FRIENDS OF THE BRIDE
"We do a version of 'Superstition' as if Stevie Wonder grew up
in the 1930s," says Friends of the Bride's steel
guitarist Charley Myers.

Jugless jug band makes
mark with music mix

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By Shawn 'Speedy' Lopes
slopes@starbulletin.com

IT IS AN OLD-FASHIONED slice of Americana and two scoops Hawaiiana, a sound that dates back at least a century yet continues to absorb a myriad of musical influences. Jug band music, as interpreted by "Honolulu's Only Jug-less Jug Band," Friends of the Bride, is a pure hoot. While drawing from the age-old traditions of poor do-it-yourself musicians of the American South, the curious quintet also recalls the Hawaiian combos of the '20s and '30s that, like their mainland jug band contemporaries, made marvelous use of odd instrumental combinations.

Although without an actual jug or washboard player, Friends of the Bride (named so after a particularly rowdy post-wedding jam session) does employ other nifty-thrifty homemade instruments such as spoons, wooden blocks and the washtub bass.

Friends of the Bride Where: The Arts at Mark's Garage, 1159 Nuuanu Ave. When: 8 p.m. tomorrow Tickets: $7 Call: 521-2903

"It's a real pedestrian approach," says steel guitarist Charley Myers, who along with James McCarthy (guitar), Julia Wescott Myers (clarinet), Derek Ferrar (ukulele, spoons, kazoo, etc.) and Yash Wichman-Walzak (washtub bass), make up the carefree combo. An admittedly lighthearted group, Friends of the Bride enjoys a good laugh as much as its audience and will often goof and spoof throughout their performances.

"We're definitely not artists off the Windham Hill label," Myers quips. After all, with a kazoo as your lead instrument, how seriously can a band take itself?

AS WITH THE ORIGINAL jug bands of yesteryear, the repertoire of Friends of the Bride is delightfully diverse and wide-ranging. At any given moment, the zany ensemble can dust off an old Irving Berlin number, juxtapose it with a re-imagined '70s funk jam and follow that up with John Prine's tongue-in-cheek "Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian."

"We do a version of 'Superstition' as if Stevie Wonder grew up in the 1930s," Myers reveals. "In a typical set, we could also throw in a couple of original songs, a little Bob Dylan, Tom Waits or a classic hapa-haole number like 'Lovely Hula Hands.' This particular setup allows for some really wild and absurd combinations."

In the old days, the same penniless jug bands that fashioned instruments from everyday implements (cigar boxes, pipes, pans, etc.) were often among the most well-rounded musical troupes in the land.

"Looking at the history of jug bands, they did everything," he explains. "As a jug band, you might play a mixed-race party and would probably perform some blues and maybe a few popular country standards."

Friends of the Bride, with the benefit of an extra century of music to draw from, easily matches -- and perhaps even surpasses -- the old-timers in the versatility department.

Although live performances are a regular part of the Friends of the Bride experience, outside of a few local shows here and there, the band has never considered going anywhere with its music. "Our motivation is not for people notice us, but to get them to appreciate the music," he explains. "We're looking at ourselves as a community service more than anything."

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