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Topic: Hawaiian Death Metal Music - A Disturbing New Trend |
Mat Rhodes
From:
Lexington, KY, USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 1:14 pm |
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The wife & I took our yearly trip to Owhyhee a few weeks ago to enjoy our usual dining at the Hard Rock Cafe and shopping spree for fine jewelry and authentic Hawaiian print shirts at the International Market Place. We enjoy good live Jawaiian Reggae from time-to-time, but we thought we'd venture "outside the box" to expand our horizons a little.
We discovered this new place near the Waikiki beach area called the Holly Pooh Nonny Motel, or something like that (they give all these places weird, foreign-sounding names so the rest of us mainlanders can't figure it out. Oh well...). Anyway, we were shocked to find a couple of combos with these young men that were playing what I can only describe as loud, screeching, split-your-ears, Hawaiian-style Death Metal.
What was really unsettling about the whole experience was that both singers were singing (if you can call it that) in a foreign tongue. Now I've learned a few foreign words in the last few years, but it sounded like these young hooligans were singing something that sounded like "get rid of The Establishment". I've never seen such a spectacle in all the years I've traveled there, but I did manage to take a few pictures amidst all the pandemonium:
Here was the first combo. In spite of how I feel about their music, they had this promising hula dancer. Maybe one of you forumites know her name?
This next combo had quite a following. The flash on my camera wasn't strong enough, but I'm sure somebody "in the know" can figure out who the young man was that wasn't playing his steel guitar. The lady at the microphone was the same mysterious dancer from the first photo.
The situation grew worse as their following imbibed more alcohol, and a Hawaiian "mosh pit" ensued:
It appears that even the more mature Hawaiian generation has succumbed to this heinous development (this picture features a well-known and respected local dentist on the steel!):
Even on our way home, we saw a trio at the Honolulu Airport. I could go on and on with pictures, but I wouldn't want to bore you. The combo had 2 steelers in it, one of which was filling in on bass. I think his name is Greg Sergeant or something. Maybe one of you knows who the other steel guy was?
In any case, times are a changin' in Fair Owhyhee, and not for the better, I'm afraid. We need to do something about this and soon. Or otherwise, there will be gyrating hips and much gnashing of teeth. I shudder to even think of the outcome. |
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Ron Simpson
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 1:57 pm
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| Mahalo for the great pictures. I thought doctors only played golf on their day off. Must be warming up for Joliet. |
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Keith Cordell
From:
San Diego
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 2:19 pm
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| Yet another sure sign of the decline and fall of western civilization. I am surprised that none of the musicians were mutilating leis, or encouraging the worship of tiki idols. |
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Gary Lynch
From:
Creston, California, USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 2:39 pm
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"Hawaiian-style Death Metal"
I'd like to hear this sound. Maybe if it were played backwards at a low volume it might contain a message? |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 3:03 pm Well, since Jeff Au Hoy is.....................
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The third photo from the last clearly has JEFF AU HOY standing there, minus his steel guitar.........
What light might be able to shine on this subject? |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 3:18 pm
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Thanks for posting the pix Matt  |
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Mat Rhodes
From:
Lexington, KY, USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 3:36 pm
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'A 'ole pilikia, Ron & Bill.
Ray, you get 1st Prize for your powers of observation. That was the weekend of "The Longest Hula Line" during the Aloha Festival (Sat.).
The picture of Dr. Akuna at the end was taken on Friday, the night before, during the Waikīkī Ho'olaule'a on Kalākaua. I felt bad for them because there was a band (Sam Kapu Trio, I think) who was playing right across the street and essentially drowned them out. Whoever scheduled and coordinated their location should be slapped. I believe that was the only combo out of all the others that had a steel guitarist. Go figure.
As for Jeff not playing his steel, they were between songs. His steel is sort of hidden behind Kanoe Miller. She was announcing some of the participants in "The Longest Hula Line", one of whom was the guitarist's mother. Very cool to watch them hula in sync. |
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 1 Oct 2007 12:21 am
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Always nice to see Waikiki at sunset and some of my favorite people.
Thanks for the post, Matt.
Aloha, 
Don |
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Derrick Mau
From:
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 1 Oct 2007 1:40 am
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Kanoe Miller has been dancing at the Halekulani for a very long time. A former Miss Hawaii.
The steel player at the airport is Greg Sardinha. Greg told me that Casey Olsen fills in when he can, so the other steeler must be Casey. |
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Mat Rhodes
From:
Lexington, KY, USA
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Posted 1 Oct 2007 6:43 am
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Sorry we missed you, Derrick. We came by three times, but the first two days (Sat & Sun) I think you were off and the third day (Mon) we were too early. The girl we talked to didn't know what time you were coming in. We only had a short time in O'ahu since we had spent the week before in Maui/Moloka'i. Maybe next time.
The second guy at the airport played a green steel (with white trim?). He looked like Casey, but I couldn't be sure. I've only seen one picture of him from one of the Byrd's Nest CDs. |
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Derrick Mau
From:
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 1 Oct 2007 10:21 am
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Hi Matt,
Sorry I missed you both on your trip to Oahu.
I don't get in till 5:00 p.m.
Anyway, hope you had a great stay.
This years Ho'olaulea (Waikiki) had more Hawaiian groups than previous years. You were actually lucky to see even one steel player. I've never seen one performing in all the Ho'olaulea's I've been to.
I had something to do this year, so I missed this last one.
That's Casey Olsen that you have seen at the airport. He plays with a green Canopus.
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 1 Oct 2007 10:56 am
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Watch out,if not already,Hawaiian RAP,will be next.don't you know.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 3:35 am
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Matt, you sneaky bugga!!! Why you neva come say hello??? At least throw a tomato next time!!!
By the way, the bass player in the mosh pit pics is forumite Bill Wynne, visiting from New Jersey. He played the past two weekends with my trio at the Halekulani. Just a fantastic musician. |
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Scott Rogers
From:
Andalusia, AL
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 5:03 am
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| Hawaiian Death Metal? Ha! you oughta check out some of Hank III's "Hellbilly" set! That'll raise some hairs on your neck! I love Andy Gibson's playing though |
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Mat Rhodes
From:
Lexington, KY, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 6:43 am
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Sorry, Jeff. You were busy talking with the guys, and Kaipo had just stepped in line, so to speak. I didn't want to bug you between sets. But next time, I'll throw a breadfruit since the tomatoes at HKL are likely canned.
Last edited by Mat Rhodes on 2 Oct 2007 6:46 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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