Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, multigenre artists Ozomatli and G-Love, longtime Hawaiian entertainer Henry Kapono and ukulele virtuoso Taimane headline some of the live entertainment to be enjoyed on Oahu for New Year’s Eve.
Lesh, appearing at Hawaii Theatre on New Year’s Eve for the second straight year, has long been considered an innovative bassist since his days with the Dead and a participant in their famous long jams, which merged each of the four members’ musical interests into a colorful, multidimensional sound. Lesh came from a classical background — he knew he wanted to be a musician after hearing a Brahms symphony at age 4 and started violin at age 8 — and didn’t even try the bass until friend and Grateful Dead bandleader Jerry Garcia, a bluegrass-folk musician, invited him to join him in a band.
Lesh considers his major inspiration to be Bach, and you can hear that sensibility in the independently-voiced baselines he performed with the Dead, pursuing his own melodies that somehow meld with the other musicians’ sounds to create rich and dynamic harmonies. The Dead were known to never repeat a performance from concert to concert, and the fact that they allowed and even encouraged their fans, known as “Deadheads,” to record their concerts and share tapes — in an era when pop musicians made most of their money via record sales — made those performances even more treasured.
Lesh wrote some of the Dead’s most popular tunes — the soothing “Box of Rain,” featured on the TV show “Freaks and Geeks,” and the country-inflected “Pride of Cucamonga.” He recently announced that he and fellow Dead member Bob Weir — considered the “rocker” of the group — will perform in New York City, Boston and Chicago in March on a “Bobby & Phil Duo Tour.”
Lesh has faced a number of health issues in recent years, fighting off prostate and bladder cancer, but he remains active in the San Francisco Bay Area music scene. He opened Terrapin Crossroads, a restaurant and music venue in Marin County that has hosted the likes of Gregg Allman, Stanley Jordan and Kiefer Sutherland. He performs with the Terrapin Family Band, who faithfully recreate a Deadlike ethos. Those musicians will be joining him here in Hawaii, visiting Maui Friday and Hawaii Theatre on New Year’s Eve.
ON THE North Shore, the Turtle Bay Resort will host Ozomatli and G-Love in what promises to be an energetic performance. The Los Angeles-based Ozomatli brings all the flavors of the sprawling Southern California metropolis together, combining Latin dances with hip-hop, funk, reggae and rock. The group formed in 1995 and after three years were opening for Santana, then earned a Grammy for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album with its second album, 2001’s “Embrace the Chaos.” Their next album, 2005’s “Street Signs,” won the same award and a Latin Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 2005.
Earlier this year, the band released “Nonstop Mexico to Jamaica,” an album of Mexican and Mexican-American songs remade in a reggae style, with guest appearances by Juanes, Regulo Caro, Gaby Moreno and Kyle McDonald.
Ozomatli is also known for its social activism, advocating on behalf of workers’ rights, immigration and on other issues of interest to the Latino community. With concerts in remote places like, Tunisia, Jordan and Myanmar, the group has been recognized for their efforts to enhance global understanding, being named cultural ambassadors for the U.S. State Department in 2006. They’ve also performed for President and First Lady Obama.
G. Loves joins Ozomatli as a co-headliner. He’s a Philadelphia musician who blends acoustic blues with rap.
G. Love was among the first to recognize the musical talent of his friend Jack Johnson, featuring Johnson’s song “Rodeo Clowns” on his 1999 album “Philadelphonic,” and often appears in Hawaii during the surf season.
KAPONO IS one of several local performers who are bringing New Year’s Eve cheer to Waikiki when he appears at the Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Great Lawn. It will actually be his second performance of the evening — he starts out with his regular gig at Duke’s at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort at 4 p.m.
The singer-songwriter has been gracing Hawaii stages and nightspots for decades and is one of the islands most decorated musicians, with 14 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. His career has taken him from the relaxing island rock tunes songs of Cecilio & Kapono, recently featured in a performance at Blue Note Hawaii, to his 2007 Grammy-nominated album “Wild Hawaiian,” which fused powerful Hawaiian chant with the energy of rock music. More recently, Kapono has joined with two other longtime local favorites, John Cruz and Brother Noland, to form The Rough Riders, in a nod to Hawaii’s rugged paniolo culture.
Kapono performs as part of the Hilton’s New Year’s celebration, which includes a three-course dinner featuring filet mignon and lobster, and an appearance by beach-rock band Dukes of Surf.
Meanwhile, Taimane appears at the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, as part of its family-friendly “Under the Sea” celebration. Fire-knife shows, face painting and candy making should keep the keiki up until midnight. Island contemporary trio Manoa DNA also will provide the tunes deep into the night.
FIREWORKS SHOWS
Across the island, there will be viewing opportunities as celebrants blast the new year in with fireworks displays.
>> The Hilton Hawaiian Village kicks things off with an 11 p.m. show from the usual spot over its lagoon.
>> The annual Waikiki show off a barge along the beach will begin at 11:55 p.m. with a full display at midnight.
>> The Kahala Hotel and Resort will send up fireworks at midnight as part of its Masquerade Ball 2018, 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ($100-$250, kahalaresort.com).
>> The Kahala area and nearby eastside neighborhoods can also enjoy a show hosted by a private benefactor, who has taken out a permit to set off fireworks from a barge in Maunalua Bay at 10:30 p.m.
>> As part of its Party of the Year, organizers will set off fireworks at 9 p.m., 10 p.m., 11 p.m. and midnight near Aloha Tower Marketplace.
>> Turtle Bay Resort will be setting off North Shore fireworks, launching the show a minute before the new year to help you send out 2017 before welcoming 2018.
>> Westsiders can enjoy midnight fireworks over the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, Coves 1 and 2.
