Before Eddie Vedder heads out with Pearl Jam for a brief European tour, the band's charismatic frontman lands on Maui for a solo performance Monday night in the Castle Theater.
Adoring fans have been rejoicing about the rare opportunity to catch the rock legend on a summer tour performing solo versions of Pearl Jam rarities, tunes from his "Into The Wild" soundtrack, and covers that can range from the Beatles' "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" and The Who's "The Kids are Alright," to Dylan's "Girl From The North Country" and Bruce Springsteen's "State Trooper."
"Whatever he did, the crowd ate it up," raved an Albany Times Union review of a June 8 show. "Vedder's voice is huge and it filled the Palace Theater easily, especially on rocking numbers like "Sometimes," "I Am Mine" and the raging "Lukin."
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EDDIE CLINCH photo
EDDIE VEDDER
Vedder last played with Pearl Jam in the islands in 2006 (surprising all by singing "Hawaii '78"), at U2's amazing final Vertigo show at Aloha Stadium. In 2007, he performed with Pearl Jam's keyboardist Boom Gaspar and Jack Johnson at the annual Kokua Festival.
Pearl Jam will release the new album "Backspacer" in the fall. They debuted a new song on the first night of "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien." Vedder will also be heard on an upcoming album by Rolling Stones' guitarist Ron Wood (produced by Maui-based Bob Rock), and he's contributing to a Nick Drake tribute album, along with Dave Grohl, Norah Jones and Jack Johnson, to be released by Johnson's Brushfire Records.
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Fact Box
* Eddie Vedder plays Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the Castle Theater. New Zealand singer-songwriter Liam Finn will open.
* Pablo Cruise, Yvonne Elliman and Kapono Beamer perform on Saturday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Event Lawn at 7 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. Tickets are general admission, $30 in advance, $35 day of show. Plus limited number of VIP tickets for $55, which includes a meet and greet with the band, and table seating.
A chilling on the grass, summertime show at the MACC on Saturday teams '70s hits makers Pablo Cruise with former Eric Clapton Band singer Yvonne Elliman and multi-Hoku winning guitarist/singer Kapono Beamer.
Pablo Cruise returns to Maui as part of a new national tour. A Hawaii favorite throughout the late '70s and '80s, the popular band scored a number of top hits including "What'cha Gonna Do When She Says Good-Bye," "Love Will Find a Way," "I Go to Rio" and "Island Woman."
Formed in San Francisco in 1973 by two former members of Stoneground, Cory Lerios (keyboards and vocals) and drummer Steve Price, along with guitarist/vocalist David Jenkins and former It's a Beautiful Day bassist Bud Cockrell, the group's funky instrumentation, bright harmonies and generally breezy sound quickly resonated with audiences and over time they sold several million albums and singles.
Eventually disbanding in 1986, original members Lerios, Jenkins and Price reunited in 2004. "The good news is Pablo Cruise is back, and in great form," praised a Napa Valley Register review.
Renewed interest in the band was probably ignited after movie star Will Ferrell sported a Pablo Cruise palm tree logo T-shirt in the hit comedy "Step Brothers."
"The old fans are turning out and kids are responding as if they've discovered their favorite new band," David Jenkins said in an interview. "The reaction has been awesome. Pablo Cruise is still very vital."
Back in 1994, guitarist Jenkins teamed with Kapono Beamer to release the very P.C. sounding "Cruisin' on Hawaiian Time." He had previously joined former Doobie Bros. drummer Keith Knutsen and guitarist John McFee, and Credence Clearwater bassist Stu Cook in the country rock band Southern Pacific.
With his brother Keola, Kapono was just honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 Hoku ceremonies. His recording "Slack Key Dreams of the Ponomoe" was nominated for the 2006 Hawaiian Grammy Award.
Manoa Valley resident Yvonne Elliman's career included time as a backing vocalist for Eric Clapton, performing on a number of his 1970s hits including "I Shot the Sheriff" and "Lay Down Sally." She sang the role of Mary Magdalene in the Broadway and film versions of "Jesus Christ Superstar," and scored a million-selling hit with "If I Can't Have You," from the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack.
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Some of our best Hawaiian slack key guitarists gather on Sunday at the MACC for the 18th Annual Ki Ho'alu Festival. Running from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., this free event features performances by Dennis Kamakahi, George Kahumoku, Jr., Kevin and Ikaika Brown, Makana, Jeff Peterson, Ken Makuakane, LT Smooth, Donald Kaulia, Ocean Kaowili, David Kahiapo, Stephen Inglis and Walter Keale. Gates open at 1:30 p.m. No outside food allowed.
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KPOA's sponsoring a massive 808 Unite Concert on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Wailuku War Memorial Stadium. The impressive lineup of local favorites includes 3 Scoops Of Aloha, 'Ekolu, Na Palapalai, Rebel Souljahz, Testafiyah, Maoli, Kamakehau Fernandez, Leokani and Kealaokala. Tickets are $20 in advance and $30 at the door, with kids 10 and younger admitted free. Tickets available from Super Stop, Solid Clothing Store, Oceans Bar & Grill and Westside Vibes.
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More cool free Hawaiian music at the Henry Kaleialoha Allen Steel Guitar Festival presented Friday through Sunday at the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel. Organized by the Maui Invitational Music Festival this celebration of music created on the Hawaiian steel guitar, features an array of free workshops and concerts.
Henry Allen has been recognized as "The Master Artist" of the Hawaiian steel guitar by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. This year he was recognized at a special ceremony by the state of Hawaii as a "Hawaiian Musician Extraordinare" and "Living Treasure" in recognition of his lifetime work.
The festival opens on Friday with workshops by Colin John (1 p.m.), Allen (2 p.m.), and Robert Kincaide (3 p.m.); and continues on Saturday at 11 a.m., 1 and 2 p.m.
Some of Maui's aspiring youth and adult musicians perform at noon on Saturday. At 5 p.m., "Legends of Hawaiian Music," a documentary featuring Allen, screens in the Kanahele Room. Then at 7 p.m. a concert under the stars in the Tiki Courtyard features Allen and friends performing "Tropical Swing with A Touch Of Cool Jazz," plus Alan Akaka & The Islanders with special guest Brickwood Galuteria, followed by the Colin John Blues Band. Honolulu radio personality Skylark Rossetti will emcee.
On Sunday, June 28, Alan Akaka & the Islanders, Skylark Rosetti and guests will entertain at the Sunday Champagne Brunch in the Tiki Terrace.
During the festival, the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel is offering a $99 kama'aina rate. Call 661-0011.
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Ebb & Flow Arts will present the free premiere of a multimedia stage composition, "Keikiwai - The Water Baby" on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. atSeabury Hall Performing Arts Studio. The new performance is based on Jack London's last short story, a Hawaiian tale that takes place on Maui.
Also featured in the evening will be duos for two violins by Hungarian composerBela Bartok. Special guests theGemini Duo (Duane and Dan Padilla of the Honolulu Symphony) will perform Bartok's duos in their original form.
The program will also include Ebb & Flow's signature multimedia experiments with audience participation. Featured artists will be radio personalitiesRobert Wehrman and Bill Best. The multimedia groupcomprises performance artists Francis Kane, Jamy Woodbury, Lisa Gagnon, painter and classics scholar Tony Walholm, musicians Robert Pollock, John Zangrando, Bob Harrison and Paul Marchetti, video artist Peter Swanzy, and stage designer Todd van Amburgh.
* Contact Jon Woodhouse at jonwoodh@hawaiiantel.net.
