Legendary roundup

January 7, 2016

Since debuting their historic collaboration as the Rough Riders last January at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Hawaiian legends Henry Kapono, Brother Noland and John Cruz have toured the islands and the West Coast, recorded a six-song EP and been invited to contribute to the soundtrack of a forthcoming comedy feature, "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates."Adopting their name from legendary Hawaiian paniolos Ikua Purdy, Archie Ka'aua and Jack Low, who traveled to the World Rodeo Championship in Wyoming in 1908, the Rough Riders have been enjoying pooling their collective talents."The ...

Music on Maui 2015

December 31, 2015

As 2015 comes to a close, it's time to recall some of the most memorable music events of the year, including exceptional shows by Diana Ross, John Fogerty, Neil Young, George Benson, Chaka Khan, Yo Yo Ma, Trombone Shorty, Billy Currington, Charlie Musselwhite, Lee Brice and Chris Young, the Stylistics and Booker T. Jones.January kicked off in high gear with Willie K drawing a great lineup of talent to his third annual BBQ Blues Fest, with highlights including Steven Tyler and Mick Fleetwood joining Willie's Warehouse Blues Band for mighty versions of Fleetwood Mac's "Oh Well" and ...

It’ll be a rockin’ new year

December 24, 2015

Aerosmith's charismatic lead singer, Steven Tyler, will be busy on New Year's Eve, as he will first open a star-studded celebration at Mala Wailea and then he will head to Lahaina to ring in the new year with the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band at a sold-out rooftop party at Fleetwood's on Front St.Tyler played a special concert Dec. 5 at Madison Square Garden, celebrating John Lennon's 75th birthday, singing "Come Together" and joining country artist Eric Church for a blazing "Revolution." Other performers included Willie Nelson singing "Imagine."A benefit for the Maui Food Bank and the Maui ...

‘Coming into her own’

December 17, 2015

With her debut album, "They Say," ready for release, Lily Meola will preview some of the songs tonight, sitting in with Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real at Charley's Restaurant and Saloon in Paia.The new CD is a spectacular triumph for this Maui-born musician, who has already been written up in Rolling Stone online. It's so impressive, with the right exposure, her national success is almost guaranteed.Bolstered by help from greats like Willie Nelson, Lukas' father, and Kris Kristofferson, and featuring mostly original compositions with a few covers, every song on "They Say" is a ...

Reflecting on the ‘travels’ of Jake Shimabukuro

December 10, 2015

Jake Shimabukuro has experienced many wow moments during his celebrated career, but a chance to play the legendary Liverpool club where the Beatles started almost left him speechless.A massive fan of the Beatles, the ukulele wizard's video version of George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" brought him worldwide attention, and he has featured covers of a number of their songs on his albums, so he relished an opportunity to play their birthplace in September on his first U.K. tour."It was awesome, I couldn't believe it," he enthuses. "I flew from Honolulu to Atlanta, had a 12-hour ...

‘Stop, look, listen’ for The Stylistics

December 3, 2015

One of soul music's most consistent hit makers, the Stylistics produced an astonishing number of top-selling singles during their peak years in the 1970s, from "Betcha By Golly Wow," "You Are Everything" and "Ebony Eyes," to "People Make the World Go Round" and "I'm Stone in Love with You."Still thrilling audiences today, the Stylistics feature founding members Airrion Love and Herb Murrell, now teaming with Harold Eban Brown and Jason Sharp.Formed in the late 1960s, the Stylistics were champions of Philadelphia-style soul music. Released in 1971, the band's self-titled debut album was ...