Success express
The Vandals / With the success of more than 200 shows and 120 CD releases, it’s no wonder Jason Miller, founder of Hawaiian Express Records, has something to celebrate. This month marks 15 years of keeping Hawaii’s alternative music scene rocking, even as a flood of mainstream bands wash through our radio stations.
To mark the milestone, Miller is bringing The Vandals–one of his all-time favorite bands–to Hawaii for two shows, one on Maui and one on Oahu. Miller says he grew up listening to The Vandals back in the ’80s. He admits to wearing out one of their casette tapes, “Peace thru Vandalism,” from playing it so much. Fifteen years later, he’s as passionate about music as ever.
“I’ve always said that if it’s still fun to do it, I won’t stop,” he says. “But I highly doubt that cassette tapes will make a comeback.”
Miller says being a fan is what inspired him to get into the music business in the first place.
“It’s always been about trying to support the local alternative music scene,” he says. “And more importantly, Hawaii’s music fans.”
Fueled by his love and dedication to the alternative music genre–that includes punk rock, ska and metal, among others–Miller has kept local musicians and followers very happy over the years by bringing bands like the Misfits, Casualties, Mad Caddies, Against Me!, TSOL and Fear to the Islands. He’s also co-sponsored many events featuring bands such as Bad Religion, Blink–182, Green Day, The Shins and Flogging Molly.
Hawaiian Express Records started in 1995, after Miller moved to Oahu to attend the University of Hawaii on a swimming scholarship.His key motivation for starting the company–which he says started as and remains a hobby–came from watching his friends in the local music industry struggle to get their music out there.
A proud parent of four boys, Miller says he hopes he is leaving his sons a legacy that will live on through his love and passion for music. At the 2009 Hawaii Underground Music Awards, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. He describes the last 15 years of his life, as “doing what feels right” and that one day it will prove that this was just a small milestone in Hawaii’s local music industry–and not a tombstone. “I wasn’t the first, I won’t be the last, and I would never claim to be the best, but my intentions have always been pure.”
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