FRIDAY
Isles getting more ‘Daily Show’ humor
Back in May, comedian Trevor Noah of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” had Hawaii audiences in stitches with his comments on the peculiarities of life in Hawaii and America in general.
Now comes Noah’s partner in crime, Ronny Chieng, appearing at The Republik tonight. As a correspondent for the Comedy Central news-commentary show, Chieng has a field day commenting on things like the impact of technology. Hey, people who get lip surgery to look better in selfies: “Yo! We’re not judging your lips, OK? We’re judging your double chin and your weird nose,” he says in the bit.
Chieng had a shining moment when he went off on Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor” for broadcasting a segment ridiculing residents of New York City’s Chinatown — many of whom are non-English-speaking senior citizens — using stereotypical tropes about Asian people. To follow up, Chieng went to Chinatown and, speaking Chinese, interviewed people who were bilingual and had plenty to say about the O’Reilly bit. The segment went viral. Check it out at 808ne.ws/2z5Tyx8
Chieng is of Chinese descent, born in Malaysia, and lived in New Hampshire and Singapore during his youth. He went to college in Australia, an experience reflected in his Comedy Central show “Ronny Chieng: International Student.” He’s appeared in numerous comedy festivals and won several comedy awards Down Under.
Where: The Republik, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd.
When:8 p.m. today
Cost:$29.50-$34.50
Info:
jointherepublik.com or 941-7469
SATURDAY
Explore health, music offerings at Lotus Project
The Traveling Lotus Project, a New Age event that combines wellness seminars, yoga, music and a bit of ocean adventure, comes to Kualoa Ranch on Saturday.
“It’s a place where people can come to listen to good music, or enjoy incredible seminars,” said Kirti Kana, who founded the organization four years ago and based it on the themes of sustainability, community, health and wellness, and art and music.
One of the featured seminars will be on the Wim Hof Method, an exercise that combines exposure to cold temperatures, breathing techniques and meditation practices to enhance awareness. “People go into ice baths and will be guided through breathing techniques,” Kana said. “It’s a way to understand your body and the adrenaline.” Other seminars will be offered on sleep wellness and women’s issues.
Musical entertainment will feature popular local talent, including rhythm/blues duo Hook+Line at 2 p.m., soulful roots singer Paula Fuga at 3:15 p.m., rock/reggae artist Mike Love at 5 p.m., and world music band Quadraphonix at 6:45 p.m. That will be followed by internationally known electronic dance music artist and DJ AON NOA, pictured. He will give a set at 8:15 p.m. and host a “silent disco” (dancing with headphones) from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The day includes a cruise to Secret Island or an open-ocean sail, which will be available after the 9 a.m. opening ceremony.
Where: Kualoa Ranch
When: 9 a.m. Saturday-2 a.m. Sunday
Cost: $145 ($15 for parking and shuttle to site)
Info: travelinglotusproject.com
WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY
R&B singer Jhene Aiko shares her journey after her brother’s death
R&B artist Jhene Aiko returns to The Republik next week with her moody, intensely personal songs.
The L.A.-based artist, whose full name, Jhene Aiko Efuru Chilombo, reflects her African-Asian-Caribbean-European ancestry, has been steadily producing charttoppers since 2011. That was the year she released the mixtape “Sailing Soul(s),” a collaboration with Drake, Gucci Mane and Kanye West. In 2013, after working on the hits “Beware” with Big Sean and “Nothing Was the Same” by Drake, she released the EP “Sail Out.” It was nominated for a Grammy for besturbancontemporaryalbum, and its top single, “The Worst,” was nominated for best R&B song. She followed that with 2014’s “Souled Out,” which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Her latest album, “Trip,” released in October, is a 22-track concept album reflecting the grief she experienced after the death of her brother in 2012, translated as a romance torn apart by drug abuse. Stylistically, it continues the distinctively stripped-down style that sets her apart from many other R&B artists, creating a spare, subtle message of sorrow and, eventually, redemption.
“‘Trip’ works because it isn’t just about self-medicating or journeying through a grief-ridden mind,” wrote Pitchfork.com. “Rather, it’s about all the places we go to escape from reality and ourselves.”
In connection with the album, Aiko produced a short film, accessible on the website jheneispenny.com and just released a book of poetry, “2Fish: (a poetry book),” which contains poems and short stories she wrote starting at age 12.
Where: The Republik, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd.
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
Cost: $36-$41
Info: jointherepublik.com or 941-7469
THURSDAY-DEC. 29
Symphony to radiate ‘Joy’ of the holiday season
The Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra’s annual “Ode to Joy” concerts return next week, a tradition that seems especially appropriate for these troubled times.
“Beethoven is struggle — the struggle for peace, the struggle for fulfillment of spirit, the struggle for serenity and triumphant joy,” said the great Leonard Bernstein in a short film about the symphony shot in the 1970s.
This year’s concert features four vocalists well known to local classical music fans: soprano Georgina Stark, who has presented some fine programs of spirituals in recent years; mezzo-soprano Maya Hoover, a University of Hawaii-Manoa music professor and a specialist in Latin music; up-and-coming tenor Kaweo Kanoho, a Hilo native who has trained with Hawaii Opera Theatre’s Mae Z. Orvis Opera Studio; and baritone Leon Williams, who has given several fine performances with Hawaii Opera Theatre, most recently in “Carmen.”
The concert also features Ralph Vaughn Williams’ beautiful “Variations on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.” For the last several years, it has been voted No. 3 in halloffame.classicfm.com’s annual poll of classical music lovers’ favorites. The sublime work features an orchestra divided into two sections plus a string quartet, to create the effect of a cathedral organ, where different sections of pipes are located in different parts of the building.
Symphony artistic director JoAnn Falletta, pictured, returns to lead the orchestra.
Where: Blaisdell Concert Hall
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Dec. 29
Cost: $34-$92
Info: ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000
