Tag Archives: Maui Arts & Cultural Center

Doobies Did Bring Surprises

Posted by on April 2, 2011 No comments
The Doobie Brothers' Patrick Simmons and Willie Nelson.

by Suzanne Kayian

The Doobie Brothers welcomed special guests Michael McDonald, Willie Nelson and Mick Fleetwood to their concert at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center Friday night, April 1. It was a great show and a ton of fun to see these legendary players share the stage.

The Doobie Brothers' Patrick Simmons and Willie Nelson.

Michael McDonald

Fleetwood Mac's grandmaster, Mick Fleetwood

Electric Willie Nelson

Patrick Simmons, Willie Nelson, Tom Johnston, John McFee and Michael McDonald

Big thanks to Tom Johnston from Willie Nelson

Mick Fleetwood, Willie Nelson, David Choy and Pat Simmons Jr. show their love for Maui local and Doobie Brothers co-founder Patrick Simmons.

Prior to the concert, Pat Simmons sat down with Maui Zan for a chat about touring in support of the Doobie Brothers new album, “World Gone Crazy.” Visit Zan’s Rhythm & Views blog at Maui No Ka Oi Magazine for the full article.

All photos copyright Suzanne Kayian 2011

Are The Doobie Brothers Bringing Surprises

Posted by on March 31, 2011 No comments
One of the original Doobie Brothers, Patrick Simmons, rocks Maui's Whale Day Festival

Friday night’s April Fools Day concert with The Doobie Brothers and War on Maui promises to be a lot of fun. I recently chatted with band co-founder Patrick Simmons for my Rhythm & Views blog at Maui No Ka Oi Magazine.

What I didn’t include in the R&V post: there are unsubstantiated reports that the band has some special guests up its sleeves. Two thoughts immediately come to mind: Willie Nelson and former Doobie Michael McDonald. Both are part-time Maui residents and both perform on The Doobie Brothers’ new album, “World Gone Crazy.”

Guests or no guests, Friday’s concert at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center‘s outdoor amphitheater promises to be a great time.

Doobies Japan 2009 (1)

Photo copyright: The Doobie Brothers

Whale Days 2010 Remembered – aka the Wolf Story

Posted by on February 18, 2011 No comments

Tomorrow morning, February 19, 2011, Maui’s music fans will converge in Kihei for the annual Whale Days Festival. Every year, the best in Maui music is represented at this open-air, family friendly, free concert. As MauiZan prepares for this year’s festival — we’re especially looking forward to Pat Simmons of the Doobie Brothers with Gail Swanson – we take a look back at last year’s event.

Anuhea was scheduled to play along with many other great musicians including John Cruz – a MauiZan fave.

The Tuesday before the festival, we saw a guy singing and playing guitar at Moana Cafe‘s open mic night. His talent was above and beyond most we had seen trip through the Paia café.

“Who’s that?” I whispered to my pseudo step-son, Chris. “His name is Wolf,” Chris said. “He’s one of the best bass players on the island.”

Let me share something with those of you who do not know Chris. He is a musician and he has very high standards when it comes to other musicians. Rarely do you hear him say something or someone is good, let alone, “one of the best on the island.”

When I inquired as to what band Wold performed in, Chris said, “He’s in a lot of bands.”

So I put it in the back of my head to find out who this Wolf was; I thought he was great and in light of Chris’s comments, I knew there was something special about this guy.

The following Saturday, we woke up early, rushed down Olinda Road and headed to Kihei to try to catch Anuhea at Whale Days. The Makawao-native was just breaking big and I had never seen her perform. We were running late and knew we had missed her starting time.

We zipped down a side-street, found a place to park — like magic — and hit the pavement toward the beach park. As we approach the grandstand, we see a young woman on stage. “Is that her?” I ask. Hearing a familiar tune, you hear four voices say, “Yeah, it is,” as we work our way to the front of the stage.

We find an open spot stage left, plop down our bags — and kids — whip out the cameras and get in position to shoot some photos. Enjoying the music but not yet looking up, I take my first glance at the stage.

Whoa, the guy playing bass with Anuhea is Wolf, the guitarist who sang at Moana Tuesday night. “Is that the guy we saw the other night,” I asked my 9-year-old daughter. “Yeah, it is,” she responds. Thankfully, her eyes are better than mine.

Anuhea, Wolf and the band played a selection of songs from her début album — and they sounded great. We were so thankful we had made it to the festival in time to catch the show.

Whale Day rocks with Anuhea and Wolf.

