Besides the food, fun, and great giveaways, MCCS festivals also host a variety of bands and entertainment groups. The headlining band at this year’s Hansen Festival mixes all that variety into one talented music duo. Creating songs with beat boxing, vocals, and guitar, Scratch Track plays a mix of music ranging from funk to folk.
Band members Jason Hamlin and DJ Lee started performing together in 2000 after they met at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. Singer, songwriter, and beat boxer Lee hails from Kansas City and was raised on acapella gospel music by Take 6. Hamlin, a singer and guitarist, grew up in Detroit playing Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and Jeff Buckley. Their unique blend of styles forms a sound that Lee describes as, "A combination of rural end urban influences, of the street and the church, the north and the south."
As a duo they got their musical start after playing just one song at a college variety show. After the crowd’s positive reaction, they took to writing and creating more music. Scratch Track began touring college campuses and coffee houses and released their first album in 2003. To date, they have 4 albums including their latest, The Legend of Wild Bill. Scratch Track continues to tour college campuses and has also hit the stage with other musical acts including Los Lonely Boys, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Jurassic 5, Jars of Clay, Ruben Studdard, and Javier.
Check out Scratch Track's performance at the Hansen Festival on July 12 at 7:45 pm and July 13 at 7:30 pm.
2008-07-04
Scratch Track
2008-07-03
fenutin okinawa restaurant & Kalahai okinawan music
Open daily from 5:00 pm - 12:00am
(Last order 11:30pm)
A traditional Okinawan themed restaurant serving an array of freshly prepared sushi, sashimi, tempura, traditional Okinawan foods, and much more.
Pair your foods with the local beer Orion. Or, enjoy some of Okinawa’s finest awamori
For reservations, call 098-926-3008
fenutin@rinken.gr.jp
start your evening dining at Fenutin.
kalahaai@rinken.gr.jp
1st performance 7:00 p.m.-7:45 p.m.
2nd performance 9:00 p.m.-9:45 p.m.
music charges- adult\Yen 1,500 - child\Yen 700
Rinken Band special live:
from 8 p.m. (last order 7:30 p.m.)
music charges- adult\Yen 3,500 - child\ Yen 1,500
Remember, if you drink, don’t drive.
We want you to return for more fun and excitement!
2008-06-26
2008-05-02
Oki live! - 2 May
Information provided by Kluso
Al’s Place, “where everybody knows your name,” presents the classic covers of Shima Gai’s: rock, blues, oldies, country, folk, reggae, R&B, and pop from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘8Os, plus few originals sprinkled in. A good time is guaranteed. Open daily, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.; live show starts at 9 p.m. until 12 a.m. No Cover. For more info check out <http://www.shima-gais.com>.
May 2 and 3
Live Music Bar Jet presents classic rock covers from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘8Os including hits by Heart, Journey, Zeppelin, Bon Jovi and more. The bar is run by members of Jet, one of Okinawa’s first American—style rock bands that formed in the late ‘60s. They still rock! Open Friday and Saturday from 8:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.; live show starts at 9 p.m. No cover charge. Visit <http://jet-okinawa.com> for details.
May 2 and 3
Club Fujiyama, open Friday and Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 3 a.m., presents F.O.D. Okinawa's best metal music. Originals plus classic metal covers: Lamb of God, Metallica, Megadeth and more. Live show starts 9 p.m. until 12 a.m. Live cover $5 at the door, includes tickets for free prize drawings throughout the night. Visit <http://www.clubfuji.com>.
May 2 and 3
7th Heaven Club presents Friday and Saturday bands 8-Ball and Jackpot. Original rock plus rock covers from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s including Journey, Ozzy, Motley Crue and Van Halen. Open Friday and Saturday 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Bands start at 9:30 p.m. Sunday open 8 p.m. till 1 a.m. Bands start at 9 p.m. Just around the Four Corners on Hwy 330. Great venue for a variety of rock music, food, drinks, pool and darts. Details at < www.7thheavenkoza.com>.
May 2 and 3
Asian Rose/Marie’s, Chuo Park Ave (B.C. Street), presents Marie Acoustic. Originals plus classic acoustic rock/pop covers such as Joplin and Zeppelin. Open 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.; live show 10 p.m., to 11:30 p.m. Live cover 2,000 yen. For details see <http://marie.ti-da.net>.
