Three Albums from Honolulu artists/bands you should check out

Many people forget Hawaii is part of the United States and when they think of the music we have here, it’s Elvis and Don Ho in the sixty’s. We have so much more to offer than the slack key of our past (even though it is beautiful and does go with Mai Tai in the tiki glass). The first is from a hardcore rock band Oceans Deep. December 1st their second album Reckoning came out with a bang at Down Beat lounge in Chinatown Honolulu. I was asked to go down to take photos for this occasion. Pushing myself to the front, I planted my feet firm on the ground and kept my elbow out to keep back the madness their music invoked in the crowd. With strong heavy rock riffs, loud beating of the drums and a low bass line tying the two together as the fans started to get pumped up. When the vocals came in, people rushed together as their strong in your face lyrics and growls hit them . This is not the type of music for easy listening, I’m gonna curl up with a book and have a quiet night in. This album will wake you up, get up going and if you’re a softy, kick you in the ass. The second album comes from a band that has been rocking the islands for many years and has featured a lot of artists in their line up throughout that time. If you’ve lived on the island of Oahu and don’t know who Black Square is then you really need to get out more. ‘To The Hills’ is the fifth album of one of the premier ska bands here and being a fan from the start, in my option it’s the most emotionally charged albums yet. Lead singer Josh 86, puts his heart very bare in each song. They have an Operation Ivy inspiration with their punk like attitude, horns section blazing, get on our feet and dance music but these locals make it their own with a touch of a easy going vibe Hawaii instills in you when you grow up here. The lyrics in each of these songs show a maturity I haven’t heard as much in their songs before. While listening you can hear of the trouble times, heart break, and having to deal with big life changes but also with each of those stories, it’s told on how one perseveres, accepts, and faces those challenges all with the upbeat ska tempo. There’s a real sense of family and friendship throughout the whole album that makes you want to be a part of it, even if the only way you can is to just dance to it. Also these guys will be going on a west coast tour in January 2019 with the amazingly fun, Larry and His Flask. You mainland people will be missing out if you don’t go out see them live. The third album and band is The Quintessentials, oh where to start with these guys. First off I love horror punk rock and the MAN in the band is Rev. Les Hernandez. ‘The Satanic Rites of The Quintessentials’ is the sixth and I’m very sad to say most likely the final due to the dark lord calling brother Les to his council. Les has been a pillar in the rock community both on the islands and the west coast for many many years. I was actually very honored to be asked to sing some back up vocals on this album and I will cherish the short time I had jumping into the studio with him. When I meet up with him at the studio that day, we got to talking a bit and he was saying about how much he has worked to make this the perfect record to leave off on and it shows. I may be bias but I don’t care, this is the top record for me of 2018. It’s dark horror punk that delivers with sick guitar riffs, strong vocals, a drum line that will make any demon crack their whip against your flesh in unison to it. Overall whats gets me is that it’s fun. I want to go jump in my car, crank this up, sing along and give the finger to all those button down conformist zombies. It makes me feel like a punky teenager offending the geezers by my shear presents again, and now that i’m in my thirties I welcome that feeling. So thank you The Quintessentials and especially Hawaii’s own man in black, Rev. Les Hernandez for rocking til the end. All of these albums are on sale at:

Ocean Deep ‘Reckoning’ is available on Amazon, ITunes, Spotify

Black Square ‘To The Hills’ is available on Amazon, Pandora, ITunes, and Spotify

(Also go to theirs or Larry and His Flask social media pages for tour details)

The Quintessentials ‘The Satanic Rites of The Quintessentials’ is available on BC Bandcamp, CD Baby, ITunes and Spotify. You can also go to www.808shows.storeenvy.com (They have vinyl!!!!!)