South by Southwest Diary: Winning hearts & minds in Texas

Hawaii artists get Submerged

Photos by Gary C.W. Chun / gchun@starbulletin.com

By Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.com

AUSTIN, Tex. » Thursday night’s Hawaii showcase at South by Southwest may have been four blocks away from all the action happening on Sixth Street, but the coolly-designed Submerged nightclub (above) was burning red hot, thanks to the energy generated in particular by Tavana McMoore.

McMoore, who regularly moves between Honolulu and Austin for music jobs, finally joined up with the island contingent of Sabrina Velazquez, Kona Chang, Anuhea Jenkins and the Green, and Pimpbot. But even though he was busy finishing up recording his next album with his Hawaii rhythm section of bassist Jon Hawes and drummer Stew Sherman while in Austin, his management, Proper Entertainment, did its part to help out his island mates.

Because of his regular work at the Mexican restaurant MariaMaria, he was able to help get Chang, Jenkins and Velazquez gigs there during their visit to SXSW. Read more

South by Southwest Diary: ‘Sunset Luau’ at Whole Foods

Hawaii artists rule the rooftop

Photos by Gary C.W. Chun / gchun@starbulletin.com

By Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.com

AUSTIN, Tex. » It ended up being a “sunset luau” only in name, but nevertheless, the Hawaii contingent’s first performance at the South by Southwest Music Conference on the rooftop of the flagship Whole Foods Market was a smooth success.

Last year, food was available in the expansive facility, which includes the world headquarters of the successful organic food market franchise. But this time around, management decided it was easier for people to buy their meals downstairs in the market proper. What was on hand upstairs, however, were drinks provided by Kona Brewing Company, co-sponsor of Anuhea’s current mainland tour with the Green.

Two weeks into their debut national road trip, Anuhea and the band launched into their set with a cool and confident mindset. With a very successful single, “Love I,” being both aired in high rotation on Hawaii radio playlists and moving enough units to make it a top three song on the Billboard reggae charts, the Green led things off with their own set of reggae and lovers’ rock tunes. Read more

South by Southwest Diary: St. Patty’s Day in Austin

Concert-hopping with Ryan Miyashiro

Photos by Gary C.W. Chun / gchun@starbulletin.com

With the music conference starting up full-tilt Wednesday, the main club drag of Sixth Street was closed down to make way for the heavy pedestrian traffic. Street performers were out in full force in the afternoon, with St. Patrick’s Day revelers joining the SXSW attendees.

By Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.com

AUSTIN, Tex. » Day 3 of the South by Southwest experience started earlier than I expected.

After falling asleep around 5:30 a.m., Ryan Miyashiro, Sabrina Velazquez’s accompanist and Honolulu’s friendliest underground musician, called me up and roused me out of my deep sleep to go with him to see a favorite band of his in a couple of hours, the Morning Benders, at Emo’s, one of Austin’s more famous rock clubs. Read more

South by Southwest Diary: Jakob Dylan and Eisley

Getting into the swing of things at SXSW

Photos by Gary C.W. Chun / gchun@starbulletin.com

By Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.com

AUSTIN, Tex. » Music lovers — and other distractions — got a head start Tuesday night at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas with a major evening showcase held before the nonstop parties and concerts that will start in the afternoons and last late into the evenings over the next several days. Read more

South by Southwest Diary: Dining with Kona and Sabrina

On the ground in Austin

Photo courtesy South by Southwest/Jeff Picard A view of Austin’s busy 6th Street during last year’s South by Southwest Conference.

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of posts by Star-Bulletin staff writer Gary C.W. Chun filed from Austin, Texas, the location of the annual South by Southwest Music, Film and Interactive Conference. He plans to post his observations of the conference and its surrounding events daily until Sunday.

By Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.com

AUSTIN, Tex. » Even though it was the end of a long traveling day for Kona Chang and Sabrina Velazquez, there was no denying their building excitement to showcase their music in three days at the prestigious South by Southwest Music, Film and Interactive Conference later this week.

Both they and their traveling companions left Honolulu on Sunday evening with stopovers in Dallas and Houston, respectively, and caught separate connecting flights to Austin yesterday. They all met up Monday night in Austin’s busy downtown district, filled with bars and nightclubs which usually provide nightlife options for students from the University of Texas. Read more