FRIDAY
‘Tater Salad’ White brings spirited comedy for adults
Drinking and comedy have gone together for a long time, as comedians ranging from W.C. Fields to Foster Brooks have found.
Now comes comedian Ron “Tater Salad” White, pictured, who’s known for having a bottle of scotch with him onstage, along with plenty of drinking stories to go around. As a teenager in Texas, he created the nickname “Tater Salad” for himself while under arrest for public drunkenness. The nickname resurfaced during another arrest 17 years later, when a New York police officer mentioned it, so White decided to keep it.
White toured alongside Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy during the Blue Collar Comedy Tour in the early 2000s. That led to roles in feature films (“Sex and the City 2” and “Horrible Bosses”) and two Grammy-nominated CDs.
Probably the title of his autobiography, New York Times best-seller “I Had the Right to Remain Silent but I Didn’t Have the Ability,” best describes his routine, with profane, smart-aleck remarks littered throughout his observational comedy.
Where: Blaisdell Concert Hall
When: 8 p.m. today
Cost: $35-$65, $144-$265 VIP
Info: ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000. For mature audiences.
Also: White also performs at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center; $45-$265, MauiArts.org or 242-7469
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
Carnival helps clubs and teams at Kapolei High
This year’s carnival season comes to a close this weekend with the Kapolei Carnival, a benefit for clubs, academic and athletic teams at Kapolei High School.
Amusement company E.K. Fernandez provides your favorite rides and amusements, from the stomach-churning Zipper to the huge Century Wheel. Let the Fire Ball throw you for a loop, or go for a swing on Pharaoh’s Fury. Get the most bang for your buck after 6 p.m. Sunday, when all rides will be 30 credits.
If you didn’t get a Fun Pass at the 50th State Fair or at any of the other carnivals this year, now’s the chance to pick one up at a discount. From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, they’ll cost $40 for 500 credits, a 20 percent discount. The card, which is valid at future E.K. Fernandez events, can be used on rides, games, novelties and food, but save up some money to buy scrip from Kapolei High School groups, which will have their own food and logo items on sale.
For entertainment, check out Shyne, a duo featuring Jasmin Idica and Jasmine Sniffen-Carsona, performing at 7 p.m. Saturday. Idica, a Kapolei High graduate, performed with Don Ho at age 9 and has sung with several local bands. Other entertainment includes a show at 7 p.m. today by young Brown Bags to Stardom artists, followed by an 8:30 p.m. concert by island contemporary artist Mahkess.
Where: Kapolei High School. 91-5007 Kapolei Parkway
When: 5:30-11 p.m. today, noon-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday
Cost: Admission free; parking available on campus for $3
Info: ekfernandez.com
THURSDAY
A band with strong isle ties brings its Call to Action to Hawaii
Nahko and Medicine for the People, the socially conscious band with strong ties to Hawaii, returns for a tour of Hawaii over the next few weeks.
Led by Nahko Bear, a former Big Island resident now living in Southern California, the band produces a blend of roots, folk and indie rock while providing commentary on current events. Though his tour begins after the presidential election, it’s difficult imagining that Nahko won’t have something interesting to say about the current social and political situation. The tour is named A Call to Action.
The group’s latest album, “Hoka,” released in June, contains tunes like “Love Letters to God,” which is kind of a stream-of-consciousness list of yearnings and desires, and “Make a Change,” which describes what a person facing death would trade for life. The group also recently released a single, “Dear Brother,” which was made in reaction to the recent killings of black people by police. Its first album, 2013’s “Dark as Night,” debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Heatseekers album chart.
The group starts its tour Thursday at Turtle Bay Resort, visits the Church of the Pacific Outdoor Amphitheater in Princeville, Kauai, on Nov. 11, Hawaii island’s Kohala ’Aina Festival in Kapaau on Nov. 12 and the Palace Theater in Hilo on Nov. 13. Nahko goes on to perform Nov. 19 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, then returns to Oahu to play The Republik on Nov. 19. Visit nahko.com for tour and ticket details.
Where: Surfer, the Bar
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Cost: $40
Info: surferthebar.com or 293-6000
Marching band festival features high schools, UH
Aloha Stadium will be rocking to the patter of thousands of feet — not to mention the bass drum — as 17 high school bands and the University of Hawaii marching band strut their stuff and blow their horns at the 37th Annual Meadow Gold Rainbow Invitational Marching Band Festival, the largest event of its kind in the state.
School spirit from all over Oahu will be on display as bands from Aiea, Campbell, Castle, Farrington, ’Iolani, Kaiser, Kalani, Kamehameha, Kapolei, Leilehua, Mililani, Moanalua, Pearl City, Punahou, Radford, Roosevelt and Waipahu high schools put their best foot forward on the hallowed stadium turf. The bands will range from smaller groups with about 40 members to Moanalua High’s, the largest at about 200 members. The UH band, pictured, will close out the evening.
The bands will perform their halftime routines and their marching band show. Many high schools will perform routines they developed for formal competitions, complete with drum lines and color guard, said Gwen Nakamura, assistant band director for the UH Band.
“It’s just awesome,” Nakamura said. “It’s great for the high schools to all come and participate in this.”
Where: Aloha Stadium
When: 5:30 p.m. Thursday
Cost: $6-$10, available at schools and Aloha Stadium box office
Info: 221-8575
