Jason Genegabus photos

It hasn’t taken long for Doraku Sushi to build its late-night following.

Then again, I guess it helps when you’re savvy enough to enlist the services of current leaders in the local club scene from the jump.

In a city where promoters control where the masses party, it’s so necessary to build relationships with the people who can reach hundreds of their closest friends via text message or MySpace bulletin.

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It’s not like I ever left, but… I’M BAAAAACK!!!

We pulled the plug on my weekly bar review column, “Barfly,” in 2006 after a four-year run. It was a move designed to allow me more time to work on other stories in the paper and expand our reach into the blogosphere.

The extra time also made it possible for us to ramp up video coverage on Starbulletin.com.

But I kept hearing from readers and friends (and even my Mom!) that my beer-swilling, pupu-grinding alter-ego was sorely missed. So last month, I approached my boss about bringing the column back on a monthly basis.

I bet you can guess what her decision was.

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Star-Bulletin file photo

Jack Johnson’s pal Matt Costa is coming back to Honolulu after two visits in 2007.

I missed his first appearance at NextDoor last January, but managed to catch his set at the Waikiki Shell during the annual Kokua Festival.

Costa will return to Chinatown for a repeat performance at NextDoor on April 15, then fly to Maui for a gig at the Hard Rock Cafe the next day.

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Associated Press photo

It’s official: 50 Cent is coming back to Honolulu.

Tickets are expected to go on sale soon (i.e. this weekend or next) and will be available at all Ticketmaster outlets.

Tihati Productions is the promoter for the Mar. 28 concert.

More details this Friday in my column, “In the Mix.”

Related Post:
“Another big show in March?”

Just got the news that local promoter Komo Low has died.

It’s been a couple of years since he last hosted a party; according to this column I wrote last year, Low pulled out of the W Honolulu in 2005.

I’m told he moved to the mainland shortly thereafter, returning to Oahu a year ago. He kept a relatively low profile until his death last weekend, since it appears not many people in the club scene were even aware he was back in town.

According to a post on his MySpace page and confirmed by another promoter, funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. March 28 at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, Mauka Chapel. Visitation starts at 9:30 a.m. and lunch will be served afterward.

Rest in peace, Komo. We’ll miss you.

Jason Genegabus photos

One of my stops on Friday night was at Pipeline Cafe for “Foreplay Fridaze” with Rick Rock Productions.

While the crowds aren’t at the same level they were at the same time last year, this is still a good spot to finish the night after the 2 a.m. bars have all closed.

Check out the pictures I got after the jump.

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Jason Genegabus photos

Texas-based rockers Bowling for Soup were in town last weekend for a military benefit concert with country stars Montgomery Gentry.

The show was on Saturday, but two members of the group showed up at Clear Channel Hawaii’s Iwilei studios last Thursday for a private show in the new Road Runner Music Hall.

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Still working on the details, but it looks like Honolulu will see the return of a platinum-selling rapper who last performed here in 2003.

According to my sources, a local promotion company is working with the artist’s mainland management to finalize things this week. It appears the concert will take place at the Blaisdell on March 28.

Unfortunately, I haven’t received a return phone call from the local promoter. I’m keeping things under wraps for now out of courtesy, but will have more details in my column on Friday.

Stay tuned…

Courtesy Suicide Squeeze Records

Saturday’s the big night this weekend, with a pair of concerts worth checking out and the finals of the inaugural Pan-Pacific Soccer Championship set to take place at Aloha Stadium.

You can check the Star-Bulletin sports section for more details on Brian Ching and David Beckham. But be sure to get your hands on HiLife for my story about Minus the Bear, a Seattle-based rock quintet that will make their Hawaii debut at Pipeline Cafe on Saturday.

We also have details on Bill Tapia’s “Centenary Celebration” concert at Diamond Head Theatre.

Centenary means ONE HUNDRED YEARS, folks. Braddah is 100 years old and still playing his ukulele!

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Jason Genegabus photos

Wednesday was the first day of the inaugural Pan-Pacific Soccer Championship, and I wasn’t the only Star-Bulletin staffer at Aloha Stadium.

Sure, we had Brian McInnis watching from the press box and FL Morris down on the field taking pictures. I was upstairs in a loge seat next to the press box, drinking coffee and trying to forget how cold it can get in Halawa when the wind starts to blow.

But two of my co-workers, who (unfortunately) shall remain nameless, bought tickets with hopes to get as close to David Beckham as possible.

As you’ll see from my shots, I wasn’t very close to the field. But when I ran into the pair after the first game of the night, I was able to tip them off to the best vantage point to watch Beckham board his team’s bus.

I’ve never seen those two so excited before.

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