Perpetual Groove-ment
Before you get your gobble-gobble on, world-class trance maestro Gareth Emery will craft a groove utopia to kick off the extended party weekend. No electronic genre is off limits for the United Kingdom’s prodigal son.
DJs
World of Wizardry
“The Wizard” Brian Coxx rocks the decks Friday night as the dance groove spirits of Soulgasm New York City and Soulgasm Hawaii collide for a family affair in celebration of five years of snazzy moves and rock steady tunes produced the Soulgasm Hawaii way. Coxx is part of the funk-soul fabric of evolutionary Soulgasm NYC and is often regarded as a second generation torch-bearer–an East Coast pioneer in training, if you will–who specializes in the soulfully rich and sassy old school brand of underground house, blended to perfection.
Foss-ter the Groove
Hypnotic groove addicts will surely find themselves adding up the dance floor miles this weekend when nocturnal beat supremacist Lee Foss returns to the island. Creative blends, not electronic trends, are Foss’ signature, which open-minded electronic music fans will latch onto with excitement and appreciation.
What You Talkin’ ‘Bout, Willis?
When in doubt of Honolulu’s electronica potential, take it from the man who has recently filled his party passport with gigs in Frankfurt and Vietnam, along with Chicago, Detroit and San Francisco on the regular–we’re on the brink of something big. “We are doing exactly what most big cities are doing, but we just have [fewer] people going out on a consistent basis,” says DJ Willis Haltom, co-owner of underground hotspot Asylum.
The Jet Setter
The ubiquitous Nick Yee–or as many know him, DJ Mr. Nick–is well-known for his abstract sound that encompasses the finer aspects of nu disco, funk, jazz and electro house.
The Kee to Success
There’s a fine line between being a predictable DJ and a consistent one. DJ Matt Kee has brought consistent gumption to all aspects of his organic, thrilling vibes.
Salsa Swag
For DJ Da Lion of Judah and his rise among the Latino dance community, bringing ferocity to the scene is merely the nature of the beast and element of the groove. Music, dance and culture are the suave operator’s mental make-up.
Adrenaline Pour
When it’s time to drop the beat, DJ Fathom’s adrenaline-pour process is easy to take in and hard to resist. The good-natured dude with the surefire edge has a habit of bending a groove his own way, far different from the normal dance groove template.
Phil It Up
When it comes to combining the vision and art of a DJ without the infiltration of an ego, DJ Ill Phil is cut from a different cloth. File Phil’s drive under the letter “K” for keeping it creative as he steps into the video mixing and remixing arena shows.
Coles As Ice
They say the trends and styles of nightlife change about every five years. So the more than 30 years of work put in by James Coles in the music, radio and club game should be not just be acknowledged; it should be applauded.
Krack Hand Blake
Having played at more than 20 nightlife establishments on the island, video mix master and consummate pro DJ Blake has built his rep on skill more than fanfare or popularity. “As a DJ, these days, you’re only as good as the tools you have to complement your skills,” says the Kaneohe native.
The “Movement” Movement
Music provokes thoughts that later lead to movements–unabashed, beat-driven movements. Meet one of the stable forces in DJ and club land who was doing the EDM thing before it had such a distinctly corny title.
Ear Hole Punch
A Labor Day hell-raising sesh to be remembered is in store–it will undoubtedly be hard, real hard, and to the core. Sleeping through the holiday BBQ with the fam and friends will be extremely worth it if the Angerfist show is your excuse.
What a Trip
Honolulu is about to get outer-worldly with the anticipated return of the one and only Z-Trip. In his first visit back since getting local party-heads absolutely berserk at Love Fest in 2010, Z-Trip will prove that his contributions to and worth in the DJ scene still remain undeniable.
Lurking in the Shadows
To the Republik for which it stands comes a music genius that hip hop turntablists and fans of music without boundaries can be proud of. One nation under God in killer beatism we trust.
Off to See Dee Wizzard!
DJs that swallow the stagnant pill, beware–Dee Wizzard might just leapfrog right over you, given the opportunity. He’s done such a good job in the career progression department that the moves he’s made over the last year make him one of the rising-est stars in the local DJ game today.
Packo-Power
DJ Packo rules the realms of dubstep and turntablism in Hawaii as we know it. This Friday he welcomes Aquadust III: Apackolypse Now, the third and latest installment of face-nuking eardrum drudgery from the mind of the polished trickster.
A Cut Above
Cut Chemist has always taken the science of beat-making and manipulation to far-fetched places of musical ingenuity. One listen to Brainfreeze, an album he conceptualized with DJ Shadow, should prove that flipping scripts is a Cut Chemist trademark.
