aloha got soul
mackey feary
Treasures on Tape: Mackey Feary Unplugged
To die-hard fans of Mackey: you’ll smile, you’ll cry, you’ll cherish these recordings that YouTube user paxukulele recently uploaded.
Despite the poor audio quality (not only was it a live recording, it’s on cassette tape, remember those things?), the 9 minutes 33 seconds of Mack and friends jamming is a perfect way to uplift anyone’s mood. You won’t find these recordings or photos anywhere else, as they come directly from one of Mackey’s friends, via paxukulele.
Close your eyes and transport yourself to a low-key house party where Kalapana’s lead singer keeps rhythm on his acoustic guitar without missing a chord or losing a beat. Mackey’s golden vocals pierce through the white noise of this analog recording, not that I’m surprised—it’s a testament to the irreplaceable, amazing power of his voice.
Tracklist:
1) “Pen in Hand” by Conway Twitty
2) “One Day” by John Batdorf
3) “Las Vegas Turnaround” by Hall & Oates cover (Mackey covers this on his final CD)
4) “To Be True” from Kalapana’s debut album
5) “Still There With You” by Mackey’s album “From the Heart”
To be honest, I don’t know many of these songs. Are they originals? Are they covers? Who were his friends singing along with him? Is there dialogue between songs? Are there more songs that weren’t included? My favorite track so far is “One Day”, but I enjoy all of them wholeheartedly.
Here are some notable YouTube comments so far, why not join the conversation?
“These are true treasures. This is the Mackey I remember. I can just imagine them sitting around a cassette recorder and singing while Mackey plays the guitar. But when he sang “One Day,” my heart broke. “One day, I’m sure we’ll all be happy. // Peace will soon find everyone. // One day, I’ll wake up in the morning, and all our troubles will be gone…“ We miss you, Mackey and hope you are at peace. You are still in our hearts.”
—jodyy121
“This is the Mackey that I remember. Your posting keeps his music and his memories alive. Sat., 8/13, would have been Mackey’s 57th birthday! Great early birthday gift for him and his fans. We lost him much too soon. Mackey, you are still very much missed and still very much loved. I, too, hope you have found the peace that your gentle soul deserves.”
—Windansr
And another comment from Michael Velten, who helped me put together the Mackey Feary discography in Absolutely Mackey: The Definitive Guide (which is still a work in progress. It’s tough maintaining a Hawaiian music blog when my time is so limited).
“tapes giving me chills man. This is some of his best stuff! Like bossa nova almost. The possibilities could have been endless if Mackey had got in the studio more and explored sounds like these! In a way it’s cool that he did not though commercially, and has gems like these made from just sitting around with his friends on a lazy sunday. Unreal.”
—
Mahalo to paxukulele and his friend for sharing these treasures with the world!
The Magic of Mack: Robin Kimura on Mackey Feary and his Band
My interview with Robin Kimura was lengthy (in a good way), but not nearly as long as the extended performances Greenwood played at Waikiki’s popular discos back in the 1970s.
Greenwood started out in Waikiki clubs as the ‘off-night’ band—when a club’s main performer had the night off. But when it came to Mackey Feary, Greenwood actually played after the Mackey Feary Band—sometimes with Mackey joining the funky ensemble for songs like ‘Nightbird’ and ‘The Hurt’!
Here’s another excerpt of my interview with Robin, as promised in part one.
This time, Rob remembers Mackey and the Magic Mushroom, a Honolulu nightclub on that became Greenwood’s stepping stone into the Waikiki nightclub scene. Enjoy!
Rob Kimura with Mackey Feary at the Point After
Aloha Got Soul: Was Greenwood the band for Mackey Feary on off-nights?
Robin Kimura: “That was at Magic Mushroom. So, Mackey’s Kalani [High School alumni], DJ Pratt’s Kalani, you know, but little bit older than us. Mackey was closer to our age and he knew Owen, our guitar player, really well.
“When he kinda broke off from Kalapana—I don’t know if they were gone at that time, I think they disbanded—Mackey kinda went on his own and he formed his band. So our booking agent and the owner of Magic Mushroom gave Mackey the opportunity to get started by doing kinda like a dinner show. And they said, ‘OK, we want to do the back end of the evening with Greenwood, so you guys can do the dance portion of the night.’
