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Goldenvoice
calling it quits

CHANGES are brewing in Honolulu's concert promotion scene. After NOFX's Feb. 26 show at Pipeline Cafe, Goldenvoice's Hawaii operations will shut down for good.

"In the last few years, it had gotten kind of rough," said Nikki Robinson, the company's local rep since 2002. "It's kind of ironic, honestly.

"Last year was the best year that Goldenvoice has had out here in a long time ... we did blink-182, we did Hilary Duff, we did those three 'American Idol' nights."

But one good year wasn't enough to convince the mainland big-wigs who wrote the checks.

"They just feel this market isn't cost-efficient," she said.

Luckily for Honolulu concertgoers, Robinson doesn't plan on leaving town or getting out of the promotion business. She'll join forces with another promoter next month, and will continue to bring acts out here to perform ...

CONGRATS TO Jackie Chan's bar manager Cache Bouren, who took first place in the Wave Waikiki's "Ultimate Bartender Competition" on Wednesday night.

More than 100 bartenders from around the state were invited to participate, with 10 bartender/server teams making it to last week's finals and a chance at winning $500. This columnist helped judge the "flair" round that night along with the Hideaway's Jon Hernaez and the Hanohano Room's Keith Mallini, but it was sure hard to concentrate with Akane Clothing designer Zana Tsutakawa dancing up a storm next to the stage.

I was also impressed with the two female bartenders in the finals -- Pigskins' Nadia Saxman made a killer chocolate martini, and I'm sure I'll be searching out Jaime Nozaki at Dave and Buster's to order another "Asian Persuasion" ...

CONGRATS ALSO to Jesse Greenleaf, bartender at Duke's in Waikiki and winner of Outrigger's first annual "Grammy Drink Contest."

Five bartenders squared off to see who could make the best drink using a Grammy-nominated CD as inspiration. Greenleaf chose "Amy & Willie LIVE" by Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom and Willie K., and developed his drink "Waterfall" after the song by the same name.

Besides having the winning drink featured at Duke's for the rest of 2005, Outrigger announced that Greenleaf was awarded a trip to Los Angeles by travel agent consortium Signature Travel Network. He'll be on hand next week at a special Grammy reception to present his cocktail to VIPs and local Grammy nominees ...