PICS: ‘AlohaLauLea’ at Aloha Tower Marketplace

Photos by Aaron Yoshino
Special to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Scenes from the multi-venue party at Aloha Tower Marketplace

PICS: Black Star at Aloha Tower Marketplace

Photos by Malia Leinau / HNLNow.com

The Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace was the location of BAMP Project’s rescheduled Black Star show Friday, which featured performances by local hip-hop artists Tassho Pearce and Creed Chameleon; San Francisco-based singer Goapele also returned to the islands to help open for Mos Def and Talib Kweli.

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PICS: Rolando Sanchez CD Release Party

Photos by Jamm Aquino / jaquino@staradvertiser.com

From left, Marlene Baldueza, Pedro Haro, Judi Tatsuyama, Rolando Sanchez, and Jules Kam perform during Salsa musician Rolando Sanchez’s CD release party last weekend.

Star-Advertiser Staff
tgif@staradvertiser.com

Multi-talented singer/songwriter Rolando Sanchez has released a new album, “Vamonos de Fiesta,” and marked the occasion with a CD release party at Gordon Biersch last weekend.

Sanchez was born in Nicaragua and raised in San Francisco before moving to Hawaii in the early 1980’s. He formed Salsa Hawaii in 1988 and has performed around the world in addition to here in the islands.

He was joined at Aloha Tower Marketplace on Saturday by Marlene Baldueza, Jules Kam, Pedro Haro, Judi Palmeira (Tatsuyama), JoJo and Aloha Latin Dancers and the Salsa Hawaii band.

Click here to buy the CD online. Read more

Black Star concert pushed back to August

Star-Advertiser Staff
tgif@staradvertiser.com

Thursday’s Black Star concert at Aloha Tower Marketplace has been postponed until Aug. 27, due to a “last minute schedule change” that will prevent Mos Def from making the trip to Honolulu.

From promoter BAMP Project:

(Mos Def) is scheduled to film an HBO special within the next two weeks, changing the concert date from this Thursday, July 22 to Friday, August 27, 2010. The show will still be held at The Waterfront at Aloha Tower.

Mos Def apologizes on behalf of Black Star and is excited to come to Hawaii to perform for all his fans. Tickets purchased for this Thursday’s show will be honored for the August 27th show so please do not discard your ticket. Tickets will be refunded at point of purchase if you cannot make it.

According to the press release, doors will open at 7 p.m. Aug. 27 with opening sets by local rappers Tassho Pearce and Creed Chameleon starting around 8 p.m.; San Francisco-based Goapele will also remain as a featured guest.

Tickets, priced at $45 and $85, are still available at all Local Motion stores on Oahu, Navy ITT Offices, the UH Campus Center and online at www.groovetickets.com.

PICS: ‘Independence Day Boat Party’ on the Alii Kai

Photos by FL Morris / fmorris@staradvertiser.com

The Ali’i Kai Catamaran hosted party people on its decks last weekend during a special July 3 Independence Day cruise.

Star-Advertiser Staff
tgif@staradvertiser.com

Party people showed up at Aloha Tower Marketplace last weekend to take part in a special “Independence Day Boat Party” aboard the Alii Kai Catamaran last Saturday.

Hosted by Never Rest Entertainment, this event featured DJ Da Lion of Judah and three levels of fun, capped off by a fireworks display at Aloha Tower. Read more

PICS: GS Boyz at Aloha Tower Marketplace

Photos by Malia Leinau / HNLNow.com

Star-Advertiser Staff
tgif@staradvertiser.com

Southern rap group GS Boyz brought their hit single, “Stanky Legg,” to Aloha Tower Marketplace last Friday when they performed with co-headliners Party Boyz and opening acts B-Hamp, Lil’ Will “My Dougie and DJ G-Flava. The concert was produced by All-Star Swag Entertainment and Samoan Dynasty.

Following the show at Aloha Tower, the party moved to Oceans808 where the GS Boyz held a meet-and-greet with the club’s late night crowd. Read more

Black Star to reunite at Aloha Tower in July

Star-Advertiser Staff
tgif@staradvertiser.com

Before they became stars in their own right, Mos Def (far right) and Talib Kweli were Black Star, and responsible for one of hip-hop’s more honored albums, 1998’s “Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star.”

The legendary hip-hop duo will join forces again for a special concert on Thursday, July 22, at the Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace, presented by BAMP Project. Tickets go on sale Friday.

Besides putting out fine solo efforts as “Black on Both Sides,” “The New Danger,” “True Magic” and last year’s primo “The Ecstatic,” Mos Def has also starred in movies like “The Italian Job,” “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” Be Kind Rewind” and “Cadillac Records.” Talib Kweli’s solo output includes “Quality,” “The Beautiful Struggle” and “Eardrum.” His most recent album, out last month,  is a collaboration with Hi-Tek titled “Revolutions Per Minute.”

