be Doug's comment is valid and may be not. Not all of US who perform or record with Milton Lau are under contract, most of US do this for the LOVE of the ART. I spent some quality time with cousin Led and believe me we did some mean trading of secret tunes in the company of videographer Kaiwi Stevens and Sir Charles Kaupu, Jr. Tunes that no other on this planet has heard of.
I shared with Led my Am and A slack tune. He shared the Gmaj7 and Gsus tune. We went almost all night having fun sharing, riffing and sampling each other's tuning and talking stories about Uncle Fred Punahoa, Mama Tina and his father playing slack key music.
If you LOVE this ART of SLACK KEY, then show it, feel it and play it. If you think a producer or a coordinator of an event is doing something wrong then send him your comments directly. I perform at several other events around the world, and believe me I make sure these producers hear my gripe if I see anything that is 'fishy'. All in All, this year, 100% of US performed with ALOHA, no money at Milton's events because of no grant funding. That OHA $10k last minute fund is peanuts to what each concert cost. Imagine paying your airfare, vehicle and hotel room for each event? That is what I pay to go to Kauai, Maui and Oahu. Imagine what all the other artist pay out of their pockets to make this all work out? This was the first festival I missed in the last 14 years because of another commitment. Otherwise, I'd be there last week. Milton did good and made the event possible with the help of All the performers giving their support as well as the sponsors. When things were all fine and dandy, no body complained. Now in these economic times when times are hard and ruff, we should be giving back NOT complaining and criticizing.
This SLACK KEY KINGS issue may have triggered some personal matters by some and to others aint' no big deal. This is Milton's deal, he owns the label, title and everything tied to it. I made it clear at the live performance at the Hoku Awards before I sang I said: 'In Honor of the Vaqueros and the real Slack Key Kings Ledward Kaapana and Cyril Pahinui'.
No matter what the consequence....Slack Key lives on! with or without funding, with or without gripes or complaints.
|
donkaulia |
|
|
|
wdf
Ha`aha`a
USA
1154 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2009 : 2:11:16 PM
|
Hey Don,
Well put! It was good seeing you at the Na Hoku's in June.
|
Dusty |
|
|
|
donkaulia
Lokahi
249 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2009 : 2:41:47 PM
|
| Howzit Dusty, like wise....I'll be heading your way with Cyril in November then again in January in Nevada & California. We'll be in touch! |
donkaulia |
|
|
|
wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2009 : 08:50:09 AM
|
Well, you guys know me, and ainokea about 10 ft. pole or 11 ft. pole. Now remember, my take on this is from the perspective of ahaole tourist from Cleveland, OH who never grew up with slack key as part of my heritage.
The festival started with Ozzie Kotani and one of his haumana. Beautiful music, wonderfully played. The three songs they played were a perfect demonstration to those who had no idea of what slack key guitar music is as well as being a wonderful tribute to those who came before and perpetuated the art. Other acts played tribute to slack key, as I expected to see and hear.
But to me the worst thing (aside from any allegations of the festival's producer using public funds for private gain) was for the youngster Makana to stand on that stage and play guitar, and telling the audience it was a tribute to his kumu, and proceeding to play guitar in a way that could never, ever, ever in anyone's wildest dreams be considered slack key nor be considered in any way a tribute to slack key guitar music. The number of notes he can cram into any limited measure or the alternate tunings he may have used could and would never be considered Hawaiian in heart or sound. There was nothing remotely Hawaiian about his music. It was a commercial for his soon to be released CD of entirely original music. And if other malihini were there at the festival and they only heard Makakana (whose set went on WAY longer than any of the other artists), then those tourists went away with a really warped idea of ko ho`alu.) I felt gypped.
The same thing worries me now about Makana playing at the Royal Hawaiian in a show that is greatly publicized and directed at tourists. Those people, I am sure, will leave that showroom not nowing they were taught a falsehood.
|
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
|
|
|
Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2009 : 3:00:22 PM
|
Thanks for your comments and perspective, from someone right in the middle of it all, Don.
Looking forward to meeting and hearing you in Seattle in November. |
|
|
|
tafkam1
Lokahi
USA
320 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2009 : 05:48:56 AM
|
Wanda, Makana is a one-of-a-kind musician from the islands. Do some checking and you'll see that he not only studied under Slack Key Master Sonny Chillngworth, you will constantly hear Makana paying his respects to him both in words on stage and in his music where he has written songs about their relationship (track #11 http://tinyurl.com/mru5al).
Here is a guy who is true to his roots (ask him to play anything "traditional" and it's second nature to him) but wants to expand beyond that to explore new territory, something any real artist aspires to do - and what's wrong with that?
Anyone who knows him knows he has the utmost respect for the ki ho'alu tradition. Even Ray Kane was blasted in the beginning for being "wild" as were the Cazimeros. Perhaps you didn't know that.
Makana is an artist, pure and simple, and I can tell you that he is a way more accomplished slack key artist than a lot of others out there who are supposedly "Masters" of the genre. Jack Johnson? Uh, I don't think so.
People seem to feel the need to blast Makana and label him as misrepresentative and disrespectful just because he doesn't fit into the box THEY think he belongs in (and should STAY in!), based on what THEY think THEY know about the music. I don't mean to get on your case Wanda, but at least PearlCityBoy plays and has studied slack key guitar and has been following the music and the festivals since the 80's.
Please do yourself a favor and at least check out this CD http://tinyurl.com/mru5al
I hope this convinces you that he's the real deal. |
Mitch Chang
http://www.kalakoa.com/
http://www.ukulelewebsite.com/ |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
Oahu Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival Aug 16
