Truth From Dare: Way too much going on

BY DERIN DEREGO / Special to the Star-Advertiser

Is it just me or has there been way too much going on lately? On a larger scale we had the Grammys, marred by Whitney Houston’s untimely passing, an awesome Super Bowl, made even better by a killer halftime show, and now Fashion Week is in full swing in New York City.

Locally we’ve also had our fair share of goings-on including two major DJ battles, a visit by the legendary DJ Krush, and PowWow festivities going on all over Honolulu this week.

After a weeklong trip to Las Vegas and Denver, I was a bit antsy to get back into the Honolulu scene. Don’t get me wrong, I love getting off the rock, especially when the stint involves numerous Super Bowl parties and a visit to snow country. But there’s something to be said about hanging out with longtime friends at your favorite spots.

Almost as soon as I got back I was whisked into the frenzy. Friday night SoHo Mixed Media Bar hosted the Red Bull 3Style DJ Battle. Red Bull decked the place out proper, shipping in a logo DJ booth, special lighting and tons of swag. Master of ceremonies Flash Hansen of Apartment3 kept the show flowing and the energy level on blast as each of the six DJ’s did their best to illustrate why they were among the chosen.

Since it was a one-night-only affair, each artist was given 15 minutes to present a mix that showcased their talent and had to include three genres of music. After two hours the dust settled, and judges DJ G-Spot (KTUH), DJ Jimmy Taco (102.7 Da Bomb), and Chris Kahunahana (Nextdoor) named DJ Compose of the Nocturnal Sound Krew the winner. Compose will represent Hawaii in Los Angeles in May in the next round of competition.

When asked why Compose, Jimmy Taco had this to say: “His music selection. He was the most complete overall. He had the crowd the most hyped for his entire set.”

It’s hard to deny that Compose had the crowd the most excited among the entrants, but I would have liked to have seen a sudden-death tie-breaker situation between the top scorers for drama’s sake.

Saturday I continued to indulge in the turntable tactics with a visit to Nextdoor to see international superstar DJ Krush. Honestly, I’m not big on who’s who in the DJ world. Until they remix a Madonna or Gaga song, I don’t know who they are. But when I walked into Nextdoor at 10:30 and saw how packed it was despite a $20 cover, I knew this guy was huge.

The opening acts, including hip hopper Mr. Lif and local DJ, Packo, did an awesome job in building up the anticipation for the main event. And Krush didn’t disappoint.

This weekend is another long weekend and the party puppet masters have got a ton lined up for us.

Want to get a jump on your President’s Day weekend? Start off Thursday at Rivals Lounge in the Ohana Malia Hotel for industry night featuring $3 drinks and hipster DJ music. Then head to Nextdoor for Broadcast. This week features San Francisco DJ’s Tinker and Kid Kameleon. Close the night out at Addiction Nightclub’s Industry Night.

Friday there’s something for everyone, starting with the launch of Blu Dragon at Japengo in the Hyatt Waikiki. The brainchild of Kevin Kaneshiro of Phoenix at RumFire fame, this party promises to be fun for people of all persuasions.

If partying in Chinatown is more your thing, head to Soulgasm, the monthly funk and soul party that happens every third Friday at thirtyninehotel. This month’s edition features Sweepy of the world-famous Rock Steady Crew along with DJ Min One.

Saturday touts the wrap-up of the weeklong events of PowWow Hawaii. The main event, featuring works from the various artists, takes place early Saturday evening at Loft In Space at Fresh Café. The afterparty follows at Nextdoor with live performances by ALT/AIR and Anton Glamb and DJ sets by Kowai Kowai and ANIT.

Sunday seems to have the most going on with venues offering big-name talents from all over the globe. SoHo Mixed Media Bar hosts DJ Kutski of the U.K. for its infamous Blackout Party. If the rave scene is your thing, this 18-and-over party will be the place to be.

Also making a special appearance for the long weekend is the Modern Experience from Flash Hansen and Blaise Sato. This reincarnation is being coined ME2 and will be a downsized version of the pair’s New Year’s Eve party and features music from L.A.’s renowned DJ Echo.

Another Sunday shindig of note is The Bailout happening at The Standard in Restaurant Row. No doubt this is where most partygoers will close out their weekend, with the venue staying open till 4 a.m. and playing host to Vegas regular DJ Toma.

And there you have it. Another weekend with way too much going on. But after being off the radar (even if for only a week), I’m ready for the fun to commence.