So Fuck Nest

The organizers of "No Suck Fest 2011", my popolo huzzbin Kevin Tit, emerging artist Dana Paresa & too-smart-for-me Shawn Shits were our guests the other month. It's a DIY music fest, featuring local bands, as well as mainland guests Mean Jeans and The Dopamines. Everything kicks off with a FREE event at Mercury Bar on Thursday July 21; then officially starts at Anna O'Brien's (nee Bananna's) on Friday July 22; and finally closes with an ALL AGES night at the LOFT on Saturday July 23 (with 21+ After Party at Mercury.)
Kevin started the fest a couple years ago, and now they're trying to make it an annual thing, like other similar festivals around the country. They've been throwing major fundraisers almost all year, and even had a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise money, for plane tickets to bring out the visiting bands. But the kids have also put a lot of their own money into promoting the shows as well. Advance tickets are available, with discounts if you buy for both nights.

When we were planning the interview on our show, I told Dana to bring anyone she wanted, to give it a party-like atmosphere. Although most of the kids didn't wanna be on camera, we had a lotta fun, and I met a few new cuties who have kept my mind & hands busy. Hopefully to decompress, they'll get all fucked upp that weekend, and I'll be able to administer my Blow Suck Test on them to make sure they're ok. I'm not a doctor, but my name's D.R. on TV.

Who's Bad?

"Treble & Timbre - "Discoveries"

I must've stumbled uppon Treble & Timbre, probbly looking upp Ryan Dance Machine's blog for his KTUH radio show Timbre Tantrums.
Treble & Timbre was a singing duo, made upp of sketch comedy artists, Amanda Barrett & Michael Lucid (respectively), from their early '00's web series "Pretty Thingsss". I love their almost open-ended queer humour. It's like it almost teeters on the edge of edgy, without tipping over the top. Kinda Canadianish.Treble & Timbre - "Always a Bad Girl"

I'm really into their "Always a Bad Girl" video though, because it's like their only actual song-length tune. Most of their music is under a minute, with no real point, but to make you laugh, or at least wonder "Huh?". But this song is like a musical version of the book/bumper sticker "Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History".
The song is also a humourous version of (perhaps influenced by) Le Tigre's feminist name-dropping anthem "Hot Topic".
Although this song shares the same name of an over-the-counterculture mall mess, it still incites a little Googling of some revolutionary figures. In fact, artist Kirsten McCrea was so inspired, that she further immortalized the people named in the song, by painting them all, and having a show, making a video & then blogging about her Hot Topic Project. The only deviation was she also painted portraits of the Le Tigre band members as well (minus Sadie Benning, who was replaced by JD Samson, but whose voice can be heard on the track).
--------------------------------------------
PS: you could see more of Michael Lucid as Damiana Garcia on the Daily Freak Show, and Amanda Barrett is currently playing music with her wife Abby DeWald, in their band The Ditty Bops.

chasin' waterfalls

Life's outta control. Losing my job, my house, my bf. I tried, but coulddn't write nothing gobsmacking about my friends i tramonti in time to be cool. But we had so much fun that I want y'all to catch the show, so if you got time, check it out:

Shaka Talk - i tramonti part 1 of 3



Shaka Talk - i tramonti part 2 of 3



Shaka Talk - i tramonti part 3 of 3

Each a monkey

Our friend Eric, from self-described 90's band i tramonti made a video for his HPU class. He was nice enough to not only invite us to be in it, but to let us molest the pretty ones! You know what a yellowphile I can be. But actually Korean's not my favourite colour anymore. I'm totally into Brazilian now. It's the new blast.

My favourite part, is after knowing Eric probbly over 10 years, I got to watch him direct us. He had a basic concept in mind, but listened to everyone & let things evolve. How you say..."making it upp as he went along".

After everything we shot, it's cool to see how he tailored & trimmed & timed it all to go not only with the music, but the lyrics. There's some discarded footage that won't be missed; as well as some other shit that woulda got the video flagged.

Eric knows how to tell a story, while splicing in them performance shots, with random teases of hot chicks dancing thrown into to reach a wider audience. Can't blame him. Sex sells.

