The Cheap Leis - on YouTube

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 5 Apr 2007 4:13 pm

The Cheap Leis are phenomenal!
and they're on TV . .

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 5 Apr 2007 4:21 pm

Remember this recording from a few years back?

Lots of talk and accolades about this tune on this very Steel Guitar Forum.

Here are the Cheap Leis playing a tune in B11.

Palms - The Cheap Leis

Sounds like real Hawaiian music to me. Has the right feel, beat and attitude. Not bad for a bunch of mainlanders if you ask me.

AJ Azure · Post by **AJ Azure** » 5 Apr 2007 4:42 pm

so I don't get the distinction between traditional REAL Hawaiian music and this stuff. I know that it's swing fusion but, this file you just posted Gerald, how is that different? To me traditional Hawaiian has nothing to do with steel or uke anyway. So where's the puristness (word?)?

-AJ

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 5 Apr 2007 4:54 pm

Ok traditional Hawaiian music scholars - let's go.

Lets leave traditional Hawaiian chanting out of this discussion

I feel that any music coming out of Hawaii, or influenced by Hawaii is Hawaiian music. Hawaii is such a mish-mosh of cultures, religions, nationalities and races that I feel all is fair game and should be considered authentic, even the tin-pan alley Hawaiian tunes written in NYC.

Did the native Hawaiian people have the concept of the Western 12 note scale and the three chord song in their music before the missionaries showed up in the 1840's. I'm pretty sure they didn't.

It's my impression they were taught these things by the missionaries. The Hawaiians got ahold of this knowledge and they ran with it! The Hawaiians quickly used these musical tools to create what is now considered the "traditional" repertoire.

Who knows - I could be totally wrong. I'm just writing what I've heard over the years.

Hawaii is smack dab in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Any ship crossing the Pacific in the 1800's had to stop in the islands to refuel, restock etc. Many musical influences were left in the islands.

The Hawaiians synthesized all the world influences, mixed it with their own traditions and produced the first "World Music".

Jeff Au Hoy · Post by **Jeff Au Hoy** » 5 Apr 2007 5:47 pm

Gerald, I just meant to say that for a television appearance, I would have at least liked clothes that fit and no sneakers. I guess the casual dress thing is supposed to convey "backyard fun", but honestly I can see how it might also contribute to Bill McCloskey's opinion of the music.

Jeff Strouse, if you want to make any more attacks on my masculinity, by all means go for it... it's invincible! Hah. But seriously, men have always cared about the way they look. Would you walk into an interview with a potential employer wearing a cheap Hawaiian shirt, bermuda shorts, and sandals? (Yes, I know this is probably some whacky employer's dress code, but besides that...) I certainly wouldn't walk into many of the better clubs and restaurants in New York City dressed like that.

I wear the flowery shirt and slacks because growing up, that's what I was taught was "dress" clothing. It meant a shirt that fit, no undershirt showing beneath, slacks that weren't baggy. When I went away for school on the mainland and dress clothing was required, I ditched the flowery shirt and maybe wore something with a tie, a blazer or coat to go with that.

I'm just saying it doesn't matter what music you play... if you're serious about it though, represent it well by the way you dress. If your attire is perceived as a silly costume, then perhaps your music will be given the same regard.

I hate to get too specific or drop names but based on pictures/vidclips, I like the way Mike Neer dresses at gigs. He looks sharp. The music is definitely not mainstream, but when people hear it and see the attire, the combo is a winner. People think, hey now that's slick.

Please somebody tell me I'm not completely insane.

AJ Azure · Post by **AJ Azure** » 5 Apr 2007 6:05 pm

I agree with you Gerald. Coincidentally around the same time (and from my heritage), the tango became popular and it is also a mish mosh of cultures.

I also agree with Jeff. It's important to dress well on stage. Unless you're a punk band and then that's your image. I believe you can wear Hawaiian garb or a suit ala 1920s/30s style and not look cheezy or campy. on the other hand there's something to be said for not taking yourself too seriously and making a bit of fun. nothing wrong with a bit of vaudeville and burlesque in your show.

Scott Thomas · Post by **Scott Thomas** » 5 Apr 2007 6:24 pm

=

Jason Dumont · Post by **Jason Dumont** » 5 Apr 2007 6:48 pm

3 pages of this thread so far and no one has mentioned what an awesome band name they have

I sure do like their playing!

