FEB 17/18/19

RICHARD WALKER RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM

Alternative theory

A diverse evening of art, music and fashion is planned to set off a big bang

"Fresh" is the operative word here, as a collective of alternative scene promoters joins forces with two of downtown's more promising venue operators to put on an ambitious show that brings together a diverse collection of artists.

The Big Bang Theory A Gathering of Hawaii's Freshest Artists » Place: rRed Elephant, 1144 Bethel St. » Time: 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturday » Tickets: $15 presale at the venue and $18 at the door, all ages » Call: 545-2468 Appearance schedule » 7:30 p.m.: DJ Sleeze (indie rock) » 8:30 p.m.: Most High (roots reggae) » 9:00 p.m.: DJ Observe (hip-hop) » 9:15 p.m.: NoMasterbacks (hip-hop) » 9:45 p.m.: Poets Melvin, TravesT and more » 10:00 p.m.: Fashion show by Fiume Clothing » 10:15 p.m.: DJ Debauch (electro-clash/'80s) » 10:30 p.m.: Linus The Band (see story, Page 8) » 11:00 p.m.: B-boys with a deejay » 11:30 p.m.: Hell Caminos (psychobilly) » Plus: Roketo Clothing, live tattooing, performance art by Angry Woebot and art installations by Otto, Aaron VB, Nate Chang and Willy Branlund, Eikatsu Baba and Dave Sugihara

It's called The Big Bang Theory, and it's certainly the largest show put on by partners Noa Laporga and Blake Arakawa of 12th Hour Productions, with the help of established underground promoters such as hip-hop's Kavet the Catalyst of Lightsleepers, punk rock's Unity Crayons and electro's Liquid Velvet. Laporga and Arakawa also called in their artist connections to help fill out what should be a diverse and intriguing evening of art, music and fashion.

This will also mark what rRed Elephant co-owner Paul Kreiling is calling a "soft opening" for his downtown coffee house gallery's adjoining live venue. Measuring 2,400 square feet, the performance space is the second phase of plans that Kreiling and partner Joey Wolpert have for rRed Elephant. The coffee shop gallery opened at the end of October 2005 and next month is the planned opening of a recording studio. A video production space (with live Web streaming capability) opens this summer.

(The performance space opens officially during First Friday activities on March 3, featuring the bluegrass/acoustic bands Squirrel Hunters and the Girlas, with $15 tickets on sale now at honoluluboxoffice.com.)

Saturday's musicians, dancers and poets will have at their disposal a 24-by-17-foot stage, theatrical stage lighting and a JBL concert sound system -- plus a Steinway Boston grand piano, just in case.

"We've got more artists and performers coming in before week's end," said Laporga last Saturday afternoon in the brand, spanking, new space. "This has actually taken three to four months' worth of planning. ... I think this will certainly raise the bar in terms of the quality of the local art scene. It'll help raise a new generation of artists, by bringing in the best of the best Saturday night."

LAPORGA FEELS that the local scene has been too segregated, "like Pink Cadillac has its own crowd, and the same with Club Pauahi, and Coffee Talk ... there's a lot of talented people out there, and it's time they've been showcased at the same time in one place."

"Meeting (Paul and Joey) has been a blast," said Arakawa. "They have the same kind of vision and heart that we do, so it was really good to hook up with these guys."

"It's going to be top class, East Coast style," he added.

"This is kind of cool for me to do," said Kavet, who promoted the popular hip-hop shows at the now-defunct Studio 1 art space a couple of blocks makai from rRed Elephant. "We did that Of Montreal show, and they're an indie band from the mainland, and before, I always did hip-hop based shows. The guys from 12th Hour always came to my events, and told me we should do a show together that would expose people to a lot of different music, so I think this will be a lot of fun to do."

Photographer Willy Branlund will collaborate on an art installation with graphic designer Nate Chang that will be a forerunner to a show the two are planning for August, venue yet to be determined.

Their piece will be a triptych of 4-by-5-foot photographs, representing a process of self-discovery Branlund has been going through of late, after a bout with drug addiction.

"It's showing basically the birthing process that's happened in my life ... I've found myself with the inspiration of God (and) my relationship with Jesus is really tight. I've been clean and sober for four years now.

"To say that I've been tested in my life is an understatement," he said. "My coping mechanisms have been prayer and good friends that keep me in check," gesturing towards Arakawa.