Check out "i tramonti" on Shaka Talk in November 2010, Thursday nights at 11:59pm HT on channel 52.



Incidentally, we shot our episode before Eric made this video. OOPS! The band footage we used in the show was all kinda ghetto. One's barely a practice before they even finished a song. No more even lyrics. Small kine shame, but it's cute. Alex loves it, and he's my favourite local rock star, so nothing else matters.

Cheese

Took long enough, but Shaka Talk #7 with special guest Otto Cake is finally upp on our youtube page. Like all episodes of Shaka Talk, it can also be found "On Demand" at olelo.org.

Otto and I have a history. Over the years we've collaborated on publishing zines, putting on shows, and playing in bands. Although we didn't always see eye to eye, we never went mano e mano, but lord knows we would have, if we were butch enough. I might be the drag queen, but he's more of a lady than I am. Ever polite and professional, even when he's pissed off. Yet as often as we come into conflict, I must credit Otto for a lot of my luck as a "performer" here in Hawaii. I've been very fortunate to work alongside someone as energetic and driven as he is, and am compelled to confess that his likability and hard work made it possible for me to reach a larger audience, than someone with my sloppy style & lazy work ethic should ever hope to expect. (I blame the weed for lethargy & paranoia.)

Shaka Talk #7 - Otto Cake Part 1 of 3


The episode opens with a performance of RED ANTS, a song I wrote 20 years ago and have performed way too many times, thanks to Otto. We originally did the song with his first band The Sticklers during the Miss Understood Pageant in the late 1990's. His new band "Pray For Thunder" played the song as opening act for the 2009 Hawaii Underground Music Awards (HUMAs), and right at the beginning Otto gets eaten by Hawaii's own Violetta Berretta (now of Porlad, OR) and the girls of Cherry Blossom Cabaret. After the clip we discuss his first job as roller rink DJ and whether that made him gay; his multitude of bands, including the time The Sticklers got kicked off stage at the Warped Tour; his artwork manifesting a fear of RED ANTS; and his bakery that recently opened in Downtown Honolulu.

Shaka Talk #7 - Otto Cake Part 2 of 3


Otto briefly describes his vision behind the HUMAs (presenting them bi-annually to give enough artists time to produce a CD), and defends himself against the fact that perhaps not everyone was pleased with the production. He says he meant it to be a form of entertainment, "like a play."** He mentions the 4 times he's toured with his bands, twice each with The Sticklers and The 86 List. My co-hostess Edna wonders about the chorus "going back underground" in the 86 List video we play, "Chinatown", and is surprised to learn the song has a literal meaning. Chinatown in Honolulu has a rich subterranean history, and the lyrics refer to a former club where some of Hawaii's bands got their start. The video was shot during The 86 List's "Lucky" tour, but Otto evades the question about a certain blueballs experience during his travels.

While covering his previous acting roles in Cruel Theatre's interactive plays, and his recurring stint as Hedwig [and the Angry Inch], (which he'll be remounting yet again this Spring at Laughtrack Theatre), to our surprise he lets on that his experience in drag wasn't all fun. He simultaneously faced the challenge of memorizing a script, since he admittedly isn't such a proficient reader.

Shaka Talk #7 - Otto Cake Part 3 of 3


Along with plans to remount a bare bones staging of Hedwig, Otto's writing songs for a solo CD of original music that promises to be a departure from the punk rock we've come to expect from him. He swears though, that it's not just an atttempt to monopolize the next HUMAs. We further mock his assertion of shyness, as he tells of his "wardrobe malfunction" during a burlesque performance. As time runs out, we have enough to play the Candy Diaz-directed video for The Sticklers' "Boogie Man", inspired by Otto's obsession with the 1978 movie Halloween. Then finally, to kill the last few moments, at Edna's suggestion, we take an impromptu dance break, as Otto flashes his signature Punk Rock hand gesture.

Damn punk ass bitch motherfucker. SHIT!

