Do It: Jackson Browne, Paliku Arts Fest, Beat Rock Krew

FRIDAY

>> Jackson Browne returns to the Waikiki Shell

Jackson Browne’s songs were so good that they seemed nostalgic in their own time.

Songs like “The Pretender,” about the hopes and dashed dreams of the working class, or “Running on Empty,” about the fun – and fear – of being on the open road with no destination in mind, have a timeless quality that should resonate with audiences of just about any era. All that introspective angst was conveyed in a laid-back, California folk-rock sound best described by one of his other hits, “Take It Easy,” the hitchhiker’s ode that he co-wrote with Glenn Frey of the Eagles.

Not surprisingly, Browne has championed social justice and environmental causes as well. He’s combined his music with his causes, founding Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) with Bonnie Raitt and living on a Southern California ranch that is powered by wind turbines. His last performance in Honolulu was in 2005 in Jack Johnson’s green-centric Kokua Festival. He also appeared at the Blaisdell Arena and on Kauai with Bonnie Raitt and Crosby, Stills and Nash in 1992 in benefit concerts for the victims of Hurricane Iniki.

Browne created some of the most evocative tunes of the ’70s, from “Doctor My Eyes” to “Rock Me on the Water” to “Fountain of Sorrow.” His albums from that era – “Jackson Browne,” “For Everyman” “Late from the Sky” and in particular “Running on Empty” are classics. He’s been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.

SATURDAY

>> Paliku Arts Festival has something for the whole family

Head on over to the Windward side for a day of artistic inspiration at the Paliku Arts Festival, Windward Community College’s annual interactive arts events.

This year’s festival has the theme “Ocean of Art,” and offers experience in a variety of visual and performance arts, with free art supplies and training by Windward faculty and other professionals. This festival stresses Hawaii’s relationship with the ocean, with visitors encouraged to dress in ocean-themed costumes, help create a puppet of a sea creature and march in a parade, called the “Art Strut,” at 1 p.m.

Instruction will be offered in a variety of artistic activities, including painting, drawing, carving, sculpture, ceramics and printmaking. Budding writers can get tips on poetry and screen writing, while prospective thespians can improv and stage combat. Or you can tickle the keyboards at the school’s piano lab.

Entertainment includes the Royal Hawaiian Band, Brigham Young University-Hawaii’s Shaka Steel Band and the Salsa Orchestra and Street Band. “Nanaue The Teenage Sharkman,” a play by Moses Goods, plays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and poetry and storytelling will take place throughout the day. The campus art gallery and the Hokulani Imaginarium will be open, with the Imaginarium offering a discount $3 admission for its 12:15 p.m. show.

SATURDAY

>> Beat Rock Krew and ‘Skittle’ bring b-boy battles to Ewa

It’s been 10 good years since the b-boys known as Beat Rock Krew began their long run as hip hop dance standouts. With primo stylists such as Josh “Skittle” Sevellino in the crew, BRK has battled to numerous first-place finishes, including September’s “Rock City” competition in Orange County, California, and sent members on exhibition tours throughout the U.S. and to international locations including Shanghai, China.

“We’re trying to make some noise for Hawaii — me and my crew,” says Demvir Macaraeg. “Aside from battling, we have also spread our knowledge and love around the world.”

Beat Rock Krew partners with battle promoter Skillz Talk on Saturday to celebrate the 10-year milestone in Ewa Beach, with a day of breakdancing battles featuring up-and-coming b-boys from Hawaii and cities including Las Vegas, New Orleans and Kansas City, Missouri, celebrity judges including Sevellino and Seattle champ Thesis, beats and music from DJblesOne and food by Tiano’s.

— Elizabeth Kieszkowski, Star-Advertiser

MONDAY-APRIL 23

>> Quintet brings that brass sound and Bach

Chamber Music Hawaii goes bright and brassy this month with the Honolulu Brass Quintet.

The quintet will perform a program called “Brass, Bach and the Renaissance,” hitting on two of the more popular kinds of music that are often transcribed for brass instruments, but there’s much more than that, with works by contemporary composers Bruce Adolphe, Andre Previn and Witold Lutoslawski.

“These are serious works, interesting works, for brass, that really showcase what we can do,” said Julia Filson, who plays French horn for the quintet. Ken Hafner and Jo Ann Lamolino play trumpet; Rudi Hoehn and Jason Byerlotzer play trombone.

Filson is especially enthusiastic about “Triskelion,” by Adolphe, who is known to public radio listeners for “Piano Puzzler,” where he arranges popular tunes in the style of classical composers. “The title comes from a Celtic symbol where there are three lines radiating from a center,” she said. “The outer movements are fast, exciting, dancelike, but the inner movement is a lament almost. It’s gorgeous – ‘ghostly’ actually is one of the words he uses in the score to describe it.”

Lutoslawski’s work “Mini Overture” and Previn’s “Four Outings” were both premiered by the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, a pioneering brass ensemble. “The two pieces couldn’t be more different,” she said. “The Lutoslawski is a fun piece, very fast, very intense. … The Previn is very jazzy.”

The program repeats at 7 p.m. April 17 at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu library and at 7:30 p.m. April 23 at the Windward Community College Paliku Theatre.