In The Mix
Paul Ogata gets laughs
on his honeymoonLOCAL stand-up comedian Paul Ogata didn't waste any time adjusting his new wife Kris to the entertainer's lifestyle while honeymooning in California earlier this month. Instead of taking it easy and doing all the normal things that newlyweds do (you DO know what newlyweds do, right?), Ogata scheduled some work with buddy Howie Mandel and took his wife to enjoy some of the best roller coasters Southern California had to offer.
"It was great," the 102.7 Da Bomb morning show co-host said when asked about a performance at the Hermosa Beach Comedy Club on Super Bowl Sunday. Along with performing in front of a sold-out crowd, Ogata was given the opportunity to officially "fill in" with Mandel for NBC's Jay Leno, who usually appears on Sundays at the club (Leno went to New Orleans for the game). Mandel, who performed in Honolulu last December with Ogata, even sported an ABC Store hat that evening to help make the "Mental Oriental" feel more at home ...
INSTEAD of turning the honeymoon suite into a personal carnival ride, Ogata took his wife to places like Magic Mountain, Universal Studios and the new Disney's California Adventure for some rockin' and rollin'. The newlyweds rode a number of roller coasters while in California even though temperatures during their visit were in the low '60s. Now that's got to be a sure-fire way to avoid the long lines...
Look for Ogata this weekend as he headlines an early show Saturday night at Wave Waikiki. Kehau Lee and Rufus Demarco are also on the bill, and 102.7 Da Bomb's Blunt will be on hand to emcee as well. Tickets are $10, and doors open at 7:30 p.m. Show time is 8 p.m. Call 941-0424 for details.
More concerts on deck
TICKETS go on sale this Saturday for two concerts next month at World Cafe. On March 19, Ozomatli returns for an all-ages show that starts at 7 p.m. The group, best described as delivering a fusion of salsa and dance hall with a hip-hop edge, returns to Honolulu a little less than two years after performing at the Pier Bar.Quadraphonix will open things up that night, and DJs Evil and Jedi will man the wheels of steel. Ozomatli is currently touring in support of its Interscope Records release "Embrace the Chaos," which has been nominated for a Grammy Award -- with winners to be determined next Wednesday -- for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album.
Tickets are $20 at Tower Records, Cheapo Music, the UH Campus Center and World Cafe. Want to score brownie points at the concert? Wish tenor sax player Ulises Bella a happy birthday; he turns a year older on March 15 ...
ON March 23, kick off spring break with 97.5 KPOI as Goldfinger performs on stage at World's. In the past six years the group has released five albums, appeared on the soundtracks for "American Pie," "The Waterboy" and "ESPN's X-Games," and have toured with bands like No Doubt, Eve 6 and Reel Big Fish. Goldfinger last visited the 808 state in February 1997 when they played at the former Nimitz Hall. The
group also plans to release a new album this year, possibly around June.
Tickets for the all-ages show are $17.50 and can be purchased at the same locations listed for the Ozomatli concert. Call 526-4400 to charge by phone.
Out and about
CHINESE New Year celebrations wrap up this weekend with a free cultural festival at Honolulu Hale beginning at 7 p.m. tomorrow. The festival, part of the city's "Ethnic Heritage Series" that began last May, offers a chance to enjoy traditional Chinese music and lion dances.Thanks to the support of the Chinatown Merchants Association and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce there will also be free Chinese food too. Free food and entertainment -- not a bad way to spend Friday night. Call 523-4674.
KEEPING with the low-cost, early evening theme ... check out Duke's Waikiki on Saturday as Kapena performs beachfront from 4 to 6 p.m. If you've been living in some dark cave and never seen Kapena perform live, Duke's is a great place to check them out. Grab a mai tai, dig your toes into the sand and as Kelly Boy says, jump on the reggae train ...
There's no charge to check out the entertainment at Duke's. Call 922-2268.
ON Sunday, family and friends of the late Dennis Pavao will come together at Kapono's in Aloha Tower Marketplace for a concert in memory of the talented musician. Pavao died Jan. 18 from a brain aneurysm after collapsing during a performance.
Among the artists scheduled to perform: Henry Kapono, Robi Kahakalau, Del Beazley, Jerry Santos, Jake Shimabukuro and Ernie Cruz Jr. Many other local island music artists will be on hand to show their support. Tickets for the memorial concert are $15 and doors open at 2 p.m. Call 537-9611.
THAT'S what's In the Mix this week. Get at me via e-mail if there's something going on in your neighborhood...
In the Mix drops every Thursday in the Star-Bulletin.
Contact Jason Genegabus at jason@starbulletin.com.