4 Daze (My '09 Faves)

All I know is that I don't know nothing 'bout makin' no music.
Well, I was in a few bands, but just words & vocals. I might remember something on ukulele, or of course Star Wars on recorder/flutophone. Couple songs I made upp on guitar I guess. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on piano. So maybe. Hey.
Wow! I'm cooler than I thought. This article's gonna be relevant!
But I'm not hip. Don't ask me to compare these bands to no one else 'cause my references would be distant and dated. I'm not tangled upp in the information superweb, 'cause it kinda rejects me, so I just get to know mostly what I hear live. Then I'll buy a CD. Or better yet, get one FREE.
It's a revelation to see your heroes grow and evolve. Expecially when they do it with grace, grooming their edges, whether they've smoothed them out or not. Then there's the yummy young'uns who can make you feel bright-eyed and light-footed with some fresh classics.

Anyway, here's the Discs I played a lot in my car and on my lap during 2009:

Cronseedz Demo
Though only 5 songs, plus two live tracks, this was my favourite.


The Cronseedz's chaotic charisma, snakelike, charms your mind, booty and sole. Sounds skate punk blues grassy speed rockin' rubber rollin' by nature. Like so totally mature, hella humble, super human & hot. Deal with it: even with more teeth & less of that gone-too-far way, Kale Sandridge manages to stay one of the most arresting individuals I wanna encounter with. Equally infamous for his skateboarding skills, as his eccentric antics, he artistically embodies the hymn 'Skate & Destroy' to the point of bodily harm. Cheshire cat chagrinish, Kale bares quite a bit on this EP. And it's done well: raw, as on brooding bellows like "Brain Damage". Ruthless but sans rue, in "Raw Deal" he ruminates how heroin ruined relationships, then heralds his return to reality. Moodmelding swingers like "Not One of Them" and "Skater 4 Life" rock out the volatile joie de vivre that these board bound cuties roll and rage by. Bolder and wiser guys're why Punk's Not Dead!!

Jimmy Defiant "Last Chance"
I think he's in a band called Beautiful Disaster, and DJs at Manifest Wednesday nights right now.

I'm quite hard. I mean: It's hard to be quiet about Jimmy Defiant, but I'm gonna try it. His music is understated, easily related to, like he's been liberated too. "Jaded but innocent" is how I said it to him. Right away I tried to edit my words and apologized, but he just smized and I realized that I kinda came correct. It's so not what I'd expected from this JD, which is one thing I can rely on: surprises! I've had my eyeses on him from the nights he was ubiquitious, til the days it seemed he'd upp and quit us. That bandit stole more than my heart when he skipped out, but now that he's back in the light, it no doubt feels right that he served upp this lo-fi HI-phat platter of bittersweet ballads, with broke down-to-basics beats lifting lilting lyrics. Spit and sung, son! Hear it more like Jimmy eats the world and feeds back, doesn't carry it on his shoulders like some whack backpack quack. Now that he's older, this baby-faced bad boy's armour is hardened yet he hazards to offer a softer side. (no homo)

The JumpOffs "The Jump Off"
Make me wanna do bad things to good boys. But do it well. Nice-like. Lights out for sure. Anonymous close upps in secret snapshots.

Love: Oriental Ring of cinco passionate Asian syncopationistos! Like when you're more impressed that your cousin can pick ukulele, not just strum dumb Jahwaiian jams? Same-same. But these babes belie they're bestial below the belt by redirecting your radar at the shredders' ambidextrous audacity on his instrument, while keeping bassic beats down to catch a feel, 'cause them Jumpoffs can fidget their fingers, for real! Each man handles himself with two fists-aflare, daring any head not to bang, neck bob, nor butt bounce. Slow down and their mellow tunes induce swoons, following the focal point stream from the vocalist boy of my dreams, to the other yellowish~brown creme dela creams in tight genes. Their accessible air from the safety of the speaker or stage, flaunt their flare from afar. Such as their songs make me shimmy my feet & swivel my seat, I'm wont to wonder which ones're good in the sheets?

