Tuesday, October 13, 1998
Blue Hawaiians’ concert showcases smooth sound
MUSIC:Experienced, little-known group takes crowd on trip to
tropical paradise at Los Angeles nightclub
By Vanessa VanderZanden
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Is that the subtle call of a tropical breeze wafting this way?
Or is it the lingering explosion of white caps colliding with the
tender surf? No, it’s the sounds of a unique Hollywood club and its
rare Sunday night entertainment.
Located in a strip mall next to a liquor store, the Lava Lounge
remains one of the most hidden-away venues in all of Los Angeles.
Because of their chicly obscure status, however, the club can
showcase small-time talent that entertains on a large-scale level.
Sunday night regulars the Blue Hawaiians stand as testament to this
tradition.
Playing in sync with the small tiki lounge’s decor, the Blue
Hawaiians served up an array of surf tunes spanning from the ’50s
on. As though hand-crafted for the locale, the Hawaiians provided
guitar-spinning riffs and crooning ocean-side lyrics to complete
the island-esque scene. Mai-tais and piña coladas in tall
glasses glowed in the red tiki-torch lights, which stretched the
length of the small two roomed club. Shimmering silver strips
flapped from the walls like disco-hula skirts, reflecting the
movements of the shimmying crowd packed on the miniature dance
floor below. Not a body could help but squiggle to the melodic
tunes surging forth from the Blue Hawaiians, whose corner-room
stage space began just inches from the dance floor.
The intimate event had the feel of an older brother’s
garage-band debut in one’s own backyard, only with a bit more class
and a greater amount of musical expertise. After all, it was the
band’s "50th anniversary," as the youngish members like to remind
audiences every Sunday night.
Decked out in classic black apparel, the performers held the
packed crowd captivated for each of their two-hour long sets, and
they even had one dancing patron "sweating like a fat bitch in
church." Slinging keyboard jam over drum solo beside noises from a
peculiar Hawaiian plucking instrument under the lead singer’s
swoon-inducing voice, the Blue Hawaiians shredded into the night.
They took the wide variety of fans right along with them, from
white-collared, crew-cut squares to trendy leather-jacketed,
side-burned hipsters and everything in between.
At one point, the Hawaiians even brought the Elvis look-alike
bartender up on the stage to sing an explosive rendition of "Viva
Las Vegas." Including many genres and well-known artists’ hits in
their set, another treat came in their swingy cover of Tom Waits’
dark, sultry tune, "Come Away." Beyond dabbling in both well-known
classics and lesser-known favorites, however, the Hawaiians grooved
immeasurably with tunes of their own.
By the end of the evening, the grinning, beer-swilling
performers left the stage proud after one crowd-drooling encore.
Though the Lava Lounge scene may be a small market to corner, the
Blue Hawaiians have marked out their territory well. One of the
best kept Los Angeles secrets, the group has managed to garner a
sizeable fan base which is destined only to expand in the
future.
The Blue Hawaiians play every Sunday at the Lava Lounge, 1533
North La Brea Ave., Hollywood. 21 and over. $5 cover.
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