AJ Azure · Post by **AJ Azure** » 5 Apr 2007 6:54 pm

read back..someone did

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 5 Apr 2007 7:03 pm

Bill McCloskey wrote:One of the best musicians and mandolin players I know wears nothing but hawiian shirts.

Uh......... and he hasn't been arrested yet?

Steinar

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 5 Apr 2007 7:04 pm

Jeff Au Hoy wrote: I hate to get too specific or drop names but based on pictures/vidclips, I like the way Mike Neer dresses at gigs. He looks sharp.
Please somebody tell me I'm not completely
insane.

You are insane.

Todd Weger · Post by **Todd Weger** » 5 Apr 2007 7:08 pm

I love fish tacos, happy people playing happy, hapa-haole Hawaiian music, aloha shirts, stupid music, great music, untucked shirts, tucked in shirts, driving rhythms, smiling people... I don't like frowning people, angry people, people who think music is only legitimate if it's not fun, people who believe music must be serious and artistic if it is to have merit... sorry, but life is too short.

Find something that makes you happy, and latch on to it. I also play polka music. I LOVE polka music. I also love Bartok, Stravinsky and Beethoven. I have a degree in classical music from a major university. All the stuff (well, OK -- MOST of the stuff) I learned there was B.S. No, not the 'nuts'n bolts' theoretical stuff, but the egotistical, idealogical B.S. that said that anything other than "legitimate" music wasn't worth listening to. I hated that attitude.

I find more pleasure in simple, heartfelt music that's played by 'normal folk' more than anything else. The 'artsy-fartsy' stuff is interesting, but it leaves me cold. Ultimately, the stuff that fills my soul is the simple music produced by regular people. If it fills my soul with joy, that's enough for me. Find a hall filled with people dancing to polkas, and try to find an unhappy person. Same goes with music like the Cheap Leis are playing. What's not to like here??? What am I missing???

Again, for me at least, life is too short. I'm going to have fun for the few minutes I'm allowed to be on the planet.

Just IMO...
TJW

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 5 Apr 2007 7:11 pm

Amen.

Scott Thomas · Post by **Scott Thomas** » 5 Apr 2007 9:21 pm

Hey, no fair taking the high ground.

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 5 Apr 2007 10:56 pm

Jeff, I didn't mean an attack on your masculinity, if that's how it was interpreted. I know you're invincible, that's why I took the liberty to say that in jest.

My guy friends and I always say stuff like that to each other when one says something like that...for example, on 'all you can eat' chicken wing night, one guy asked for a salad..."Ladies eat salad!", we all shouted. Sometimes the women in our lives cloud our manly judgements, and we need a jolt back to manly reality. So you're still a manly surfer man in my book, Jeff.

But on your question of sanity...well, I better not go there...except to say that I wish a few Papayas would fall on your head and knock some sense into you, when it comes to some of your warped viewpoints on things.

Of course men are concerned with dress and looking sharp. But the point is, the general conseses agrees that their dress was totally appropriate for the venue and style. Other than the white skin, they looked just like some groups we've seen play in Hawaii. But, you seem displeased with their appearance, so I don't get it. But I've never been to a fish taco restaurant in San Diego either.

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 5 Apr 2007 11:05 pm

Well, well look what I got stirred up.

I found the conversation stimulating. Thanks.

I said,

I'd say a pretty good job for a bunch of mostly mainland haoles plus one mainland Fillipino on steel.

Now I could have been more politically correct

by saying, "These guys from the Mainland, two of which have never been to Hawaii, one of which is the steel player, do a masterful job of creating a Hawaiian touch through listening to Hawaiian recordings." But see if would have said that, then there would have been no stimulating discussion.

In Hawaii, the term haole is a designation term for Anglo. Just as Pake is a designation term for Chinese. It is considered derogatory. At least when I lived in the Islands for some 14 years haole was not a derogatory term. Now if heard "You dumb haole!!," that is downright derogatory.

Finally and in conclusion, if Todd Weger uses the term Haole Kats for his group, you know now that it is not going to be derogatory, because Todd wouldn't do something like that.

Jeff, I was referring to the link that was in my post and all the songs posted were a part of that link. Just click Cheap Leis

Jeff says,

Please somebody tell me I'm not completely insane.

Sometimes you may be mistaken, but you are not insane. Now that is official.

Dr. Don

I may have more to say later.