Opening for the reunited Black Star will be local artists Tassho Pearce, Creed Chameleon and San Francisco-based female vocalist Goapele.

Doors will open at 7 p.m., with the show starting at 9. Tickets are priced at $45 general admission and $85 VIP, and will be available at all Local Motion stores, Navy ITT offices, the University of Hawaii-Manoa Campus Center and online at www.groovetickets.com.

BAMP Project is also presenting 1970s soft rock staple Air Supply Aug. 22 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall, with tickets priced $45 to $75. Call (800) 745-3000 or go online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Inside HILife: ‘Breakthrough Performance’

Putting a song in their hearts

Illustration by Kip Aoki / kaoki@starbulletin.com ‘BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE: ROCK-N-ROLL THERAPY’ » Where: Gordon Biersch, Aloha Tower » When: 6:30 p.m. March 21 » Cost: $15 (proceeds benefit Honolulu Waldorf School) » Info: (805) 450-0919 or e-mail info@bigembrace.com

By Nancy Arcayna
narcayna@starbulletin.com

Pam Matsuda had no desire to be in the spotlight — she was content on the sidelines, well within her comfort zone. But this weekend, things will definitely change.

Matsuda and seven other brave souls, each backed by a live band, will perform at Gordon Biersch on Sunday to complete their involvement in “Breakthrough Performance,” a personal development workshop. The showcase will include an opening number, with individual songs that may have a Motown vibe with backup dancers or lean more toward musical theater, as the performances are meant to blend with the performer’s personality and needs.

Performers include a shy college student, massage therapist, family therapist, a businessman (who announced he was the only one who had been thrown out of a karaoke bar), a practitioner of Chinese medicine and a writer who hated the sound of her own voice.

Click here to read the rest of this story.

Do It: St. Patrick’s Day

Be Irish for a day at St. Patty’s parties

Star-Bulletin Staff
features@starbulletin.com

Aloha Tower Marketplace will be rolling out the green for St. Patrick’s Day, with special menus featuring corned beef and cabbage plus lots o’ other “green” food and specialty drinks available from restaurant vendors.

Entertainment at the marketplace will be provided by the Lisa Gomes and Kilin Reese Duo and Dancers Unlimited, and free St. Patrick’s Day beads will be available for guests while supplies last.

Plus, don’t forget, just down the street downtown, at the corner of Nuuanu and Merchant, will be the huge block party that’s hosted annually by Murphy’s Bar & Grill, so you have no excuse not to tip back a few and celebrate being Irish for a day.

“Erin Go, Brah!”

>> Place: Aloha Tower Marketplace and the corner of Nuuanu Avenue and Merchant Street
>> Time: 5 p.m. at Aloha Tower, 5:30 p.m. downtown
>> Cost: Free
>> Call: 566-2337 or 531-0422

Inside HILife: In the Mix

Get your Mardi Gras kicks

By Jason Genegabus
jason@starbulletin.com

TIME TO get out the masks and beads — Mardi Gras is back!

Once again, the best parties will take place around downtown Honolulu, with block parties planned in Chinatown and at Aloha Tower Marketplace. In addition, families will be able to celebrate as well at the Children’s Discovery Center.

This year’s “Mardi Gras Carnaval” will encompass five different street corners downtown, with full stage setups and live entertainment from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday. Among the scheduled performers are Delta Skeltah, Quadrophonix, Cherry Blossom Cabaret, Family Dinner, Espiritu Libre and a variety of local DJs. After the block party wraps up, nightclubs NextDoor, Manifest and SoHo Mixed Media Bar will co-host an official after-party, with one $10 cover charge allowing access to all three venues; call 521-9699.

At Aloha Tower Marketplace, the Fat Tuesday celebration gets under way at 5 p.m. with Mardi Gras musicians and Brazilian dancers at the Center Atrium, followed by performances by the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet Band and Dancers Unlimited. Gordon Biersch will participate as well, with a special menu and live entertainment by Cerro Negro, Capoeira Hawaii, Samba Axe and Sunway until 1 a.m.

Across Ala Moana Boulevard at Restaurant Row, Oceans808 presents “Mardi Gras Mania” on Tuesday, with the nightclub “transformed into a Bourbon Street carnival, complete with Mardi Gras-themed green, gold and purple decorations, go-go dancers and face-painting.” The University of Hawaii’s Rainbow Warrior Dancers will also be on hand; cover is $10 at the door.

And from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Children’s Discovery Center presents what they’re calling “the only Mardi Gras celebration in town created just for children.” Keiki will be able to decorate their own masks, create festive noisemakers and ride a vintage carousel. Admission is $10, with $2 discounts for Hawaii residents and free entry for those under 1 year old. Call 524-5437 or visit www.hsblinks.com/1v4 …

Click here to read the rest of this week’s column.

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