SATURDAY
Concert to be less rock ’n’ roll, more rock-a-bye baby
It’s not often that you go to an event and expect to doze off, but that’s what might happen at the Lullaby Project.
The concert features lullabies written by new or expecting parents with the help of professional musicians, including Hawaii’s Naeha Breeland, Nara Cardenas, Analiese Esopenko, Starr Kalahiki, pictured center, Kristian Lei and Sharon Myung, who will join Leeward Community College’s Hawaiian Ensemble to perform the songs.
The Lullaby Project is a national program that gives young parents the opportunity to write songs for their children with the help of experienced musicians. The goal is to help them bond with their babies and bolster their parenting skills.
Leeward Community College music professor John Signor, who organized the local concert, asked mothers at Catholic Charities Hawaii’s Mary Jane Home and parents from the Leeward community to contribute songs.
The concert will be recorded and broadcast online from the website of the project’s sponsor, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute in New York: soundcloud.com/carnegiehalllullaby.
Where: Leeward Community College Theatre
When: 7:30p.m. Saturday (pre-concert refreshments and entertainment start at 6 p.m.)
Cost: $10-$15
Info: LCCTheatre.hawaii.edu or 455-0380
SATURDAY
Eclectic electropop duo coming to isle
Scandinavian duo Pegboard Nerds is bringing its exuberant electropop to The Republik.
Alexander Odden of Norway and Michael Parsberg-Hansen of Denmark have worked together since 2005 to produce a blend of electronic genres like future bass, dubstep, house and glitch-hop. Their playful personalities color many of their videos, in which they are represented by superhero-anime characters or pixelated players in retro-style video games, and their vocals are sometimes performed in a style reminiscent of Alvin and the Chipmunks. (The name Pegboard Nerds, however, is not a reference to either; rather, it is an anagram of Odden and Parsberg.)
Odden and Parsberg have released a string of extended plays and remixes, and last fall they started a campaign called Operation Pink Cloud, aimed at ending breast cancer. Featuring collaborations with Max Collins, Johnny Graves and Jonny Rose, a “Pink Cloud” EP reached number No. 2 on the iTunes Dance Chart and so far has raised more than $36,000 for breast cancer research.
Where: The Republik, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd., third floor
When: 10 p.m. Saturday
Cost: $25-$30
Info: flavorus.com or 855-235-2867
THURSDAY
Girls Guns & Glory pay tribute to roots rock and Hank Williams
Get rockin’ and rollin’ with Girls Guns & Glory, a Boston-based band that brings back the classic sounds of ’50s and ’60s American music, from country to pre-British Invasion pop.
Ward Hayden (vocals, guitar), Paul Dilley (bass, piano), Josh Kiggans (drums, percussion) and Chris Hersch (lead guitar, banjo) grab inspiration from early ’50s rock ’n’ roll icons such as Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran and Buddy Holly, as well as country greats like Johnny Cash.
They’ll devote part of their show to Hank Williams, who is a prime source of musical gold. Just over six years ago, the band began presenting a concert tribute to Williams, often near New Year’s Eve, in reference to the concert Williams never got to play: He was on his way to a show in Charleston, W.Va., on Dec. 31, 1952, when he died in the back of his Cadillac.
With the Williams biopic “I Saw the Light” hitting screens across the country today, Thursday night’s show is a good chance to hear his songs live, authentically performed.
Rolling Stone named the quartet one of “10 New Artists You Need to Know” in 2014, describing their music as “modern-day Buddy Holly plus Dwight Yoakam divided by the Mavericks.” The band has released five albums and has won four Boston Music Awards, including Americana Artist of the Year in 2011.
Where: Hawaii Theatre, 1130 Bethel St.
When: $22-$27
Cost: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Info: hawaiitheatre.com or 528-0506
THURSDAY
Slam poets vie for spots on team headed to big meet
Slam poetry fans, raise your hands. It’s time to pick your best slam poets to represent Hawaii in the National Poetry Slam contest.
The Grand Slam Finals will pit 12 of the best poets from the past year in a three-round elimination contest. The best four will then go to the nationals in Decatur, Ga., in August. Hawaii’s team is making another go at the top prize; local competitors brought the team to second place in last year’s contest in Oakland, Calif.
Thursday’s event will be hosted by Kealoha, the first poet laureate of Hawaii, pictured, who has performed at the White House and around the world, and has represented Hawaii seven times at the national competition. Proceeds from the show will fund the Hawaii Slam Team’s trip up to nationals.
Where: Hawaiian Brian’s, 1680 Kapiolani Blvd.
When: 8:30 p.m. Thursday
Cost: $15
Info: hawaiianbrians.com or 946-1343
TICKER
The Hawaii International Film Festival – Spring Showcase opens on Saturday and continues through April 10. $10-$14. Hiff.org
