Lotus Soundbar’s sound system earns award nomination
IT'S NOT often a Honolulu nightclub is mentioned in the same breath as mainland venues with more customers and wealthier investors.
So it was a pleasant surprise when I heard that Lotus Soundbar was nominated for "Best Sound System" in the 2008 Club World Awards. Presented by Club Systems International, the Miami-based awards honor DJs, venues, parties and product vendors in 25 categories.
Following in the footsteps of New York's Pacha and San Francisco's Ruby Skye, Lotus hopes to beat five other venues when winners are announced next month. Craig "Shorty" Bernabeu, working as Systems By Shorty, installed the system in 2006.
Want to check out Lotus for yourself? Hip-hop fans should visit next Thursday, when artists from Canada's Side Road Records are the guests of Hawaii's own SiQ Records. House fans will want to wait until Feb. 29, when the legendary Marques Wyatt returns to town ...
IT'S OFFICIAL: The elusive Sean Kingston will make his Hawaii debut with a performance on Maui next month.
Tickets for the March 30 concert with Collie Buddz went on sale Saturday after promoters All Access Entertainment were able to secure a contract. Kingston, who rose to mainstream fame with the single "Beautiful Girls," was the subject of multiple Oahu-based concert rumors in recent months that never came to fruition.
"The initial plan was to do two shows, but I think he'll be attending the Kids Choice Awards," said All Access spokesman Neldon "AZD" Mamuad last week in a post on my blog. "So we only got one show."
So I guess Oahu fans will have to buy plane tickets, or hope the ferry is back in service! Call (808) 242-7469 for info ...
LOCAL BAND Pimpbot is in for a busy spring with the release of their sophomore effort, "Admit One," on March 4.
Along with the album, the band plans to unleash its first-ever music video on MySpace.com the same day. On March 8, they'll host a CD release/anniversary/send-off party at Don Ho's with special guests Missing Dave, 82Fifty and Breaking the Innocent.
Less than a week later, the guys depart for an eight-show tour of Canada. They'll be back by the end of next month, with gigs set at Red Lion University on March 28 and back at Don Ho's on March 29 ...
FRIDAY'S PICKS: After four years playing with Ooklah the Moc and supporting artists like Paula Fuga, Next Generation and Stir Crazy during live gigs, Kailua's own Brad "BW" Watanabe steps into the solo realm with his new album, "Upflow." Watanabe wrote, arranged, produced and performed nearly everything on it; get a taste of his "local-boy reggae" starting at 10 p.m. at Boardriders Bar and Grill ... Reggae is also on tap in town, with Iowa-based Public Property playing at Tropics. Hawaii-born David Bess and Mareva Minerbi are among the band's members ... Local R&B singer Justice Moon will unveil the music video for his new single, "Best of Me," at Jazz Minds. His new album, "Moonshine," is expected later this year. DJ Kutmaster Spaz hosts; doors open at 9 p.m. ...
SATURDAY'S PICKS: If you can't wait to see Pimpbot before their gig at Don Ho's next month, check them out alongside Busekrus and Breaking the Innocent during "Rock the Rock" at Pipeline. Cover is $10; doors open at 10 p.m. after the Minus the Bear concert is pau ... Regular thirtyninehotel visitor DJ Garth returns to Chinatown this weekend. Last year, he founded Golden Goose Records, a label "dedicated to re issues and re-edits of obscure disco (and quasi-disco) gems," so expect a sonic adventure when he jumps on the decks ... After a successful showing with the Three 6 Mafia during Pro Bowl weekend, promoters Turk Cazimero and Matty Liu introduced "Kama Sutra" last Saturday at the O Lounge. They've partnered with Soljah to host what Cazimero calls "the perfect storm" for the 18-and-over surfer crowd ...