“It sounded good in the begining, but if I looked at it now I could see the major hole in the booking. We had two different crowds. The people that came to see Mackey is not the dance crowd. And you expect them to stay for us, right? And the nightclub dance crowd is not like a Mackey crowd. So it was like oil and water.
“It didn’t work. What happened eventually was Mackey—I don’t know if it was the time or the amount of nights he played—he just couldn’t sustain the crowd to get the revenue he needed. So that kinda ended.”
Aloha Got Soul: How long did that go on for?
Robin Kimura: “It was supposed to go through the whole summer cause I remember we blocked off the whole summer, and after about one month they cut it. I was pissed because I had July and August with no gigs. We had to scramble. And, on top of that, they didn’t pay us for the month we played. So we were out like two grand. I was furious!
“But, you know, it’s one of those situations with entertainment, that’s what happens.
“And then Mackey kinda—he was fighting drugs at that time too, sad to say. But we had some good times, talk story, you know, during practices [and] got close to him. I remember him coming into the Point After and was like, ‘Rob! Eh you know what man… completely off the drugs! How do I look?’ I said, ‘You look really good.’
“He said, ‘OK, I got the band [together] and kinda re-did the band—and we’re playing at Fisherman’s Wharf. I want you and Owen to come down and check us out. Let me know how we sound, I trust you guys, you know, Kalani [alumni].’
“That was one of the last times that I seen ‘em cause they didn’t last in there too long. By the time we wanted to go in there they were gone. And then we just kinda lost touch after that, yeah.
“I still remember him telling me about ‘Moon & Stars’, he wrote that in eighth grade!
“One of the neatest memories I have playing with them [at Magic Mushroom] is—he wanted to stay away from Kalapana stuff yeah, he like do his own thing. But when we took the stage we told him, ‘Mack, c’mon, come up sing ‘Hurt’.’ He goes, ‘No…’ and we said, ‘You know what, people gonna love it. We ain’t Kalapana. They gonna see you, that’s your song, you wrote that.’
“So he came up, sang that. I said, ‘Come up, sing Nightbird!’ Sang ‘Nightbird. We was doing that for a while until he said, ‘I no like sing Kalapana anymore.’
“We said ‘OK, come up and sing Stephen Bishop then, you know, ‘On & On’. He came up and sang that with us. He’d come up and was like, ‘Ho, this song is high! Record key, brah I don’t play ‘em in record key!’
“I still remember that, during the song he turns back and goes, ‘This song is kinda high!’”
Aloha Got Soul: Was he a big influence on you guys?
Robin Kimura: “I want to say no. That wasn’t our genre, but we played Kalapana stuff. Like ‘Hurt’, ‘Nightbird’, ‘Naturally’, you know, just because they were great songs and it kinda fit into our mix. But we weren’t in that Country Comfort, Summer, Kalapana, top-of-the-shop kinda thing.”
Aloha Got Soul: You guys had more of a mainland sound.
Robin Kimura: “It’s kinda funny because even now when you see the bands take the stage, you get comfortable or your band is suited for a certain artist. You play certain artists, it fits into your make-up.”
Greenwood at the Magic Mushroom, 1976
Stay tuned, more to come! Check out these vintage and new school Greenwood pictures.
Read the previous excerpt, The Story Behind the “Sparkle”: Robin Kimura on Greenwood’s 45.
Mackey Feary “Moon & Stars” (live)
“Moon & Stars” (live) by Mackey Feary Continue reading
2011 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards: Quick Wrap-up
Here’s a quick overview of what I took away from the 2011 Na Hoku Hanohano awards festival.
- Kalapana performing “Naturally” live as the recipients of a Lifetime Achievement Award (just magnificent!).
- Touch of Gold. A Hawaiian Philly Motown Soul-style vocal group with a touch of, well, gold.
- Resonating quotes from presenters and award-winners
- Photos, photos, photos
- Bob Dylan, Slack Key and … Tender Leaf?
- Ernie Cruz Jr. live and direct via Na Hoku workshops
These are some of the ideas floating around in my head after spending the past two days experience the Hokus and its new Mele Mei month of music (in its second year now). Stay tuned to Aloha Got Soul—a different kind of Hawaiian music blog!
What is the Na Hoku Awards Festival?