Aloha,

Don

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 6 Apr 2007 3:47 am

Now I could have been more politically correct by saying,

It has nothing to do with political correctness ... just racism.

At least when I lived in the Islands for some 14 years haole was not a derogatory term.

Don, if you have children ... did they attend school there ... especially on the final day of class ...

http://starbulletin.com/1999/03/24/news/story7.html

You can find lots of people around here who think the "N word" is just a designation for a black person ...

Are they just naive, stupid or bigots ???

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 6 Apr 2007 5:01 am

Jeff Au Hoy writes:

Gerald, I just meant to say that for a television appearance, I would have at least liked clothes that fit and no sneakers.

Listen closely to what the female newscaster says in one of the clips. She mentions that the group is part of the "Vans Sneakers" tour. Sounds to me like the group was being sponsored by the Vans company and were required to wear them.

Jeff Au Hoy · Post by **Jeff Au Hoy** » 6 Apr 2007 5:19 am

Good point Gerald. That one went right over my head. I think I'm starting to regret my comments on this thread. Perhaps I've been trying so hard to get that old man, old school feel into my playing that I've absorbed the crotchety geezer too. I thought about it and we're actually not going to hell in a handbasket over this one. dagnabbit.

Rick, I don't really get your analogy since the N word is linked to centuries of slavery and oppression and "Haole" is, well.... huh?

I don't see how being called a haole is anymore offensive than the fact that almost all my Hawaiian friends call me "pake." (Don can tell y'all why they call me that.)

But anyways back on topic... I've really been enjoying these clips of Adrian Demain's playing. I think the HSGA should consider having him a guest artist at the convention one year. I think he'd be a hit?

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 6 Apr 2007 5:24 am

My group was once sponsored by and part of the "Preparation H - Around The World" tour.

Good money - bad time in the Green Room.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 6 Apr 2007 5:37 am

Rick, I don't really get your analogy since the N word is linked to centuries of slavery and oppression and "Haole" is, well.... huh?

I don't see how being called a haole is anymore offensive than the fact that almost all my Hawaiian friends call me "pake." (Don can tell y'all why they call me that.)

A racial epithet ... is a racial epithet .

How did I come to associate the "N" word with "Haole" ...

I got the general idea from forum member "mikey" in this thread:

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/003312.html

Where he states ...

Al, you couldn't be more INCORRECT...

I was born raised and lived in NJ (Haole central) for 30 years...

I moved to Hawaii 20 years ago ... I am a "white guy" in local dialect (I'd tell you my hawaiian name, but I can't spell or pronounce it but it means big,crazy,hairy, bearded white guy)...

Haole is like , sorry, calling a black guy a "****** "...

NO ONE likes a Haole...and haole does not mean White..

It means no heart or Aloha....

Now if you care to refute "mikey" ... and state for the record ...

That the term Haole has absolutely no negative connotations associated with it ... in present day Hawaiian life ...

Then I will stand corrected ...

To quote Herb Steiner from that same thread:

Racism is racism, period.

Mat Rhodes · Post by **Mat Rhodes** » 6 Apr 2007 6:50 am

it's very hard for a non-Native Hawaiian musician to perform AND SING traditional Hawaiian music convincingly.

Gerald, do you think that's because of the mangling of the pronunciation?

I've heard some whi..., I mean hao..., I mean mainlander recordings of "On The Beach" where they separate "kāua" into two words ("kah ooowuh" instead of "cowuh") and I could tell right there that these guys either didn't do their research or just didn't know any better. The one I'm referring to in particular I think was something like Dick Kaumoku and the Moana Somethingorothers.

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 6 Apr 2007 6:57 am

Matt -

I feel all Hawaiian pronunciation is fair game when you are singing and performing Tin-Pan-Alley Hawaiian songs such as "Little Grass Shack", "Princess Poupouli" etc.

I mean singing songs like "Makalapua" or any song that has 100% Hawaiian language lyrics.

Jeff Au Hoy · Post by **Jeff Au Hoy** » 6 Apr 2007 6:59 am

Actually, "kah oowah" (no glottal stop) would be more accurate in the case of "Honi kāua" or "Kiss me" (first line of "On the Beach at Waikiki"). Notice the kahakō or macron over the "a" in kāua.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 6 Apr 2007 7:01 am

The Steel Guitar Forum

The Cheap Leis - on YouTube

am I the last square or what

Re: am I the last square or what

Fish Tacos