| Author |
Topic: Steel Guitar Sundays #2 a smash hit! |
Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
|
Posted 10 Sep 2007 6:56 pm |
|
Yesterday afternoon in the beautiful and cozy beach front Shorebird Restaurant, a packed house was treated to one of the best musical events in many years as all the steel guitarists mentioned in a previous post got time to shine, and did so brilliantly.
Kimo Kahoano, our fearless and peerless Waikiki MC/entertainer, handled the opening and most of the mic honors with style, grace, and lot's of humor, while heaping respect upon the Hawaiian steel and it's players, both past and present. He also gave mention to the fact that most of the day's performers have been greatly influenced by Jerry Byrd and that "he's here today". Very proper way to start off a promising steel event that gave each player 15 minutes to strut their stuff. Kimo also did a brief Q&A with each performer prior to their sets, provoking interesting facts and typically funny moments that the crowd loved.
The man responsible for the much welcomed steel series, Alan Akaka, stated off the proceedings, fronting a veteran all-star band consisting of Hiram Olsen on rythym and vocals, and the supreme talents of Gary Aiko on bass and vocals. All of these gentlemen have long historys with Jerry Byrd, and the music of Hawaii, Waikiki in particular.
2nd at bat, was Casey Olsen, who dispite an odd 'trapped mosquito' tone, kicked off his set with a smokin' Palolo, that immediately had the crowds attention. Casey has been terrific on steel since his day's on Hawaii's Super Kids, a local TV talent show. However, he's not giging anywhere these day's, so it was a rare treat to hear him again.
Greg Sardinha followed and typically proved why he's one of Hawaii's best steel guitarists, and included a sweet 'Sand' in his repetoir. Greg is now playing full time at the airport for arrivals and departures, giving many tourists their only taste of live steel. He sez that there is an opening for a 2nd steeler to help with the work load he's taken on, so there could be a fine opportunity for someone. His evening's show at the Halekulani Hotel would also prove to be his last, as he's focusing mainly on his airport gigs with very few other engagements, so there is yet another open pair of premier steel gigs for a lucky someone...!
All three of the openers played their Canopus steels, as usual.
A deffinite change of pace and tone came when Bobby Ingano took the stage, armed with his 7 string Creller-ized fry-pan and a much quieter style of playing. This made an energized but attentive crowd calm down and respectfully listen, which is something you don't see much these days. Bobby played his usual sweet style and gave up superb renditions of Ua Like No Like and Nalani, to name a few, but as is too often the case, he was shorted on his allotted time, but made it up when he later sat in with Ron Kanahele. Derrick Mau took over the rythym slot for Bobby, while Gary remained on bass and fine vocals.
Derrick got a shot at some steel time and showed how far he's come in a few short years on the steel, playing a couple of very old tunes 'nahe nahe', on his Bakelite. Hiram returned on rythym and kept it slow, perfectly accentuating Derrick's melodic playing. Very nice set.
Next came what proved to be the crowds favorite player of the day as Ron Kanahele was invited up and set up his left handed Bakelite on an old stand that once belonged to his cousin 'Feet' Rogers. He played a couple of old standards in the classic Rogers family tradition that brought out hoots and applause during each number as he gave a performance that those 'in the know' really took to. You don't hear this kind of playing much any more, and they let it be known that it was appreciated from this mostly unheralded player who has a now unique style of playing and singing that was greatly welcomed. He dueted with Bobby during this set and teamed with Gary's vocals on Alu Like, a classic song from Gary's Mom's (Genoa Keawe) catalog, that featured Ron's Uncle, Benny Rogers on the original. A truly awesome performance.
The difference between the Canopus and Rickenbackers was dramatic. Old tone won hands down!
Then came the wrap-up jam, with Alan, Greg, Casey, and Bobby retaking the stage, joined by former Miss Hawaii, Kanoe Miller and the lovely Mrs. Harry B. Soria III doing hula for a few more numbers. Plus, Kimo gave a rousing hula during his version of 'Boy from Lapahoehoe', that once again brought the house down.
Then the emotional closer, a terrific 'Aloha Oe' signaled the end of a great afternoon that will take a lot to ever match, with Kimo perfectly quipping, "it's tough living in paradise, but someone's got to do it".
To top it off, the hotel folk's responsible for the day's happenings were saying that they hope to make this more than merely a once a month deal, hopefully weekly. So, it looks like steel lovers can finally see an even brighter light at the end of a long dark tunnel.
