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la_belle_laide...It's pretty amazing!
So we dropped the dogs off today, then we were off to the city. Meg and I watched Kung Pow again on the way there. It was around 4 by the time we got there, so there was plenty of time to spare. We walked around Central Park for a while. I was thinking how cool that was, because Meghan's never been in Central Park before. It wasn't until much later that I realized that I hadn't, either. ^_^ I know my Dad wanted to go into Little Italy, and I was all for that, too, but somehow we all figured there wouldn't be enough time. So instead we took the taxicab ride FROM HELL to Bleeker, where some doorman said there would be good restaurants. (Seriously, I know that NYC cabbies are aggressive drivers, but this guy was off his nut.) We ended up at a "bistro" called Le Figaro. WORST RESTAURANT EVER. Freezer-burned, re-heated stuff from whichever price club is closest, and watered down jar sauce. Disgusting. Anyway, Meghan wasn't keen on getting back into another cab, so we took the subway back up to Hunter College (that's where the show was) and then just waited around. I tried calling Moon a few times, but kept having to leave a message.
Anyway, finally right before 8, Moon called me back. He was trying to give me directions to the backstage area and I was trying to follow them, with Meghan in tow. We ended up standing right outside the backstage door, the guard there looking very annoyed at both of us, and then Moon opened the door and looked very surprised to see me there. Actually, it was pretty hilarious. He took Meghan and I backstage and we said Alohas to the other Makaha Sons, and Moon introduced us to the boys in one of their opening bands, the way-too-adorable Herb Ohta Jr. and Daniel Ho. You have NO idea how cute they each are in person. (I also met up with Olivia, a few of Luana's dancers, and some really nice girl I danced next to at the seminar last May. It's funny, I know all these people, but I often don't know their names.) So anyway, Moon actually came out into the waiting room just to meet my Mom and Dad, who were both totally impressed with how awesome of a person he is from the moment he starts talking to you.
Then we went into the theater, which was small, cozy, and way too freaking cold. The opening band was a group called Aloha Boys, and they were really tight. They had a lot of fun and I enjoyed them. Then came Herb Ohta Jr. and Danny Ho, both on ukulele. They were awesome together. Danny sang this song he wrote called "Along For The Ride" which had a very sweet message about how it's okay to have modest ambitions, or even better, no ambition but to just chill out and have a good life.
Makaha Sons came on at 9, and they completely did not disappoint. They are as passionate and as flawless as I have ever seen and heard them. I had earlier been explaining the "BEVERAGE!" inside joke to Meghan, and it surprised me when some guy a few rows back from me spontaneously yelled "BEVERAGE!" when Jerome took a drink. "Oh," Jerome said, "We have the beverage crew here!" They were hilarious, as they always are. Moon is so quiet, Jerome is the kolohe one, and John just has this incredible giggle when something is funny. They played "Mehameha / White Sandy Beach" as I had hoped they would, because it's my Dad's favorite song ever. Later on they played "Lahaina Luna" which is my Mom's favorite. (They never actually do play my favorite, which is Hopoe. Or at least I've never heard them play it.)
So anyway, about halfway through the show Jerome says, "We're going to dedicate this song to Jules and to her Mom and Dad, and her sister Meghan. Jules, stand up!" So, holy crap, I had to stand up and wave to them. They couldn't see me with all the stage lights in their faces, but it seemed like everyone else in the audience could. For a second it was like, Holy crap, everyone here knows me, too. It was so weird, but so cool. Then they played "'Round in Waikiki / Ta Ha Ua La". Just to reiterate, in case this goes over anyone's heads: Makaha Sons dedicated a song to my family and I. Is that not totally a "FOR THE WIN!" moment? ^_^
Oh, the other best part of the night was when Kaipo came up to do a Hula. My entire family loved him immediately, as--though no one is expected to remember--so did I, although I can't for the life of me find the entry about him.
The show was over way too soon, and they ended to a standing ovation, as they always do. Then the opening acts came back onstage with them and got everyone to sing Happy Birthday to Jerome. After that they did this one song I have liked for a few years but have never known who did it or what it was called or anything. I just knew some of the words that I could understand and translate myself (if I pay attention, I can usually figure out what they are saying, or at least most of it.) It was the Rockingchair Song, which I've never heard anywhere else but the anonymous file I'd downloaded two summers ago. Then, pau! They were off stage by just after ten. Way too short.
Then they all came out to the merchandise stand a few minutes after the show. I got to thank Jerome and John, and tell Jerome that I actually did stand up when he had asked me to, but my jaw was on the floor so I couldn't say anything at the time. :) Then Moon came out again and we got to chat with him for a while, too, my parents, Meghan and myself. He, like the rest of them, was surrounded by fans, but he made the time to talk anyway, and the same went for John, who we caught up with a few minutes later. We actually didn't get to say goodnight to Jerome, and when we were already back in the parking garage, my Mom mentioned that she had wanted to thank him. I was like, "LET'S GO BACK!!" but by then we were too far away. I just wanted everyone to meet everyone. My parents were so excited. Oh, and Moon introduced us to Herb Ohta Jr. and Danny Ho, too. Meghan said that when she shook their hands, she just wanted to pull them both along and take them back to LI with her because they were so sweet.
I've always, as most of you know, been so impressed by this band--not only their incredible music, but the men behind it. They prove over and over again that they are truly Aloha. They always seem to have time for everyone, and they are true gentlemen. (John, Jerome and their lovely wives even took the time to drive me around O'ahu that time and take me to lunch, which I will never forget.) And Moon really is ku'u hoaloha i ka poli. They are all just so great.
I so hope they come back out to NY one of these days. As you can all tell, it was completely TEH WIN.
