Pulse picks: reggae, comedy and a road trip
HONOLULU PULSE STAFF / honolulupulse@staradvertiser.com
Tales from a Ramadan road trip
Aman Ali. Courtesy photo.
Aman Ali, a writer and stand-up comedian from New York, brings “30 Mosques in 30 Days,” his entertaining tales from a road trip during which he and fellow New Yorker Bassam Tariq visited 30 mosques in 30 states, to the University of Hawaii-Manoa on Friday.
The guys blogged about their adventure daily at www.30mosques.com, and prayed inside the “infamous” “Ground Zero Mosque” in Manhattan, visited the first mosque ever built in the U.S., in Ross, North Dakota (a town with only 48 people), and were surprised by the number of Caucasian members in a Philadelphia mosque.
Along the way, the men also met a Pakistani-Mormon couple, Cambodian Muslim victims of the Khmer Rouge and many other examples of our wildly diverse country, in their exploration of what “Muslim” means in American today.
This adventure is intrinsically interesting, but there’s a bonus: Ali is funny. Watch the video clip below and you’ll see how he affectionately turns his confusion as a 7-year-old over Mom’s warnings that failure to fold their prayer rug properly would lead to a visit by the devil into a laugh-out-loud routine. This is one university talk that promises to have plenty laughs as well as food for thought.
At Friday’s event, Ali will share stories, video and photos that didn’t make it on to the blog.
Ali appears at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5 at the University of Hawaii’s Center for Korean Studies Auditorium, 1881 East-West Road. It’s free! Find out more about Ali at amanali.net.
— Elizabeth Kieszkowski, ekieszkowski@staradvertiser.com
For a song and a giggle
Andy Bumatai. Courtesy photo.
Like most entertainers in town, Andy Bumatai has a day job, but the veteran comic is always finding ways to stay in the public spotlight.
It worked for about two months when Bumatai hosted his self-described “comedy show and steak knife giveaway” at downtown’s Dragon Upstairs — go up and tell a joke, win, get a steak knife — but the late nights were getting to be a grind.
As soon as that gig ended, the comic began another one at Jazz Minds Art & Cafe on Kapiolani Boulevard, opting to host a weekly Saturday show, “Back to the Roots,” early in the evening.
Bumatai intends to showcase the best new talent in comedy and music. On Saturday, he’s sharing the stage Saturday (Aug. 6) with fellow showbiz vets Dave Toma and Richard Natto, better known as the musical duo Toma/Natto.
After this and next Saturday’s show on Aug. 13, the club will go dark for the remainder of the month because, according to Bumatai, club owner Young Yi “is going off to get married back in Korea.” After Young gets back, Bumatai will check in about continuing the weekend gig.
“What I have in mind is to continue using the open-mike concept for both comedy and music,” he said. “This is something Toma/Natto and I want to do, to fire up new talent.
“It’s something I’d like to stick with. I like the joint, and I don’t mind that we’re next to a strip club. It gives the place some color.”
Bumatai is familiar with the location — and the format. He hosted an open-mike night at Jazz Minds during its first year, in 2005.
He’s calling the Aug. 13 show, “We Laugh You Long Time.” He says it will feature an all-star Skeleton Crew made up of some of Honolulu’s top local improv performers.
The “Back to the Roots” show starts at 7 p.m. Saturday at Jazz Minds, 1661 Kapiolani Blvd. There’s a $10 cover charge. Contact Jazz Minds at 945-0800.
“Come out and support the shows,” Bumatai said. “If not, it’ll be your car we’re stealing.”
— Gary Chun, gchun@staradvertiser.com
Sabrina’s back in town
Sabrina. Courtesy photo.
Honolulu Pulse blogger and indie singer-songwriter Sabrina Velazquez will once again leave her adopted base, Portland, to return to Oahu for two showcase gigs next week.
With the help of her good friend, musician-promoter Brandon Apeles, she’ll appear as part of the weekly Kaleidoscope show at thirtyninehotel on Tuesday, Aug. 9, and the following evening as part of “Screwed-Up Wednesdays” at Jazz Minds Art & Cafe.
The appearances promise to be two of the more attractive options for music lovers over the next seven days — Sabrina is a polished, charismatic performer who’s taken her intimate alt-folk to the next level, as many new fans saw when she opened for Cat Power in February.
Also on the bill both nights will be fellow singer-songwriter Johnny Helm, solo Tuesday and with his band on Wednesday.
Another familiar performer, Kevin Jones — whose day job is as special events producer for Clear Channel Radio of Hawaii — will be on the Jazz Minds bill.
Three brand new bands will make their debut — Naked Babies both nights, The Intire Project at thirtyninehotel, and Drowning Dreamers at Jazz Minds.
Velazquez continues to write new songs to follow-up her Hoku-nominated album “The Hawk & the Hunter,” and she’s sure to do fan favorites from the album, such as “Drum Machine,” “Repeat Offender,” “Dark Rider” and “Places.” Listen to a playlist of her latest recorded music at myspace.com/sabrinamusic, and listen to tracks and buy her music at sabrinamusic.bandcamp.com.
Kaleidoscope starts at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, at thirtyninehotel, 39 Hotel St., 599-2552. “Screwed Up Wednesdays” takes off at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, at Jazz Minds, at 1661 Kapiolani Blvd., 945-0800. Cover charge on both nights is $5.
— G.C.
Jamaican ambition
Tarrus Riley. Courtesy photo.
Tarrus Riley and Blak Soil Band, this sweet-voiced vocalist and his 10-piece band, including veteran sax player Dean Fraser, bring the reggae from Jamaica for a show on Thursday, Aug. 11.
Riley, son of veteran reggae singer Jimmy Riley, released his first record, “Challenges,” in 2004. In his press materials, he says, “I sing for the people — this is a contribution I can make and after I make a song; it isn’t even mine anymore.” He’s been a familiar name in circles of hardcore reggae fans for the last few years, but this year he started getting some radio play in Hawaii, after making a quick visit to Oahu in March.
His 2006 sophomore album, “Parables,” created a recognizable groove for the reggae artist, with songs that speak the praises of women (“She’s Royal,” and called for uplift, rather than violence (“Beware”)
“I define myself so I make thought-provoking music about Black consciousness and experiences,” Riley said. “I want to open people’s minds and let them think. My music isn’t prejudiced towards color, class, creed or nationality.”
Riley’s full 10-piece band, Blak Soil (“Bredren Living According King Selassie-I Overstanding & Iritical Livity”) is coming along for this trip, which will include Neighbor Island stops, too. The band features legendary saxophonist and reggae veteran Dean Fraser.
The show includes Hawaii acts Rootikal Riddim, Kimie, Jah Maoli and the youthful Micah G (a founding member of Next Generation with Green frontmen Caleb Keolanui and JP Kennedy).
Common Kings and Spawnbreezie, both based on the Mainland, are making their Hawaii debuts as part of this live show..
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, at the Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Tickets are $25, $55 VIP from honoluluboxoffice.com; find out more at hifinest.com.
— E.K.