For those who would like to thank, support, and encourage the hotel's management in their tremendous efforts, you can contact, Luana Maitland, Events and Activities Manager at - www.luana.maitland@outrigger.com
For those unable to make it to Hawaii, don't fret, these and future shows will be archived in A/V at www.alohavideo.tv But it sure ain't like being there!
Last edited by Ron Whitfield on 11 Sep 2007 12:33 pm; edited 2 times in total |
|
|
|
Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
|
|
|
|
Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
|
Posted 10 Sep 2007 7:43 pm
|
|
Gee, sorry I wasn't there for that one!!  Casey is the only one in that bunch that I haven't met.
Hopefully that event will continue.
Oh yeah, I have his long scale "Creller-ized" frypan ready to ship to him this week. Long scale DOES have it's own tone.
It WAS a six, now it's a seven, with Lollar coil and my magnets 
BILL |
|
|
|
Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
|
Posted 10 Sep 2007 7:52 pm
|
|
Glad to know it's almost time to hear the bad puppy, Bill!
Ship it directly to me! |
|
|
|
George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
|
Posted 10 Sep 2007 9:58 pm
|
|
I'm very envious of you Ron. Wish I could be there.
CASEY OLSON is a very fine steel player and it's a shame he is not wotking somewhere on a steady basis.
I recall Casey, his dad Hiram and (the late) Kalani Fernandes playing at the Haleku'....what a great group that was...very tight ! |
|
|
|
Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
|
Posted 10 Sep 2007 11:26 pm
|
|
That's Olsen.
And I wouldn't say it's a shame he's not playing somewhere. Casey has every right to be doing whatever brings him happiness.
I sure do love his playing... in my opinion the perfect blend of Hawaiian classic and contemporary. |
|
|
|
Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
|
Posted 11 Sep 2007 11:01 am
|
|
| Be ready for a good time next month, Jeff! |
|
|
|
Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
|
Posted 11 Sep 2007 11:16 am
|
|
I just got back from vacation and am now catching up on my SGF reading.
Ron, you did a very good write-up on Steel Guitar Sunday.  It was informative, descriptive, colorful, entertaining, and what else did I leave out?
Aloha,
 Don |
|
|
|
Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
|
Posted 11 Sep 2007 12:25 pm
|
|
My good looks!
But really, it was an easy essay (even tho I had to write it twice! AAAARGH!), as the good times are still bouncing around in my head.
Be sure to check out the archives in a few weeks to enjoy it yourselves. |
|
|
|
Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
|
Posted 12 Sep 2007 2:03 pm
|
|
| I shipped Bobby's long scale this morning, Ron. Better not get too close to him when he tries it. If he doesn't like it he may hit you along-side the head with it, if you are the nearest one |
|
|
|
Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
|
Posted 12 Sep 2007 3:14 pm
|
|
No problem. I'll just have you fix the new dent in it!
I'll be happy to have a long scale Creller-ized fry-pan, any way I can get one!  |
|
|
|
Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
|
Posted 15 Sep 2007 5:28 pm
|
|
Here's another teaser from www.alohavideo.tv/steel2.htm showing Greg for a minute.
OK, but far from the better parts of his set, and the show. |
|
|
|
Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
|
Posted 15 Sep 2007 9:24 pm
|
|
I am just wondering if the Second Sunday at the Outrigger Shorebird Restaurant is an effort by the management to test how effective the steel guitar music will be in bringing people in to the restaurant?  
If more people come then more days for steel geetar!!
Aloha,
Don |
|
|
|
Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
|
Posted 16 Sep 2007 11:16 am
|
|
You should use the link I provided and ask Luana.
Bottom line, of course it is. These hotels have proved all along that they ain't in it for the being nice part.
To them, Aloha and Hawaiian music, are merely marketing ploys.
But, the folks heading these activities are Hawaiian/local, so there's some substance behind it as well, and since the attendance jumped greatly from the sparse crowd of the first show to a packed house for #2, they were openly talking of expanding it to as many Sunday's as possible, as long as the crowds persist. |
|
|
|
Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
|
|
|
|
Andy Barlo
From:
Schererville, Indiana, USA * R.I.P.
|
Posted 19 Sep 2007 4:54 am
|
|
| It's all about money, Don. I don't think the Outrigger cares one bit about giving the steel guitar a "shot-in-the-arm". If it brings in revenue, it will continue, if not, it will die. |
|
|
|
Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
|
Posted 19 Sep 2007 9:50 pm
|
|
| So true, Andy. |
|
|
|
