Honolulu Weekly

One of the more unfortunate peculiarities about making music in Honolulu is that becoming successful by playing original music is difficult in the extreme.

The Girlas are not at all intimidated by that fact, however, and the all-female four-piece folk outfit is making quick progress.

While it may be tempting to call this group of young ladies in their early 20s precocious, they have damn near 50 years of playing and performance experience between them. Each of them is an accomplished musician in her own right, and all are exceptionally talented songwriters.

The Girlas share an obvious camaraderie on and off the stage and support one another’s musical vision unequivocally. Each of them is happy to let her bandmates take center stage for her own compositions and all members are represented equally on a full-length record currently in production for release this winter by Kototama Productions.

The tentative title, ‘Now or Never,’ is a reflection of the fact that Kelli Heath has plans to go to audio engineering school on the mainland, ‘unless we become millionaires first,’ she jokes. The other Girlas are quick to point out that Heath is the strongest lead vocalist in the band.

The strengths of the Girlas lie in the fact that they are all amazing vocalists who harmonize flawlessly, they all play their instruments (guitars, generally) as well as any other folk musicians you’ll hear in Honolulu, they are fearless songwriters and they are entirely collaborative when it comes to making a song work for both performance and recording applications. And in the shallow world of music promotion, it helps to be, well, easy on the eyes. Their appeal was witnessed by many when they recently opened for reggae legend Don Carlos at Pipeline CafÈ.

Their musical pedigrees are impressive. Carly Smith is the daughter of renowned folk musician Ty Smith and she has toured the West extensively as a folk musician ever since she picked up the fiddle at age 4. She has since moved on to the guitar and bass. So why did she move to Honolulu? ‘To play with my cousin,’ she replies instantly.

Smith’s cousin is fellow Girla, Tiffa Cruz, who shares the same musical drive displayed by her brothers Ernie, John and Guy. When asked why she didn’t drift into island music, Cruz says seriously, ‘I can’t play reggae to save my life.’ She is capable, however, of interpreting any number of the songs that made her brothers island music icons.

Candy Diaz handles the business end of the operation, as well as the band’s website design and maintenance and general promotional duties. She, too, comes from a rich musical background, a family that filled her childhood home with an array of musical styles. ‘My dad toured Japan and stuff,’ she says with the nonchalance of someone accustomed to the rigors of being a professional musician. Her band members laud her ability to pen insightful lyrics and feel out complex harmonies instantly.

With a blend of acoustic folk, bluegrass, blues and soul, the Girlas defy the derogatory labels of ‘girl band’ and ‘chick rock.’ Their lyrical content is poignant rather than preachy, their instrumental prowess is informed rather than forced and their harmonies are inspired. With their fluid delivery and quiet confidence, it seems inevitable that these women will achieve their wildest musical dreams.

The Girlas perform at Hale Noa every Saturday at 9pm; they play Sunset on the Beach Oct. 23 at 5pm, visit www.thegirlas.com for updated show information

Clubbed to death

A theme night at a club? OK, so we’re used to those, but these events are new and noteworthy–and one time only

Get Fresh!, Loke and OO-Spot present Pink Masquerade, a bikini fashion show for a good cause (we’re serious). If getting mostly naked is a good thing, this is it. The party is doubling as a breast cancer research fundraiser with DJs Ikon, G-Spot, Eskae and Sovern-T donating their time and skill. Wear pink.
Indigo, 1121 Nu’uanu Ave, Fri 10/14, 10pm-2am, $10, 21+, 591-3900

Rock steady tomorrow night at the Wave’s Thunder Thursday with what promoter Flash Hansen says are: ‘Honolulu’s hottest rock bands.’ Wave regulars Missing Dave (who will play a rare set of original material) take the stage along with The Crud, the Hell Caminos and newcomer MVA. It’s hard to party on a Thursday, but this might be worth it.
Wave Waikiki, 1877 Kalakaua Ave, Thu 10/13, 9pm, $5, free for 21+ with college or military ID, 18+, www.wavewaikiki.com