A few words from disc jockey Krash Kealoha:
Mackey Feary Band “Summer’s End” on YouTube
“Summer’s End” by Mackey Feary Band. Continue reading
Lonely nights aren’t always lonely
I’ve been craving this culture for so long, it’s a shock to be submersed in it again. Yup, I’m back in Hawaii and it’s sun, sun, sun! And Hawaiian music, all kines. True, much of Hawaii’s culture is wide out in the open: hula dancing, surfing, ukuleles, the shaka. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find people willing to share a part of paradise that so many miss out on.
I recently walked through the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center to take photos of people wearing Aloha Shirts. I came across were two men casually performing music outside of an ukulele shop, one wearing a red Aloha Shirt, the other a plain polo. From a distance I took a few images and listened as they played “Stairway to Heaven.”
The man wearing the Aloha Shirt asked me where I was from (he thought I was a mainlander). His extensive knowledge of Hawaii fashion proved the Aloha Shirt has a long history to explore. Since they were also playing music I told them I’m also interested in contemporary Hawaiian music like Mackey Feary. The baritone player’s face lit up:
Him: “You ever watch his videos on Youtube?”
Me (thinking he meant music videos, not slideshows with music): “I’ve seen ‘Nightbird’”.
Him: “He’s got plenty more than that, brah. Like this one—”
He started strumming the beginning chords of “Lullaby” and the music washed over me like my first swim in the Pacific after 5 long years. We looked at each other as we sung the opening lyrics in unison,
“Oh, those lonely nights // Is it still so warm? // Does the city lights hide a raging storm?”
I couldn’t believe I was hearing this live! Nobody could ever replicate Mackey in voice or spirit, but this guy played “Lullaby” with the same unrelenting conviction. When he finished the song, I told him I loved that album start to finish. Mackey’s songwriting was outstanding, we agreed, and the artist left a irreplaceable stamp on Hawaiian music. He was just about to play “Catherine“, one of my all-time favorites, but I didn’t have the time to stick around.
Music is a powerful force. And Hawaiian music carries a unique spirit through its people and songs. I’m grateful there are others out there who love this culture just like I do, it makes a lonely night in Honolulu not so lonely after all.
Digital Fix: Nohelani Cypriano
The beginning notes and bird calls of “Lihue” quickly hook you into what becomes 3 full minutes of a seriously tropical groove. I played it last night and again today, and I swear the song gets better with each listen. But you don’t have to be from Hawaii to enjoy “Lihue”—music lovers from Detroit to France praise this tune—and better yet, you don’t have to spend a lot of time or money finding it. eMusic sells the LP, entitled “Around Again”, at $5.99; iTunes, $9.99. (Note: the vinyl release is often referred to as her “Self-Titled” album).
…as Nohe was recording her first LP, she and Dennis [Graue] submitted their original song for the Home Grown contest and won for their single, “Lihue,” which launched her career and became her first hit. Her first LP included her hit “Living Without You,” “You Are So Beautiful,” and “Moon of Manakoora” and branded her music as Hawaiian funk.
UPDATE: Nohelani Cypriano mix 12/2011
I got my hands on more of Nohe’s music, including the CDs Back in Love and What’s Going On. Check out this 22-minute mix of funky tracks from Hawaii’s Diva of Soul music.
1. “Unconditional Surrender” from Back in Love (1991)
2. “Lihue” from What’s Going On (1995)
3. “Let’s Do It” from Let’s Do It (1980 single)
4. “Mystery Blue” from Around Again (1978)
5. “Playin’ With Fire” from In the Evening (1982)
6. “Give Love A Try” from In the Evening (1982)
7. “O’Kailua” from Around Again (1978)
8. “Back In Love” from Back In Love (1991)
Before she took off as a solo artist, Nohe was performing with the late 70s psych/prog rock group Golden Throat. The group disbanded after their recording their first LP and later reunited in 2010 for a performance at the Ala Moana Hotel for Hawaii’s 70s Night Club Reunion. Of course, she also performed “Lihue” that night!