Deadbeats Deadbeats
I've heard these shamanic showmen's shenanigans can turn Jazz Minds into a juke joint (Wednesdays next to Aaxtion Video)

You know these guys're are a good lei. Just the way they joyfully jostle and jam their spazzy spunky jazzy funky hip trip hop bop. Non stop their stage presence is the greatest gift of all, even if it means learning to love myself in the middle of their set. Back from the bathroom stall, you'd forget they're youths, so smoothely these boys flow and float your boat over a sea of soul soundscapades. Tasteful and seasoned, I wanna fill upp on their flavour! Didn't do myself no favour by flirting with them in public, tryin' get private with their pubics! It's just so hard not to come on too strong, hunny these randy rhymes and wiley riling right on rhythms make me wanna be startin' somethin' with 'em.

What did I forget or miss out on? Which CDs should I get next? Just bought Ted's latest, and I'm feeling it. Get Wormhole on top. Ted harmonizes himself. First of 2010 already. P.

Brown & Down

I wish I had a credit card so I could order Nopoopital. I had to leave the KTUH party tonight to go take a dump. I coulda just went in the men's room behind Bale, but had too many hot drunk 19 year olds, and I didn't wanna cheat on The Girlfriends

Counting the Moments...

Holy mutha fuckin' shit yo (and assorted appropriate exclamations)!

It was last year already (barely over a week ago), but I'm almost recovered. I was innocently cruising for cuties at (where else?) Fitted, and exstatically came uppon (physically but not bio-fluidly) a t-shirt that I'd bought in earlier '08. It's a Pidgin To Da Max ~inspired Flip the Bird / Fitted collaboration, depicting a "local boy" in my favourite uniform: one half t-shirt, surfah shorts & rubbah slippahs. (cap, peach fuzz'stache, and quarter-in-the-ear optional)

They'd run out of my size at the time, but I was so into it, I had to have one. So I bought a medium, and thought "I'll just act skinny when I wear it."

Then last weekend I'm doing my thang, and there! My shirt's back! Except this time they only had XXL :(and the clerk was haole:(. But it wasn't a total loss, he was one of the hot haoles, and he knew how to work me, 'cause right away (after hanging upp on him once) he had Tassho, the shirt's designer, on the phone, and on the way.... o-nay!

Already a fan when I first met him about 12 years ago, I made the worst first impression on Tassho Pearce, aka EMIRC. His group 'Hoomanakaz' were regular performers on the club and party circuit back in the 1990's (I think he went by A.K.I.RA 8, then) and I worked at Jelly's when it was in Market City. One day Tassho came in and we set upp a deal to sell the Hoomanakaz cassette.

I was quite initimidated, not only as a fan, but as a fag who was finally face to face with a fine ass fella who'd appeared only so near in my ~frequent~ fantasies. So I performed my stupidest act: during our first encounter I thought I'd be super cool and make fun of one of my co-workers. It was like a joke and stuff. hahaha. You know me. I'm so funny. Turned out Tassho knew the person. I was humiliated, but kinda grew upp at that moment (I could feel the growth, but it was the '90's, so my baggy jeans hid it).

The Hoomanakaz tape sold well and Tassho would stop by to drop off more and collect his cash. I somehow got invited into his house one day, but I swear I wasn't staking out the joint. (whatever, we don't got stalker laws in Hawaii.) Looking around his room, there was only one thing harder than fighting the urges to stick my head in his hamper or pilfer the pics of his hot friends off the wall. (I ain't over Moon yet, yo)

Then the line kinda blurred between: the time Hoomanakaz were opening for practically every Hip Hop headliner to hit Hawaii (I think I made it to Pharcyde and the Roots); and the era of just Tassho himself warming upp audiences for everyone from Lupe Fiasco to Kanye West, even 50 Cent. Somewhere between days in 2004, under the name "EMIRC", Tassho (with my ex-huzz DJ Syze One) presented his well-received and reviewed first CD "Rhyme and Punishment" which spawned the hit single "Honolulu." (read the video description). I'm tryin to replace mine (barely got an iPod for Xmas '08), but I remember it was polished, political, not too pompous, even polite (listen to the outro of "Honolulu")


Ever the enterprising entrepreneur, the charismatic cutie would befriend visiting performers, offering his aloha and something for them to wear. When they'd rock his shit on stage, the clothing line unexpectedly took off, taking Tassho in a different direction. (I seen Flip the Bird tshirts for sale on Carnaby Street, in London!)