So we dropped the dogs off today, then we were off to the city. Meg and I watched Kung Pow again on the way there. It was around 4 by the time we got there, so there was plenty of time to spare. We walked around Central Park for a while. I was thinking how cool that was, because Meghan's never been in Central Park before. It wasn't until much later that I realized that I hadn't, either. ^_^ I know my Dad wanted to go into Little Italy, and I was all for that, too, but somehow we all figured there wouldn't be enough time. So instead we took the taxicab ride FROM HELL to Bleeker, where some doorman said there would be good restaurants. (Seriously, I know that NYC cabbies are aggressive drivers, but this guy was off his nut.) We ended up at a "bistro" called Le Figaro. WORST RESTAURANT EVER. Freezer-burned, re-heated stuff from whichever price club is closest, and watered down jar sauce. Disgusting. Anyway, Meghan wasn't keen on getting back into another cab, so we took the subway back up to Hunter College (that's where the show was) and then just waited around. I tried calling Moon a few times, but kept having to leave a message.
Anyway, finally right before 8, Moon called me back. He was trying to give me directions to the backstage area and I was trying to follow them, with Meghan in tow. We ended up standing right outside the backstage door, the guard there looking very annoyed at both of us, and then Moon opened the door and looked very surprised to see me there. Actually, it was pretty hilarious. He took Meghan and I backstage and we said Alohas to the other Makaha Sons, and Moon introduced us to the boys in one of their opening bands, the way-too-adorable Herb Ohta Jr. and Daniel Ho. You have NO idea how cute they each are in person. (I also met up with Olivia, a few of Luana's dancers, and some really nice girl I danced next to at the seminar last May. It's funny, I know all these people, but I often don't know their names.) So anyway, Moon actually came out into the waiting room just to meet my Mom and Dad, who were both totally impressed with how awesome of a person he is from the moment he starts talking to you.
Then we went into the theater, which was small, cozy, and way too freaking cold. The opening band was a group called Aloha Boys, and they were really tight. They had a lot of fun and I enjoyed them. Then came Herb Ohta Jr. and Danny Ho, both on ukulele. They were awesome together. Danny sang this song he wrote called "Along For The Ride" which had a very sweet message about how it's okay to have modest ambitions, or even better, no ambition but to just chill out and have a good life.
Makaha Sons came on at 9, and they completely did not disappoint. They are as passionate and as flawless as I have ever seen and heard them. I had earlier been explaining the "BEVERAGE!" inside joke to Meghan, and it surprised me when some guy a few rows back from me spontaneously yelled "BEVERAGE!" when Jerome took a drink. "Oh," Jerome said, "We have the beverage crew here!" They were hilarious, as they always are. Moon is so quiet, Jerome is the kolohe one, and John just has this incredible giggle when something is funny. They played "Mehameha / White Sandy Beach" as I had hoped they would, because it's my Dad's favorite song ever. Later on they played "Lahaina Luna" which is my Mom's favorite. (They never actually do play my favorite, which is Hopoe. Or at least I've never heard them play it.)
So anyway, about halfway through the show Jerome says, "We're going to dedicate this song to Jules and to her Mom and Dad, and her sister Meghan. Jules, stand up!" So, holy crap, I had to stand up and wave to them. They couldn't see me with all the stage lights in their faces, but it seemed like everyone else in the audience could. For a second it was like, Holy crap, everyone here knows me, too. It was so weird, but so cool. Then they played "'Round in Waikiki / Ta Ha Ua La". Just to reiterate, in case this goes over anyone's heads: Makaha Sons dedicated a song to my family and I. Is that not totally a "FOR THE WIN!" moment? ^_^
Oh, the other best part of the night was when Kaipo came up to do a Hula. My entire family loved him immediately, as--though no one is expected to remember--so did I, although I can't for the life of me find the entry about him.
The show was over way too soon, and they ended to a standing ovation, as they always do. Then the opening acts came back onstage with them and got everyone to sing Happy Birthday to Jerome. After that they did this one song I have liked for a few years but have never known who did it or what it was called or anything. I just knew some of the words that I could understand and translate myself (if I pay attention, I can usually figure out what they are saying, or at least most of it.) It was the Rockingchair Song, which I've never heard anywhere else but the anonymous file I'd downloaded two summers ago. Then, pau! They were off stage by just after ten. Way too short.
Then they all came out to the merchandise stand a few minutes after the show. I got to thank Jerome and John, and tell Jerome that I actually did stand up when he had asked me to, but my jaw was on the floor so I couldn't say anything at the time. :) Then Moon came out again and we got to chat with him for a while, too, my parents, Meghan and myself. He, like the rest of them, was surrounded by fans, but he made the time to talk anyway, and the same went for John, who we caught up with a few minutes later. We actually didn't get to say goodnight to Jerome, and when we were already back in the parking garage, my Mom mentioned that she had wanted to thank him. I was like, "LET'S GO BACK!!" but by then we were too far away. I just wanted everyone to meet everyone. My parents were so excited. Oh, and Moon introduced us to Herb Ohta Jr. and Danny Ho, too. Meghan said that when she shook their hands, she just wanted to pull them both along and take them back to LI with her because they were so sweet.
I've always, as most of you know, been so impressed by this band--not only their incredible music, but the men behind it. They prove over and over again that they are truly Aloha. They always seem to have time for everyone, and they are true gentlemen. (John, Jerome and their lovely wives even took the time to drive me around O'ahu that time and take me to lunch, which I will never forget.) And Moon really is ku'u hoaloha i ka poli. They are all just so great.
I so hope they come back out to NY one of these days. As you can all tell, it was completely TEH WIN.