Excerpt of the Golden Throat bio from the 70s Night Club Reunion site:
Golden Throat opened for many headliners at Conroy Bowl and the NBC Arena and played in Waikiki clubs, such as the Sting, Waikiki Beef ‘n’ Grog and Hula’s. Some of the members of Golden Throat continued with prominent careers in music. Former bass player Michael Cord established Hana Ola Records … Travis Fullerton moved to Hollywood and played drums for Billy Joel, John Lennon, Bonnie Raitt … Gary Ferguson toured with Etta James, Cher, Ray Charles, Bette Midler … and continues to teach drums in California. Dennis Graue remains in Hawaii and was the musical conductor for Don Ho for many years, recorded and released his own CDs and … performs in Waikiki.
Although it’s not quite my taste at the moment, the album presents a nice mix of folk, jazz and pop music. Check out ”Communication” by Golden Throat with Nohelani Cypriano:
I swear I only know a fraction of her recordings, her duet with Kalapana’s Mackey Feary being just one of them. “Let’s Do It” is a gospel-esque disco celebration. The B-side, “We Both Waited Too Long” kicks back slack key style as a song about love lost. It’s always comforting to hear Mackey sing; hearing him alongside Nohe is even better!
Nohe’s discography is 12 deep according to her website. She didn’t list “Let’s Do It” and I’m sure her guest appearances would account for a much longer list. Yet even with so many releases to her name—the most recent called “Pulelehua, My Precious Butterfly”, a dedication for her late mother, Leina’ala Simerson, a long-time entertainer in Hawaii—popular digital music services offer just 4…
“Golden Throat” (eMusic) (iTunes)
“Around Again” (eMusic) (iTunes)
“Let’s Do It” (eMusic) (iTunes)
“Pulelehua” (eMusic) (iTunes)
…I guess that leaves the rest up to you!
Babadu – Babadu!
When you live in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, you wake up everyday and it’s beautiful outside. When you live in the Pacific Northwest, summer stops by for two months or so. The rest of the year you wake up and it’s gray, dreary and rainy outside.
That’s why I like Babadu. His music is sunny (do I use that term too much?), and it’s reminiscent of the happy, heavenly sound of Stevie Wonder, whose songs are always full of joy (or joyous sorrow). Babadu even grunts and shouts, just like Stevie. One listen and I feel like smiling—even if the blue sky is nowhere to be seen in Portland, Oregon.
His LP was produced by Kirk Thompson, one of the original members of Kalapana. Thompson’s “All I Got to Give” stands out as one of the best tracks on the album. It’s a jazzier, cooler version than Lemuria’s (whose LP Thompson also produced). But unlike Lemuria’s female vocalist, Babadu sounds like he really believes in this song. His voice convinces me that his soul is reaching out with every lyric. While the Lemuria version is funky, it doesn’t move me emotionally (it’ll get me dancing though).
Macky Feary Band (Mackey)
Whenever I think of an album that encompasses what ALOHA GOT SOUL means, Mackey Feary’s debut solo effort comes to mind. The album, Macky Feary Band, is an uplifting blend of jazzy keyboards, seductive strings and vocal arrangements—and of course, Mackey’s sunny, tug-at-your-heart voice. Every time I hear “You’re Young”, or the cratedigger’s favorite “A Million Stars”, I can’t help but smile…It makes me feel like all the world’s a playground!
There’s an “urgency” in his voice when he’s “talking to this person” – a tension, an urgency for the one he’s “conversing with”. It’s in the “first person”. It is one of his true hallmarks – a fabulous dimension to the way he would sing songs; like he’s talking to someone in particular…an exact individual, but it transcends to every listener as if they themselves are that person. The energy is fantastic – he had such a fabulous talent as a vocal artist. It’s the WAY he sang these songs!!WOW…
—hitomusic, comment on youtube.com
A personal favorite is “Catherine”, the LP’s second track. Each instrument creates a mellow vibe throughout the song, whether its the light keyboard playing or the gentle strumming of an undistorted guitar. The synth-bass gives the song a funky pulse, and the drummer holds it all down with rimshots and fills. Below is a video of “Catherine” with what looks like the cover art from the LP. Look closer, it’s an actual video of Honolulu at night, shot from Tantalus!
“A Million Stars” is the highlight cut. It’s all there—jazz, funk, soul—and it’s a must for a breezy night in Honolulu, or a daytime drive around the island. It’ll uplift you and keep you going till sunset.
This won’t be the last post about Mackey Feary, whose contributions to Hawaiian music are tremendous. Comprehensive production credits over at discogs.
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