Through a mutual friend, he even hooked upp with Russell Simmons and created Flip the Bird's iconic shoe, inspired by our Hawaii state fish, the humuhumunukunukuapua'a, and another by the flower, Bird of Paradise, still another resembling shave ice.
Four years later, after reaching the world with his music & clothing, Tassho finally released his latest collection of tunes "The Opening Act". It features "primo production" (to quote myself), including tracks by Hi-State's DJ Fame 1, DJ Qbert from Invizible Skratch Pickles, and Evidence & Babu from Dilated Peoples.
The title refers to the aforementioned fact that he's opened for every major act to come through Honolulu. But it's also like an intro to the man behind the mogul. Engagingly personal, the songs tell Tassho's story, from missing his mom after leaving Okinawa with his father ("Halfway Gone"), to the break upp of Hoomanakaz when one of the members got mired in meth ("Iceland").

[Tassho w/ The Spacifics opening for the Grouch]

[Tassho w/ DJ Jimmy Taco at Beat Root]


Thankfully, he's been performing rather often, in support of this CD. I'm grateful because Tassho Pearce is one artist whose persistence, talent, and love for Hawaii glorifies his home town (in true hip hop fashion,) without whitewashing, hyper-hardcoring or otherwise misrepresenting it. Plus he exemplifies how far humility, an aloha-y attitude, and dedicated work ethic can take you. Much furthermore, the quality of his work reveals a clear vision and confidence that can only serve as inspiration to those who like, loyally love the lad, and he could help even the most hopeless of haters. (plus he fine too)

To top off the 2008, Tassho just recently unveiled the Flip the Bird Holiday Look Book, displaying his diversity of design with images influenced by Hawaii, hippies, holidays, video games, and even other labels. I'm saving upp for the collared shirt with the Polo guy attacking the Izod alligator. (Below pictured are 3 older Flip the Bird T's I got so far)
So ya, back to my story (spoiler alert: it's not anti-climactic, it's worse: optimistically self-affirming.)

Tassho was on his way to deliver my favourite t-shirt to me.
SHIT!!! What the fuck?
I left my last copy ofprint issue #4 of Shaka Zine over at exclusive, and the rest was in my car...parked like 3 blocks away by the Ala Moana Hotel! I normally would shy away at handing someone my zine (expecially if they're in it) but I knew that I uncharacteristically didn't say anything affectionate when I mentioned his Opening on my Xmas shopping list. I meant "his CD, The Opening Act." That was a typo. We regret the error. Damn spell-check.

So as outta shape as I am (unless you call "poor-posture-impregnated" a shape) I raced thru the mall without stopping to check out no one. I was focused. And freaked out! Then extremely exhausted by the time I found my car. I had to rehablitate, then debate which was more dangerous: driving back to Fitted and possibly killing someone and/or myself?; or running back and possibly just dying along the way? I chose to drive, just in case I made it, I wouldn't be as tired or shame.

No one died. But I arrived too soon. He wasn't there. I couldn't breathe. Walked back to the mall. Bought me a soda. And gathered myself...A forced few minutes later, a might bit rejuvenated, but shockingly re-assembled, I made it back to the store in one piece.

Tassho lit upp the doorway. Like a firm beam of light bursting from the gaping mouth of a vast uppward-spiraling tunnel of love (no homo). The moving molten masses nearby but blurred by his aura (or was it his halo?) musta been the haole clerk's friends who'd been waiting for dude to get a break... waiting on me... well... whatever...I wanted time to slow down, but I knew that would just give me more time to fuck more things upp.

"Shaka Zine," I hear him say. What? Tassho recognizes me?
I almost run into the pet store next door to piss off PETA. But nuh-uh. I say "Hi, I was trying to get that shirt from you." He points me toward the counter where my haole hunny is smiling, holding upp my shirt. My size. My goodness. (I swear, white people are so cooler nowadays. Change I could get used to.) I pay for the shirt, and start looking at hats, then the new girly shit on the counter. Stalling. But I can't stand it.