We were able to watch John Cruz, which was great as always, but had to leave the festival a little early; we had tickets to Ozomatli at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater. We head to Kahului, not having time to return to Olinda, and converge on the MACC. We indulge in some coffee — kind of necessary, it was a long day — just before the “5 minutes to show” announcement.

Cutting it to the wire, we enter the theater just as the opening act takes the stage. Erin Smith of the Throwdowns was expected to play solo.

We find our seats, take a nice breath, look at the stage and what do we see? Wolf! He was accompanying Smith during her opening set.

One week earlier, I had never seen this guy perform. Now, three times within five days, there he was, on-stage with some of the most popular female artists on the island.

We’re not certain if Wolf will be with Anuhea on stage at Whale Days 2011. It would be nice, but he has so many gigs these days, we’ll forgive his absence — if we must.

Love you Pacific Whale Foundation and all the artists who support this great event.

Distracted by Willie's Haircut

Posted by on May 24, 2010 No comments
willie 2 edit

Willie Nelson’s Haircut Takes My Mind Off The Music

As I prepared for my next Rhythm & Views blog, I began thinking about all of the things happening this past weekend on Maui. Slightly Stoopid was in Lahaina — and on my plane flight back from California. Jim Gaffigan was at the MACC — and on some plane flight from the Mainland to Maui. And The Reflectacles were going to play two shows — Friday night at Stella Blues and Saturday night at Charley’s — apparently flying in all the way from sunny Los Angeles.

I managed to make it to the MACC and Charley’s, hoping that a great blog idea would find its way into my brain before Sunday arrived.

I saw a good comedy show and several great bands between May 21-23; but the one thing that will always make the weekend stand out in my mind had nothing to do with comedy or a rock concert.

For me, the weekend — specifically, Saturday night at Charley’s — will always be memorable because it was the day I first saw Willie Nelson without his long braids.

Yes, Willie cut his hair. I thought of describing it like McDonald’s without the Golden Arches, Snoop Dogg not stoned or Courtney Love with a good attitude — but none of those capture the wallop upside my head when I spotted Willie without his long locks.

Maybe Bret Michaels without his bandanna would meet my needs.

As my mind processed the reality — it’s just hair, Zan — I think back on the music. There was some good stuff going down Saturday night in Maui’s little North Shore hippie town.

The evening opened with the Sugarcane String Band whose mix of bluegrass, country, rock, island and blues had people dancing and singing along as if they were listened to their favorite classic rock act.

Next up was Folk Uke, a duo that has not forgotten the importance of humor in music. The one song people kept telling me about, “S*#t Makes The Flowers Grow,” did not disappoint. With lyrics that explore the life-purpose of less-than-desirable people in our lives — Cathy Guthrie and Amy Nelson’s music has helped them carve out a niche of their own while growing up in the shadow of two very famous musician fathers, Arlo Guthrie and Willie Nelson.

You can read about The Reflectacles in my Rhythm & Views blog on Maui No Ka Oi Magazine’s website. They were pretty great on their own, and rocked when Willie joined them for a set.

By the way, Willie wails on the electric guitar. Having only seen him play his acoustic “Trigger,” I was delighted to see that Nelson can break out the rock chops on demand.

What a rock star, braids or no braids! His kids and their friends aren’t to shabby either.

You can find more information on The Reflectacles, Folk Uke and Sugarcane String Band on their respective MySpace. Facebook and web pages.

Zan Throws Down in New R&V Post

Posted by on April 13, 2010 No comments

Maui No Ka Oi Magazine just published the newest edition of Rhythm & Views, the magazine’s new entertainment column. What is the difference between a blog and a column? Could it be a blogumn?

Oh wait, there’s a chicken.

Check it out. The Throwdowns are either the hottest band on the island or Suzanne was in a gushy mood when she wrote the piece.

Either way, it’s a lot of fun. Not as much as going to a Throwdowns concert–but fun none the less. Well, maybe a little less.

Random Bits

Posted by on April 1, 2010 No comments

My new Rhythm & Views column for Maui No Ka Oi Magazine came out on Monday (3/29). It would be cool if you checked it out. I went to the Maui Pops and admitted I’ve seen the Jonas Brothers in concert.

Enough about me, for now.

On Saturday, thousands of people lined the streets of Kihei for a chance to work as an extra in the upcoming Adam Sandler/Jennifer Aniston movie, which is being filmed in Wailea in late April/early May.

Apparently, it was madness with long lines, slow processing and hot sun. The casting directors may announce another opportunity for extras soon.

Speaking of casting, “Pirates of the Caribbean 4,” is casting extras on Oahu and Kauai for the upcoming filming on the islands. They are looking for men to play pirates, sailors and stand-ins for primary cast members.

