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COURTESY ‘68
TUESDAY
Punk rockers raise racket with metalcore
In both design and purpose, it doesn’t get more simple than ’68, a two-man band with Josh Scogin on guitar and vocals and Michael McClellan on drums.
The metalcore punk-rockers seem to be primarily interested in seeing how forcefully two guys can play as they wail away on instruments and Scogin roars into the mike. Scogin himself has admitted to wanting to be "as loud and obnoxious" as possible — as well as to being inspired by two-musician acts such as the White Stripes and Black Keys — and trying to surprise people who learn "it’s just two dudes" making all the racket. He’ll take a "minimalist, but also overkill" approach to making music, using as many amps as a five-piece band to ratchet up the sound of his electric guitar.
Scogin was the founder and frontman of metalcore band the Chariot and also performed with Norma Jean, both popular touring acts. He and McClellan bonded at a burrito joint in LA and were in the recording studio the next day, producing the EP "Midnight" in 2013. A year later they produced their debut album, "Humor and Sadness," which is described as having "a splash of roots, a soulful yearning for mid-century Americana and the fiery passion of post-punk ferocity rampages."
Rapper and producer Too Short, a pioneer of West Coast hip-hop, appears at The Republik on Thursday.
Born Todd Anthony Shaw, Too Short (stylized as Too $hort) is known for explicit, gritty lyrics about the hardships of urban life, such as his tune "Only the Strong Survive," which appeared on the soundtrack to the 1993 movie "Menace II Society." Another rap, "The Ghetto," was on the soundtrack of the video game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas."
Raised in tough neighborhoods of Oakland, Calif., Too Short showed talent not only for rap, but in entrepreneurship, selling thousands of tapes to fans before getting a recording contract. He also personalized many of his raps by including the names of people he knew and then selling a tape of it to them.
He began recording at age 14, when he released his debut album, "Don’t Stop Rappin’," following that up three years later with "Life Is … Too Short." His sound evolved as well, moving from simple beats to funky riffs. He’s produced 19 solo albums over the past 30 years; his 2006 release "Blow the Whistle" rose to No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 200. He’s also an established producer, having worked with some of the top names in hip-hop, including Snoop Dogg, Lady Gaga, Mac Dre, 50 Cent, The Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z.
Where: The Republik, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd.
When: 8:30 p.m. Thursday
Cost: $25-$30
Info: flavorus.com or 855-235-2867. All ages accompanied by an adult.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SATURDAY
Folk traditions blend into energetic tunes
Spice up your weekend with Max Baca and Los TexManiacs, a Grammy-winning band that combines folk traditions into an energetic, dance-happy style of music.
The group’s music is based on conjunto, a style from the Texas-Mexican border region that blends the music of German, Czech and Polish immigrants with Mexican mariachi-style tunes, with blues and R&B motifs added for good measure. The instrumentation usually includes an accordion along with guitars to create a bright, cheerful sound.
The group was founded by Max Baca, a master of the bajo sexto, a 12-string guitarlike instrument that typically provides a strong bass accompaniment to the accordion. Baca has taken the instrument to a different level, using it for flashy solo passages. His talents have been televised on "Austin City Limits" and many a late-night variety show.
Baca earned a Grammy with his band in 2010 for "Borders y Bailes," a project with Smithsonian Folkways, a label associated with the Smithsonian Institute. He’s also participated in 10 Grammy-winning albums, including the Rolling Stones’ "Voodoo Lounge."
His nephew Josh Baca plays accordion in the group, which includes Noel Hernandez on electric bass and Daniel Martinez on drums.
Opening will be Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner Bobby Ingano, joined by Kaipo Ah Sing on guitar and vocals and Alan Ah Sing on bass.
Soprano Sumi Jo’s isle concert will challenge her vocal talents
In the 29 years since Sumi Jo made her European debut, the South Korean opera singer has become known as one of most accomplished lyric coloratura sopranos of her generation. Her voice has been captured in more than 50 recordings — most of them opera, some crossover compositions that display her talent with pop music. In 1992 she received a Grammy Award.
She returns for two performances with the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor Jorge Mester in the Blaisdell Concert Hall. We reached Jo while she was relaxing in Rome between tours.
Question: Which selections from your repertoire will you be doing?
Answer: This concert is going to be very, very interesting because it has a little bit of everything. There’s going to be French operas, there’s going to be operettas, some of my German repertoire like "Fledermaus" and also "The Doll Song" from "Tales of Hoffmann," which is one of my favorites and very funny. I want to create the feeling of a magical night in Paris with beautiful costumes and beautiful music.
Q: It sounds like a demanding program.
A: Yes, for me, as a singer, the repertoire is quite demanding, and it requires a lot of technique and high notes, but for the audience it is a great opportunity to enjoy.
Q: When opera singers perform in Honolulu, they almost always take a day off between shows. Why are you taking on the demands of singing Saturday night and Sunday afternoon?
A: Usually I don’t perform two nights in a row, but in Hawaii I wanted to try it because I cannot go to Hawaii every year. … Being in Hawaii will help me to stay good. I’m not worried at all.
Q: If someone wanted to buy one of your CDs, which one would you recommend?
A: If they love classical music, I would recommend either "Virtuoso Arias" or "La Promessa." Otherwise, if they love cinema or crossover, I’d recommend my very first crossover album, "Only Love."
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