May 5
Live and Restaurant Taurus presents Monday open session night starting at 8 p.m. Bring your instrument, your voice or just stop in to catch some great artists. Open Monday to Thursday 7:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday open 7:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. Restaurant Taurus accepts yen only. <http://www.liverestaurant-taurus.com>.
May 3
Sideways Sports and Music Bar, open Monday to Saturday 11 a. m. to midnight (closed Sundays) presents Kluso and special guest Doug Esterline. This duo presents a mix of classic and newer acoustic folk/rock, Americana and originals. Show starts at 8:30 p.m. Live tax is 300 yen. Visit <www.klusot.com> and <http://kozasideways.hp.infoseek.co.jp/index.htm> for details.
Kadena Services Weekly Highlights - 2 May
We’re live!
Check out Okuma’s new and improved website.
Virtual tours, room reservations and more!
http://www.kadenaservices.com
This one’s gonna make you BIG!
Get Fit Casting Call
Military, get into your PT gear and civilians into your workout gear and
show us your best moves. We wanna put you on TV.
3 May • 9 am – 11 am
Risner Fitness Center
Five forks, four spoons and a fab night
Gourmet Night
8 May • 6 pm
Delight in a five course meal and a fine dining experience.
Kadena Officers’ Club • 634-3663
Shots of luv
Monthly Vaccination Clinic
3 May • 8 am – 12 pm
Vet Clinic • 634-1362
Like to Superman?
BMO Music Fest
1 June
Okinawa Ginowan Outdoor Theater
Featuring: A-Team, Get Money Boys, Fabo
Hurricane Chris, Bobby Valentino, Ginuwine
Soulja Boy and more...
Purchase your tickets from ITT
Call 634-4322.
Log on to www.kadenaservices.com for complete
details on all Kadena Services events, programs, and activities.
Cunningham's Rockin' Cabana
Looking for a place to let your inner rock star loose? Look no further than Cunningham’s Rockin’ Cabana. These rehearsal studios are located in Building 104 on MCAS Futenma. Named after the first Marine Corps
aviator, LtCol Alfred Austell Cunningham (1888—1932), Cunningham’s Rockin’ Cabana was developed in response to feedback from the Single Marine Program. You wanted rehearsal space, and now you’ve got it.
Rock like The King in the privacy of your own studio, or bring in your band to practice for the next gig. FREE equipment and instruments are available, including drum sets, guitars, bass amps, keyboards, and microphones. Cunningham’s Rockin’ Cabana is open Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 2 to 10 p.m. On Friday and Saturday you can jam out from 4 p.m. to midnight. Studios are closed on Monday and Tuesday. Studio time can be reserved in two-hour blocks.
The cabana is open to all DoD and SOFA-status individuals. Musicians under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
For more information or to reserve a studio, call 636-1100.
2008-04-26
Step Up to the Mic - The Lyrical Lounge
Do you want your words to be heard? Then step up to the mic at Kinser Surfside’s Lyrical Lounge on Saturday, April 26 at 8 p.m. Don’t let your heart overload or your soul suppress, pour out your perspectives for others to absorb. Let the words roll from your tongue as you share your truths, convictions, ambitions, observations, and dreams. Wax philosophically or spit verse—whatever way is your way to portray yourself, do it.
The Lyrical Lounge has been steadily attracting more poets, lyricists, and other verbal artists over the years. To supplement this growing creative voice, MCCS Entertainment has added smooth jazz accompaniment by Yemaya, a local jazz group, for your listening and poetic pleasure. So, while you speak your words, the musical background will help pave the road to your
poetic bliss. Let the ambiance of this evening captivate you while you do the same for others. Whether you are deeply philosophical or relatively simple in your words, the stage will be yours.
The Lyrical Lounge is open to all ranks and services island-wide, but only adults ages 18 and up will be admitted. Performers’ stage time will be limited to five minutes. If you’d like to strut your poetic stuff, sign up with MCCS Entertainment by emailing mccsentertainment@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org no later than Thursday, April 24.
2008-04-18
off-base events (April 18-24)
April 18, 8 p.m.
Frank Gordon Jazz Quartet
Plaza House Shopping Mall, Okinawa City
Tickets: Y2,000
April 18, 7 p.m.
