photo by Kaz Sano
Where: 39 Hotel St., straight up the steps.
When: Every Wednesday, open mike on 1st Wednesdays.
Cost: No cover!
(www.myspace.com/therisingmelodymusic)
I was beginning to think my music fit in almost nowhere in Honolulu. Almost. With the exception of Ong King Arts Center, I hadn't had too many repeat appearances around town for one reason or another. Either my own strange brand of music just didn't fit in, or I had an uncomfortable reception coupled with the inability to hear my own performance through the available monitoring system, or I just didn't feel very much at home in a bar environment, due to my abstinence from alcohol. But then again, my brand of music is extremely alternative, I don't tend to pander to the commercial status quo, and I tend to perform to my own prerecorded or “canned” material. But I figured since my music was original, that it might just make some small difference. The great thing is, that in some circles, it really does make all the difference! And there is no short supply of originality in this town, if you only know where to look!
After hemming and hawing about what to do with my Wednesday night, whether to go hang out at Next Door while Nocturna spun until 11:00 PM —which is great, but I don't drink, and am not a very confident dancer— or just go down to Jazz Minds and check out the Harumi The Hymn and the Deadbeats, I finally decided to keep my promise to Bret Shimabuku and check out the Rising Melody. And as soon as I got there, I found myself surrounded by familiar faces and friends I was about to make! Not only had I found a new venue to for a monthly open mike, but also had inadvertently stumbled into a whole world of local talent, and my next article!
Bret, also known as Biku and his sister Jaena are going into their third year hosting The Rising Melody at thirtyninehotel, and as always, I find myself wishing I had discovered this event sooner! My first exposure to The Rising Melody had one extremely talented person after another taking the stage, including their very own Jaena, who could probably sing over the crowd and her own electrified instrument without the benefit of amplification! Biku also brings it on occasion with his own original brand of conscientious alternative folk composition.
Some of the other acts, one might encounter there include house favorites such as Sabrina Velazquez, Josh Jones, Monkeypod, Millicent Cummings, and harmonica madman Danilo “Nilo” Marone. Kauai Songwriters Contest contender Chase Livingston also was in attendance, as well as the remarkable free verse lyrical stylings of Shayla, front woman of the band Barefoot Samurai.
Along with this admittedly abridged list of performers is the astounding talent of Sebastian Hughes, who will only be around until Summer's end, when he heads off to S.F., to begin college, so I strongly advise that you catch his act now! What's really cool about this place is that you can hang out with all these folks, as well as watch them perform, and in my case, watch and learn! There is performance charisma to go around in this crowd, and if you walk away without learning something about stage presence and the art of performance, you've been enjoying yourself way too much!
I've been so impressed with the assembled talent at The Rising Melody the last few times I've checked this place out, I am recommending it some of the exceptional performers I've met in the past couple of months, such as guitarist and singer Kiana and ukulele virtuosa Taimane Gardner, who I believe will compliment the already burgeoning repertoire of regular musicians. You might also encounter DJ Barefoot Bob, either mixing with the crowd or performing, and see if you can’t get your original music aired on his weekly radio show, which airs on Saturday afternoons from noon till 3 PM on KTUH 90.3 FM.
And ironically, this perfect place I had been seeking —with a comfortable enough environment for the non-drinker— actually is a bar. Or should I say it happens to have a bar? It has such a warm and homey atmosphere that I tend not to notice I am in a bar setting at all! Beyond the loft space at the top of the steps which is the main stage and bar area, there is an open-air terrace with a service bar of its own, and there, one can duck out for some fresh air or to mingle, and order healthy pupus from their appetizer menu, all surrounded by the downtown Honolulu skyline.
Contact Bret Simabuku for a booking or more info: www.myspace.com/therisingmelodymusic or go to www.thirtyninehotel.com
