WAIPOULI — Not everyone needs to be a professional musician to perform onstage before a crowd eager for some good music. Just drop by Trees Lounge on Tuesday nights to check out the talented amateurs no one hears about. “There’s
WAIPOULI — Not everyone needs to be a professional musician to perform onstage before a crowd eager for some good music. Just drop by Trees Lounge on Tuesday nights to check out the talented amateurs no one hears about.
“There’s a lot a of really good hidden talent on the island, people are just blown out of the water,” said Candice Myers, co-owner of the famous Waipouli lounge.
Open-mic Tuesdays at Trees have been going on for about a year. Myers said the open-mic nights at the trendy lounge became popular from the very beginning.
Jim Farell and Jules Tidwell usually host the night, helping out those who need a little push or help.
Jim’s first instrument is the piano, but the versatile musician also plays guitar, harmonica, ‘ukulele and probably many other things that can produce sound.
Jules sings and, yes, she can. She’s also the night’s mistress of ceremonies.
Besides the local talent, tourists come around quite often.
“There’s a lot of professional musicians from the Mainland that come just on vacation,” Myers said. “Sometimes we get a real treat.”
Anyone can sing at Trees. All you have to do is know how to write your name on the sign-up sheet. Knowing how to sing helps too.
“They put up this clipboard, it’s really old-fashioned, you just sign your name on it,” Myers said.
You usually get about 15 minutes to sing and hopefully not embarrass yourself. But, honestly, with a little help from Jim and Juls, it seems like anyone could make it through a couple of “American Idol” auditions.
“Three songs is usually the minimum,” Myers said. “But sometimes people just want to do one song, and that’s OK too.”
The fun starts at 8 p.m. and is supposed to last until 11 p.m., but depending on the crowd’s mood, it can stretch until midnight.
“Lately it’s just being going all night, with different people,” Myers said.
Trees has been supporting local musicians since it opened about two and a half years ago.
“We do have music seven days a week, they’re paying gigs, so we are offering finances to musicians,” Myers said.
On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Trees has permanent gigs. On the other nights, several musicians rotate.
Candice said open-mic Tuesdays is a good opportunity for anyone who wishes to do gigs in the lounge.
Last Tuesday night Arizona part-time musician Will Metzler grabbed the guitar and ripped a couple of country songs, impressing even those who cannot stand anything associated with Nashville, cowboy boots, Billy Ray Cyrus, Dolly Parton or tear-jerking movies starring Jeff Bridges.
Bruce Harris and Larry Jefferson gave a magical demonstration of soul music. Jefferson ripped on the electric guitar while lending real soul to the songs with his raspy voice. Harris did his thing on the keyboard, every now and then approaching the mic to say “yeah.” That, my friend, was pure soul.
Dhayanna Dunville, from Princeville, sang “The Girl from Ipanema” beautifully, never mind she only started singing a little over two months ago. She’ll probably be there again next week, lending her gorgeous smile and vibrant energy to the night.
Local boys Sheldon Espina and Darren Carrillo gave some local flavor to the night, with some Hawaiian songs.
Perhaps the highlight of the night was when spunky Rosie Cutter and her childhood friend Lindsey Phelps took the stage, along with John Dumas and mime artist Janet Carafa.
Cutter has it. Music comes naturally to her. The voice that comes out of her diminutive frame is huge. Phelps not only has it, too, but she can play the sax as well. Dumas plays some sort of didgeridoo that he made, and sounds amazing.
But before they started singing, Rosie warned everyone. “We’re going to do some real hippie stuff here,” she said.
Carafa put on her checkered gloves and did some serious fun mime in front of the stage, while the rest of the troupe performed onstage.
Next Tuesday is open mic again. A whole new set of talent may show up. It’s never the same, but it’s always fun.
While there, check out some of the unique drinks, too. Sazerac, the oldest known drink in the U.S., was resuscitated there, and has gained a lot or popularity in the last few weeks, after the Kaua‘i Times ran a feature about it.
Farell and Tidwell bring instruments, but nothing stops you from bringing your favorite guitar, bass, ‘ukulele, drums or whatever your fell comfortable with.