I leave the store, and thank Tassho for the special delivery (please: lemme believe that I was the first). "We mentioned you in the magazine" I tell him. ('We' I says.) "Did you see the latest one?" I hand him #4, The haole's homies must be glad to see me fixing to leave. I don't see them at all. Just excuse myself, then retreat to my car. And exhale. Shoop.

I made it! Got through a close encounter of the thrilled kind. Plus, I got myself something I wanted for Xmas, from someone I wanted for days. Plus I didn't dirty my drawers! And I gave him a Shaka Zine without flirting or floundering. Do you understand what a big step that is? I never get the nerve. I should print the "Psychological Impact Statement" we made for the zine. It's my therapy, and I've just barely begun.

I don't mind that I went over my Christmas budget that day, by buying something for myself. I would have spent 10 times that much on an airhead escort, and still woulda come too fast.

ps: Happy New Year! Prospero Ano Nuevo! Hapa Haole Shaka Hiki Hou!

We got the YooToobs

I can't move my laptop right now. It has a flawless connection right now (even didn't get lost when the power went out in my house for less than a minute. The TV and AC both switched off, but not my HP. She musta fed offa her battery, 'cause I was in the middle of loading videos, and didn't get sabotaged. So if'n you got a lotta seconds, try lookie our youtube channel li'dat.

Our most popular one is Vivian Vallo (of the notorious Cherry Blossom Cabaret) who set off the Animal Brigade fashion show at Asterisk this past August. It's our most popular video to date, and the only to get rated (five stars no less).


Our myspace profile editor Kimiko Shawn also maintains the Hula's Bar and Lei Stand video channel Hula's Party TV. Their promotions director bought Kimiko a camera, and now she's outta control. Not even 3 months she's had that camera and already they got almost 250 videos upploaded! She didn't shoot the following video, but she's in it. It's the trailer for the Miss Riot Pageant, produced by Keoki,Inc. (of Riot Clothing) and Brent Anbe (slumming it in the offseason from Universal Show Queen)

Even Kimiko's personal channel is coocoo cool! Check out this clip from this past Mushroom Festival in Kakaako's own Pipeline Cafe. It's of old skool fool Rebekah "Viva La Diva" Long, taking a break from her Beautopia boutique to shift, adjust and tuck something in her, um...... mid-section.


Another of our favourite Cherry Blossom Cabaret girls is DJ Catwings. She is a very busy girl, and we admire her for that, as well as the things she does. Not only is she a burlesque artist (stripper with no full frontals, not even nips), but she hosts Monday Night Live and the 808 Wonderland Monday nights 9pm to midnight on Hawaii college radio KTUH, each of which heavily promotes local music. Most recently this multi-talented starlet started decorating downtown divas with her Catwings Couture.
Watch her here at danceonpartyon.com's Robot Party:


This is taking forever, but it's kinda fun. I'll finish for now with another from my page, it's one of my favourite artists (most-heard CD at the moment) Tassho Pearce aka EMIRC. He performed live with the Spacifics at the Loft on Hotel Street. The tags on his clothing line say "Shaka at ya boy", and here he is getting the crowd to shake some shakas at him as he finishes his set.

"C & K Back in the Day" 8/23/08 @ the Waikiki Shell

We had a great time on The Lawn at the Waikiki Shell to watch & listen to the C&K 35th Anniversary CONCERT, "Back In The Day". Much to our Surprise..... C&K made their first appearance ON THE LAWN. Can you believe it??? Under the cover of Darkness they snuck-UP on us po'locals who were sitting and waiting on the grassy mole. Considering the Shock and Aw, my reflex to grab the camera was just amazing....... Their consideration to appear in the mist of their local fans made them that much more endearing..... I kinda felt a little bad for all the VIPs who could only see their back silhouettes ... C&K even called out to the peeps outside of the Shell on the grass.... it was soooooo cooool. Those mo'po peeps were heard hollering, shouting and singing along.... It was so amazing cool!!! They were soooo close it was unbelievable......