For the pirates, the potential extras must be authentic-looking scavenger-types 18-60s, all ethnicities, especially extreme character types: thin, tall, short, emaciated, odd features, huge nose, eyes, ears, lazy eye, grizzled and wrinkles faces, odd body types, missing limbs, teeth, etc.

Sailors must be thin and average build, good looking to extreme characters, British types, Spaniards, and other ethnicities, ages 18- into their 50s.

The Oahu casting call is set for April 24 and Kauai April 25.

Additional information is available at Sande Alessi Casting.

So, us movie fans are asking, no “Pirates” on Maui? Maybe the cast will make Maui their secret get-away home during their time on the Islands. Johnny Depp, Maui No Ka Oi.

Speaking of celebs on Maui,  Cher was here this week. She apparently rented a house across from the beach in Wailea and spent one afternoon taking stand-up-paddle lessons.

Here’s a cool story/blog that Maui Surfer Girls posted about teaching Cher to SUP.

Those who are tweens, or parents of tweens, will know who I’m talking about when I say Jake T. Austin was on the island this week, too. “I want to find him,” my precious almost 10-year-old said. I didn’t have many details for her except that he Tweeted he was roaming the streets of Maui a few nights ago.

Jake T. Austin is one of the stars of Disney Channels “Wizards of Waverly Place.” He is now back in LA for the premier of his new movie “The Perfect Game,” which opens April 16.

The movie is based on a true story about a group of boys from Monterrey, Mexico, who became the first non-U.S. Team to win the Little League World Series in 1957. The film also stars Clifton Collins Jr., Cheech Marin, Moises Arias and Louis Gossett Jr.

BIG NEWS:  Snoop Dogg is coming to Maui in July! At least that’s what Brian Evans posted on his Facebook page. Brian is the man behind The Maui Celebrity Series, a new entertainment offering that already has brought the likes of Roseanne Barr, William Shatner and Paul Rodriguez to the Valley Isle.

Next up for The Maui Celebrity Series is David Spade April 30 in Lahaina. There are rumors of surprise guests.

Also a couple of cool things: Zofia, my daughter, and I got to go with our friends to take their son Jaxon to see Jake Shimabukuro last weekend at the MACC. Jaxon, who is an 8-year-old ukulele player, was celebrating his birthday and got to perform a few of his original tunes for Jake. Then Jake gave a shout-out to Jaxon during the concert. More about the adventures of Zofia and Jaxon to come.

Also, Sebrina Barron and Gail Swanson are playing Upcountry Sundays Acoustic Style Sunday April 4 at Casanova in Makawao. It is a benefit for Mana’o Radio, the only listener-supported radio station on Maui.

More on these and other tid-bits of info coming soon.

The Throwdowns open for Sammy Hagar afterall

Posted by on March 24, 2010 No comments

In an off-again, on-again move, Maui’s The Throwdowns have once again been confirmed as the opening act for Sammy Hagar’s April 9 concert at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, according to the band’s Erin Smith.

The Throwdowns had been booked for the show but earlier this week, word came down that Hagar was not going to feature any opening acts at his Hawaii concerts.

There was no official reason given for the change. However we delude ourselves into thinking it was done strictly so we’d have fodder for this blog.

As previously reported, The Throwdowns also are opening for 311 in Maui on April 10. That show, originally booked at the Lahaina Civic Center, is scheduled to take place on the events lawn at the MACC.

Sammy Hagar flies solo

Posted by on March 23, 2010 No comments

Word just in from The Throwdowns: Sammy Hagar is not featuring any opening acts at his Hawaii shows. It’s as simple as that. Don’t forget to check out The Throwdowns opening for 311 at the MACC.

311 concert moved to the MACC, The Throwdowns off the Hagar bill

Posted by on March 23, 2010 No comments

The 311 concert scheduled to be held April 10 at the Lahaina Civic Center apparently has been moved to the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului. The concert, which will feature opening acts Iration and The Throwdowns, had been scheduled to be held at the West Side venue. However, as of press time, it is listed on the MACC website.

General admission tickets are available at the MACC boxoffice or online at https://www.mauiarts.org/tickets/.

In related news, The Throwdowns will not be opening for Sammy Hagar April 9 at the MACC as previously reported.

There was no official reasons given for the changes in the two shows. However, we will try to find out what’s up and will pass the info along as soon as possible.

Boz Scaggs Band Headed To Mulligan's

Posted by on March 16, 2010 No comments

Several members of Boz Scaggs band are expected to sit in with Willie K tonight, March 15, at Mulligan’s on the Blue in Wailea. The band backed Scaggs Friday night at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center and also joined Michael McDonald and his band during the encore.