Local bands land on Web
IF YOU haven't figured it out yet, the Internet is changing the rules for aspiring musicians in Hawaii.
Don't play Jawaiian? No problem. Web sites like MySpace.com and YouTube.com have made it possible for local rock, hip-hop and indie bands to gain a sizable following both at home and on the mainland. And thanks to Andrew Magpoc, more island residents are getting a taste of something new via the TRX Music Video Channel.
Currently available on Oceanic Digital channel 584, TRX is an on-demand service that allows viewers to watch the videos they want, whenever they want. The Crud, Creed Chameleon, Pepper, Panaewa and Spookahuna are among the artists currently in rotation. TRX TV also airs Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. (and repeats during the week) on OC-16.
In an effort to discover Honolulu's next up-and-coming band, Magpoc hosted a competition last week at Sound|House. More than a dozen bands showed up to perform two songs in front of TRX TV's cameras.
For now the footage shot of bands like Explore, Supersonic Space Monkeys, Mistermeaner and Grind Method will be posted on YouTube. The video with the most views throughout the month of April will be declared the winner, and they'll score a full-blown music video from Magpoc that will air on TRX TV ...
CONGRATS TO Gelareh Khoie, Richard Ralya and DJ Harvey on the reopening of thirtyninehotel last weekend, after closing in February for renovations.
Khoie and crew celebrated with a party on Friday, and it's back to business as usual this week. If you missed out, head down to Chinatown tonight for the triumphant return of the Newjass Quartet ...
CONGRATS ALSO to Mililani resident Kahai Tavares, who recently competed in a national "Halo 2" video game tournament hosted by retailer Play N Trade.
More than 800 gamers at 200 stores participated, including 30 Hawaii residents here on Oahu. Tavares beat them all to advance to the finals but fell short when he finished fourth in his bracket, according to local Play N Trade franchisee Jeremy Canefo-Bantolina ...
SO MUCH for the return of Red Lion to Waikiki -- for now.
Last week, this columnist reported that the nightclub would reopen at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki in the space formerly occupied by jazz lounge Deep Blue. When I stopped by on Friday, however, the doors were locked and nobody was around.
Sources tell me the club will now open around the beginning of next month. We'll see ...
LOCAL SKA band Go Jimmy Go returns from Europe this week, where they were on tour with the Toasters for 39 days straight. They'll open for Tower of Power Sunday at Aloha Tower ...
E KALA MAI: Brigitte Patton will represent Hawaii in the finals of the 2007 Maxim Model Search. Her name was spelled incorrectly in this space last week ...