C&K made onto the stage with the hi-tech stuffs at the Shell.....
On Stage they jammed with Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Na Leo Pilimehana, and Robi Kahakalau.... Da Girls Ruled......
The concert started at 6pm and ended officially at 10 pm but UN-officially, it ended much latahs, closer to 11pm. "Hana Hou!" was the chant of the nite and C&K didn't want to leave.......... they were having "too much fun".... we could hear them still singing even when we were two blocks away getting to our car...to fight the traffic home...... it was just too coooooool. We plan to go to the 45th anniversary...... :-)

There were 3 generations there.... babyboomers, their kids and their kids's kids...... WISH YOU WERE THERE

National Daydreamer Ross Jackson blogs like he acts

So I guess it's like the opposite of a writers' strike or something. (No writers, no show)
Next Door Nightclub, where my roommate Ross Jackson works on Tuesday nights is closed for a few weeks. So he started a blog. (no show, yes writer) [uppdate: the party is now at the loft on Hotel St @ Mauna Kea]

He still has his radio show Ross Jackson's Daydream Nation on Wednesday afternoons 12-3pm on KTUH. Plus he's been "subbing" for someone, every Monday from 12 to 3, like for a while now. I think he's the program director for the station too. He swears! Check his blog for playlists as well as other musings and music reviews. (With the same interest and authority as Christian Bale's character in American Psycho trying to impress girls with his reviews of Phil Collins and Whitney Houston)

Whenever my old man tells people that we have a DJ roomie named Ross, they're always "Ross Jackson?!" with some weird sparkle in their eyes. And it's full-on random people who react that way. The realtor. The adopted asexual from Texas. My Black/Japanese sister-in-law. Like, all kine, any kine people. They love his show. Even me.

But you don't gotta know Ross or even like his music (or him) to enjoy his blog. His observations on life in the islands, and other things he enjoys are written kinda purty and sentimental-like, with bit more than a little snooty snuck in. You can alternately lilt and lull on his meanderings, or laugh at his lack of modesty and pretentiousness. He does.If you've ever met him, or heard his show, you know Ross likes to use big or infrequently used words. Sometimes it's cause it's the best word for what he means to say. Other times, he's obviously trying to impress or confuse you (don't let him know if it does). And at least once, I caught him calling me something as I was blogging, I looked it upp, and even he was surprised at its meaning.
So sometimes he's full of wit, other times he's full of shit, but he's not so full of himself that he can't acknowledge it. As much as he likes to aggrandize himself, he'll also make fun of himself and his public persona. Even lets me tease him while he's reminding me how cool and fuckin' elite he is. As long as he lets me mock his bravado, I'll listen to it. It's funny and fun. He gets me pretty good too (not as mean as the gays, but just as painful).

Plus he's realistic, and even honest. Once I asked him "Do you seek approval?" and his reply was "Don't we all?" So see he's just like most of us.

I'll write more of what he told me about working at KTUH and the shows he thinks are important. But later. I just wanted to let y'all know about his blog, because he knows good music.

Plus I wanted y'all to know Ross Jackson is my roommate, 'cause I don't go out much or wear the right clothes, but I'd like for you to think I'm cool. (I'm sure he'll start to think so for the sheer fact that I mention his name so many times.)

Kaleidoscope Tuesday nights @ the Loft

Most Mondays, 12pm to 3pm on KTUH.

Ross Jackson's Daydream Nation, Wednesdays 12pm to 3pm on KTUH FM

rossjackson.blogspot.com

"Ukulele Virtuoso" Jake Shimabukuro & his brother Bruce

I first seen Jake perform at a record store. He was a energetic, humble, local boy who almost shocked the crowd by playing everything from Classical to Metallica on ukulele. He's since won awards with the band Pure Heart, gone solo & slicked out his look, released a few albums & videos, and become an international superstar! His passionate playing and playful presence have won the hearts of fans everywhere. Jake's friendly and talented brother Bruce is an upp and coming musician as well.

sample more Jake on npr.org

Jake on wikipedia
Jake on myspace

jakeshimabukuro.com

jake & bruce on starbulletin.com


photo: Craig T. Kojima / ckojima@starbulletin.com