Okinawan Classical Dance Performance
Okinawa Folk Theater, Naha City
Tickets: Y2,5OO
April 18—20, 10 a.m.—5:30 p.m.
Tsuboya Shisa Day
Tsuboya Pottery Museum, Naha City
Free admission
April 19, 2 p.m.
2008 Japan Reggae Festival in Okinawa
Ginowan Kaihin Park, Ginowan City
Tickets: Y6,000
2008-03-28
SHIMA GAlS
Venture out from Kadena Air Base, down Gate 2 Street to the Four Corners area across from new Music Town and you’ll find Al’s Place, home of the Shima Gais and a haven for the sweet sound of classic 60s and 70s pop, rock, blues and R&B. It will seem as if you’ve stepped back in time to your hometown pub. And the Shima Gais are there to make your back-to-the-future experience memorable.
So, who are the Shima Gais? They go by the pseudonyms: Shima-Maxx (drums), Shima-Don (rhythm guitar/lead vocals), Shima-Kozo (bass), Shima-Ringo (sax and percussions), and Shima-Doug (lead guitar/vocals). This elite collection of talent has actually been members of many other local bands that have contributed to Okinawa’s music scene over the years.
They teamed up to battle the forces of evil and boredom by putting the word “fun” back into the music. This is because if the band is not having fun it’s not easy for the audience to have fun. The Shima Gais put the focus of their music and live shows on making the audience part of the equation of having a good time.
That is one reason they spotlight their music on 60s and 70s classics that cover several genres and popular tunes from greats such as the Stones, Clapton, CCR and even some James Brown, Bob Marley and a few Shima originals.
Needless to say, they play to the crowd. The Shima Gais know how get the place hopp’n - and when to throttle back. They employ audience interaction with free giveaways as well as frequent guest musicians who show up to sit in with the hand. All that’s missing is you.
Al’s Place is open weekdays 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. and from 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Shima Gais play every Friday and Saturday 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. and the best part is there’s no cover charge! For more info visit their Web site and other links at <www.shima-gais.com>.
2008-02-29
F.O.D. rocks Okinawa hard
F.O.D.is the name of one of the hottest bands in Okinawa. They are the weekly house band for the famous Club Fujiyama, right outside Kadena’s Gate 2.
Fronted by Rob Emerson, guitar hero extraordinaire, F.O.D. is a powerhouse trio of solid metal rockers. F.O.D. rocks on a regular basis every Friday and Saturday night from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. as well as the occasional 3-day weekend, holidays and other special occasions such as the renowned Fuji-Fests. Other members of the band include Ka-chyan on bass and Daisuke on drums.
The primary influences for F.O.D.’s live stage include metal bands such as Lamb of God, Godsmack, Kill Switch Engage as well as Metallica and Megadeth. They perform original songs written by band leader Emerson.
Emerson is a former U.S. Marine who decided to stick around Japan and ply his musical trade. The wildman has 30-plus years of rock guitar experience involving various bands in Japan. Emerson was influenced by guitar heroes such as Jimi Hendrix, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani.
The hand is enjoying life and has no plans to relocate or change venues, making Club Fuji’s always a good bet. F.O.D. is also working on a CD of their original music hoping to release it soon. You can find more info at
2008-01-25
Music studio on Futenma opens doors to musicians
Lance Cpl. Ryan Wicks
OKINAWA MARINE STAFF
Looking for a place to jam, rehearse or sharpen your harmonic skills without disturbing your neighbors?
Cunningham’s Rocking Cabana Rehearsal Studio on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma offers such an environment free of charge.
Cunningham’s, which opened Jan. 16, features two full-sized studios and one individual-sized studio. The sound resistant studios collectively offer two drum sets, three guitars, three base guitars, amps, microphones, audio mixers, compact disc players and keyboards for musicians to use for free, according to Andrew R. Coy, an audio visual technician with Marine Corps Community Services.
Cunningham’s is made to accommodate musicians of all skill levels, said Dureil Farnell, an entertainment program manager with Marine Corps Community Services.
“The studio is here for [Status of Forces Agreement personnel] to release themselves from the normal everyday routine and also help them become a musician or bone their skills depending on the ability of the individual,” Farnell said.
Cunningham’s is located in building 104, MCAS Futenma.
Reservations require at least one adult and are limited to one hour. For more information or to make reservations, call 636-1015.
