Bash showcases Impromptu celebrity jam sessions never fail as crowd-pleasing finales at local "island music" concerts, no matter how ragged or unprepared the participants may be. Why not assemble a celebrity supergroup in advance, have a rehearsal or two and make a show of it?
star-studded group
KCCN event brings a range
of isle stars togetherBy John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.comKCCN/FM100 power broker "Davey D" Daniels liked the idea. The Island Music MVPs was the result. Daniels assembled the "dream band" with an assist from record producer David Tucciarone. The star-studded conglomeration debuts tonight for a two-night stand as the headline attraction at the 11th Annual KCCN/FM100 Birthday Bash.
Fiji, Pati, Kelly DeLima, Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Robi Kahakalau and Justin are the primary vocalists. DeLima will also play ukulele. Other MVPs include Sean Na'auao (acoustic guitar), Danny Kennedy (bass), Lopaka Colón (percussion), Michael Grande (keyboards) and Brian Kessler (electric guitar). Several other players, including a possible horn section, have yet to be named.
The Island Music MVPs will headline a different lineup each night. Fiji, Na Leo Pilimehana, Mana'o Company, Colón, Ho'onu'a, O-shen, AZ and Ten Feet perform tonight.
Pati, Kapena, 'Ale'a, Natural Vibrations, Three Plus, Sean Na'auao and Koa'uka perform tomorrow.
Rehearsals for the full band have proved difficult to schedule, but Daniels, promoter Rick Schneider of Events International, and most of the singers were able to hang for a while at John Dominis restaurant to talk about their new alliance.
Fiji was the chief spokesman. "We're gonna all be featured singularly and then on songs together," he said. "Everybody has to pick selections, and then we'll put it together for that segment. It's gonna be fun because we all get to back each other up and uplift each other."
Kahakalau said she has worked with all of the others except for Pati and Justin. Pati and Fiji shared the Waikiki Shell earlier this year. Gilliom has worked with Fiji and Kahakalau.
"I don't look at it as work because I get to play with all these talented guys," said DeLima. "To have this star power all together onstage! It's gonna be one big party."
The show is a great opportunity for Justin. The soft-spoken singer-songwriter says he's honored "just to be part of the show."
"I've never actually recorded in a studio with these people or worked with them in that sense, but we're kinda in the same community, and I've listened to their music through the years," Justin said, "so they've influenced me that way. Even Pati. His album just came out, but I been jamming to it on the mainland."
Fiji said: "I don't know many industries that get along the way we do. The fun thing about this is, we're gonna be blending voices, pretty much put it together, practice it together and bring it out that way. It's not only going to be interesting, it's also going to be fun having the experience we all have separately together. I love singing background for other people, so that's gonna be fun for me, too. It's nice, and also humbling, to see some (other) people's wonderful talents just soar into the sky."
Kahakalau summed it up as starting with one of the best experiences in an ensemble concert and taking it to a higher level.
"Usually the only time you get to sing with all these people is when you sing 'Hawai'i Aloha' as the last song at a concert. It feels really good to be onstage with everybody, but to be able to pick a song from my repertoire, or to be able to back up Fiji on one of his songs or Kelly on one of his, and to not just guess about what part everybody's going to sing, is going to be awesome!"
When: 5:30 p.m. today and tomorrow; gates open at 4 p.m.; pre-show 11th Annual KCCN/FM100
Birthday Bash
entertainment starts at 5
Where: Waikiki Shell
Tickets: $25 pool; $19.50 terrace; $18 grass. Special two-day tickets
are $32 for upper terrace seating and $30 for grass.
Call: 296-1003
Note: The first 5,000 people each night will receive a special KCCN/FM100souvenir CD.
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