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Stop whining: There’s
lots to do at night

TO THIS day, it never ceases to amaze me when I hear someone complaining about having nothing to do at night on this rock.

Sure, it might have been an acceptable gripe five years ago when there were only a couple of weeklies thriving around town, but these days it's possible to find quality entertainment almost any day of the week.

Take Vancouver-based rapper Josh Martinez. He's back in town for a "Hawaiian Getaway Tour" with the Pissed Off Wild, and played last night at the Wave Waikiki. If you slept on that gig, you also missed out on performances by quality local acts Trace and Kimo James and Microscopic Syllables.

But don't kick yourself just yet -- there's one more chance to catch Martinez on stage. He'll be joined at Club Pauahi by the DeadMonkeys and Nomasterbacks crews, with Kavet the Catalyst representing Lightsleepers on wax.

Doors open at 9 p.m. for Saturday night's all-ages show; cover is $10. Call 696-0103 ...

ALSO MAKING an appearance in paradise is Southern California's Dreadstarr, who play at the Hard Rock Cafe tomorrow tonight and at Breakers in Haleiwa on Saturday.

Calling their music a "vibrant blend of rock, reggae and hip-hop," the band is comprised of Darren Neville Simms, Oren Avineri, Chris Evans and Alonso Vargas. Simms also brings a degree of credibility to the table, since his dad Neville Staple was former lead singer of The Specials and a founding member of Fun Boy Three.

And don't forget, Friday night at the Hard Rock is still a Stone Groove Family/ Vertical Junkies/Soljah party for the 18-and-over crowd, with $5 pitchers available to the big kids before 11 p.m. ...

OVER ON the club front, it looks like the Velvet Lounge has finished its name change to Club Bliss.

From what I hear, new management has taken over operations at the Keawe Street nightspot. They've shuffled the staff a little bit and remodeled the interior.

You can get a glimpse of the end result tomorrow night, when Ace Entertainment kicks off "Chill," a new Friday night weekly. DJs Xhift and Slant will spin in two rooms, with downtempo grooves upstairs in the "Lotus Lounge" and mainstream tracks downstairs at the "Ice Bar."

Doors open at 10 p.m. tomorrow night for the 21-and-over crowd; call 528-4911 for more info ...