Merciful Mastery
MSTRKRFT proves that the use of vowels is utterly overrated and quirky minds can create awesome thump music. From their overall look right on down to their sound, the Canadian twosome, JFK and AL-P, somewhat play the role of anti-superstar DJ-producers while taking complete solace in the savage art of wrecking dance floors, crowds and stages.
Fly, Martin Fly
Sure, straight and narrow DJs get it done. But those who stay ahead of the curve like Justin Martin get it done better.
Mochi Cray
Don’t let the purple dinosaur suit fool you: Mochipet’s tricked-out tunes of bass-knockin’ bravado have much to be desired. The gifted one’s musical color palette wouldn’t be a single color out of a Crayola box–it would be one of the crayon company’s popular spin-off products, Crayola Changeables, where the colors actually, uh, for lack of a better explanation, change color.
Lava Rock
All systems go, all the time. That’s the only way DJ Lava gets down.
D for Destroyer
Solid credentials and a perfectionist’s attitude have allowed Mike D to remain one of the city’s power-player DJs. Remixes he’s done for Cash Out, Kirko Bangz and One Direction have resonated well outside of the cozy confines of the state while his revamped rendition of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” helped the song reach the No.
House Hunter
Groove pallets will be moistened, appetites for the deep and soulful house sound will be whet, courtesy of the one and only Terry Hunter. Hunter broke into the business at age 18 and quickly made a name for himself through the Southside Chi-town house party circuit.
Thrill Seek-o
The great thing about being a DJ is that the thrilling effect stays in your blood for life. Out of the nightlife mix for a bit but never too far from his turntables, DJ Seeko still has a profound passion for music.
This week
Derelict Downtown
For as long as we can remember, Chinatown has been notorious for drugs, homelessness and filthy streets. Some claim nothing has changed–and that it never will.
Sweet Ride
Bicyclists have long been overlooked by four-wheel riders on Honolulu’s congested streets. In the gleaming, armored pecking order of the road, cyclists are too often dismissed as lane hogs, hand-signaling nuisances and unfortunates who can’t afford cars.
Hoopili miss
The fate of some 1,525 acres of land at Hoopili in ‘Ewa may have been decided last Wednesday in Hawaii’s First Circuit Court. The decision might have gone differently, but the appellant attorneys’ strategy seemed to collapse as Judge Rhonda Nishimura picked it apart based on technical errors.
Housing First $
Last Thursday, May 9, the Caldwell administration revealed its action plan for solving Honolulu’s homeless problem. But at the City Council’s budget meeting the same day, Budget chair Ann Kobayashi wanted to know where the money for “Housing First” (see Cover Story, pg.
Do it Wright
The Mayor Wright Housing project has been slated for major redevelopment by the Hawaii State Housing Authority (HSHA); requests for qualifications will be going out to developers in three to six months. Nonprofit group Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE) wants to make sure the project’s tenants have a say in the redevelopment process, which could include major renovations or a total rebuild.
Street Disconnect
The Honolulu City Council held a special Committee on Transportation meeting on Tuesday, May 7, to go over its Complete Streets initiative with input from the department directors of Design and Construction (DDC), Planning and Permitting (DPP) and Transportation Services (DTS). At prior meetings, including the Moiliili workshop, community members pressed the idea of combining Complete Streets with Caldwell’s repaving projects, which Dan Burden of the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute and some councilmembers have said makes sense.
Stopping Growth
Not much to agree with my friend Doc Berry (“Limits of Growth,” April 17). None of the scenarios he posits will ever materialize.
Get it together
In your Diary of May 8 (“End of the 27th)” you reported on SB 1214, passed by the Legislature. In their nimble way, the Legislature tacked the wheel boot prohibition on a bill that was intended to abolish the Commission on Transportation.
Look both ways
On Friday, May 3, at 3:45 p.m., I was driving town bound through the Wilson tunnel on the Likelike. I was parallel to another car, and there were several other cars following closely behind me.
Thank you!
Congratulations Honolulu Weekly on the recent Pai award for investigative reporting (“Boss GMO,” Jan. 4, 2012).
Truth be told
When the biofuel guys say that costs are “confidential” (“Big-foot Biofuel,” May 8), I reply that since I am the one who is going to end up paying the cost, I have a right to know. Frankly, when everybody tries to hide the costs, I smell rat …
Nature’s beauty
The Foster Botanical Garden never ceases to inspire for an urban setting it is like a step back in time (“See the Flora,” May 8). If Koko Crater Botanical Garden contains the world’s largest plumeria collection as suggested, it may be thanks in part to the Prussian born Dr.
