Remove ImagesPicks of the Week
December 20, 2007
Friday (Dec. 21), 10 p.m. at Casanova, Makawao
[MUSIC] You know that if The Big Hawaiian hosts, it's got to be good. Whether he's saying, "All In" at the poker table or introducing some awesome reggae performers, Kila Kila don't mess around… Except that time he made me fold queens to his eight, five off-suit, but whatever. Anyway, Kila Kila from Q103.7 will be hosting Reggae Rovers, featuring B.U.B.Z, Teomon, Super Dub 5, Hayley and DJ Quartz along with—straight from Kingston, Jamaica—Gavinchi. He's actually the son of the one and only Shirley McLean and not only is his music catchy, it's smart, too. Call me mean, but it's not often that you find the two together. Gavinchi's sound is dancehall at the core, but has this old school vibe with a raw socio-economic message that makes me reminisce about the good old days when reggae spread the word about issues in Jamaica, not just set a chill backdrop for you to get toasted. Of course, Gavinchi pulls that off, too… Tickets: $10. 572-0220. www.myspace.com/gavinchi [STARR BEGLEY]
Great Big Cajones
Friday (Dec. 21) 5:30 p.m., at Gallery Ha, Wailuku
[READING] When most people oppose the government, they'll make flashy signs, join noisy protests, write nasty letters or, more often than not, do nothing at all and just sit around complaining about how nothing ever changes. When U.S. Army Colonel Ann Wright decided she opposed the Bush Administration's invasion of Iraq, she quit her job in the U.S. diplomatic corps, as did dozens of other government insiders, officials and active-duty military persons. Dissent: Voices of Conscience tells the story of these people who leaked documents, risked careers, ruined reputations and publicly protested Bush's policies and actions. They're women and men with cajones large enough to let them stand for peace and what they believe is ethical and constitutional. Like Wright, they don't stand aside complacently, but lead by example. I may have found a new idol. Wright and her co-author, University of Hawai`i, Manoa instructor Susan Dixon, will be reading some of these stories of courage and heroism from their book. Free. 875-7995 [JESSICA ARMSTRONG]
Let's go Fishing
Saturday (Dec. 22) 9 p.m. at Casanova, Makawao
[MUSIC] Fish out of Water is groovy, baby. Since it formed in 2000, cousins Kyle and Brandon Moon have been getting freaky-deaky on stages across the country –rocking out, raising money and spreading messages of peace, love and funky fresh vibes. They've dubbed their music "RophunkRaeHop," which I assume refers to a mixture of rock, funk and hip hop. They tend to take the stage in weird garb—bathrobes and mardi gras beads—although I'm envisioning surf shorts here in Hawai`i. Surf shorts and maybe a snorkel. Yeah, that would be cool. Tickets: $10. 572-0220 or www.myspace.com/fow for more info and to check out additional performances across the island.
Art Duplicity
Sunday (Dec. 23) 6-9 p.m., Napua Gallery at the Grand Wailea Resort
[ART] Local artist Ben Kikoyama makes art from trash. Not gross trash, like old bubble gum or sour milk cartons, but junk like old lunch boxes, musical equipment and electronics. He sculpts these clunky, stiff metal objects into patchwork horses, which he considers to be the most graceful and majestic of all animals. On one of his horses an electric guitar makes up the entire hind flank and leg, while the keys of a piano become the arched back, creating a very nature-meets-technology effect. His work has been paired with that of photo-realism painting duo Peter and Madeline Powell. Their paintings are the unusual result of a creative alliance—both artists work together to create paintings that invoke the images, flavors and feelings of childhood. Most of their pieces are close-ups of candy and bubble gum, but my favorite is a simple one of a small glass holding a handful of brightly colored cocktail umbrellas, titled "Glass of Shade." 874-0510. [JA]
Willie K
Monday (Dec. 24), 9 p.m. at Charley's Paia
[MUSIC] I was trying to think of a flashy title for this event, like… oh, I dunno. Something flashy. Then I realized that naming it Willie K was about the best I could do. You've got to be totally lame to not like Willie K. More than that, you've got to be lame and a total jerk. He's versatile, talented, funny, soulful and all around completely awesome. In fact I recently heard some people talking about a famous musician named "Willie" and one of them says, "Willie K?" and the other one goes, "No. Nelson." And then the other one replies, "Yeah. The two Willies." Translated it means that if Willie Nelson is an American icon, Willie K is a Hawaiian one. Plus they both have crazy-cool hair. Luckily, you can check Willie K out at Charley's every Monday night. Who knows, you might even see the other Willie. Hey, it's Charley's. Tickets: $15, 579-9453.