SATURDAY
>> Common Kings headlines free concert at Aloha Festivals
Common Kings, the island-favorite reggae band from Southern California, headlines a free concert for the Aloha Festivals on Saturday night — a new addition to the festival lineup.
The Orange County, Calif.-based group started back in the early 2000s at the suggestion of guitarist Taumata Grey, who had played with the other members individually in church, school and other gigs. The group hit its stride about six years ago, when its blend of rock, R&B, pop and reggae began to resonate with audiences.
The Kings’ 2015 album “One Day” reached No. 2 on the Billboard Reggae Charts; 2017 album “Lost in Paradise” hit No. 1 and was nominated for a Grammy.
The group has visited Hawaii regularly; its last appearance in Hawaii last year was to open for Bruno Mars. All four members of the band are of Oceanic ancestry: lead singer Sasualei “JR King” Maliga is Samoan and Hawaiian, Grey is Samoan, bassist Ivan Kirimaua has roots in Fiji and Kiribati and drummer Jerome Taito is Tongan.
“In all our music we’ve injected a ‘feel good’ vibe that seems to convey our natural outlook on life. Even when we expand our musical outreach and begin creating — I guess you could say, non-traditional island music — you will almost always hear some island influences,” Maliga said in 2015.
Also performing will be ukulele phenom Taimane Gardner, falsetto trio Na Hoa, singer/songwriter Jasmin Nicole and island contemporary artist Fia.
Visit alohafestivals.com for a full schedule of Aloha Festivals events, including the 67th annual Waikiki Hoolaulea on Sept. 21 and 73rd annual Floral Parade on Sept. 28.
“IN THE SOUTHERN SUN”
>> Where: Queen’s Surf, Waikiki
>> When: 5-10 p.m. Saturday
>> Cost: Free
>> Info: alohafestivals.com
FRIDAY
>> Chinese yo-yo spectacular drops into Waikiki
Chinese seem to like their entertainment snazzy and razz-matazzy, and the Diabolo Dance Theatre fits that bill perfectly.
The troupe from Taiwan performs “Cirque” routines, with spectacular acrobatics and juggling routines using the diabolo, an hourglass-shaped, yo-yo-like device that can be balanced on a string, tossed from person to person and used in choreoegraphed dance routines.
The group will be performing at the Royal Hawaiian Theater (normally the venue for the “Rock-a-Hula” tribute show in Waikiki) for one show only on Friday. The troupe has been on a tour organized by the Republic of China government on Taiwan.
“This group is very famous,” said Selene Wang, one of the organizers of the show. “They have performed in places like Carnegie Hall and other big theaters, so they are a very good group.”
DIABOLO DANCE THEATRE
>> Where: Royal Hawaiian Theater, 2201 Kalakaua Avenue, Bldg. B, 4th Floor
>> When: 7 p.m. Friday
>> Cost: $25-$50
>> Info: Selene Wang (224-1220), Joseph Hu (225-9409), or Amy Kang (222-0889)
SATURDAY
>> Heavy hitting, politically aware rockers Thrice back on Oahu
Thrice, a politically aware, socially conscious post-hardcore band, brings its reunited efforts to The Republik this weekend.
First formed in 1998 in Irvine, Calif., the band — singer/keyboardist Dustin Kensrue, guitarist Teppei Teranishi, bassist Eddie Breckenridge and drummer Riley Breckenridge — burst on the scene, their aggressive attitude delivered with melodic emotion.
Themed albums like 2001’s “The Illusion of Safety” featured dark songs like ” A Subtle Dagger” and “Betrayal is a Symptom.” Songs for the 2007-2008 albums “The Alchemy Index: Vols. 1 & II” were based on the elements of nature: fire, air, water and earth.
The band went on a planned hiatus in 2011, but regrouped in 2015 and hit the alt-rock festival circuit, coming out with album “To Be Everywhere is to Be Nowhere” in 2016. The album has a decidely political edge, with the single “Black Honey” an allegory for America’s pursuit of oil overseas, “Whistleblower” referring to government secrets leaker Edward Snowden and “Death from Above” about drone attacks.
THRICE
>> Where: The Republik
>> When: 8 p.m. Saturday
>> Cost: $29.50
>> Info: 941-7469, jointherepublik.com
SUNDAY
>> K-pop singer carries a torch for romantics
K-pop star Sung Si Kyung brings romantic ballads and laid-back sound to Hawaii Theatre this Sunday.
Sung first came to attention as a university student in South Korea after winning an online song festival, which gave him the chance to make an ensemble recording with other winners. His song became a hit, and he followed that up with a series of top-selling recordings, starting in 2001 with first solo album “Like the First Time.”
His popularity spread throughout Asia due to the phenomenon known as “Hallyu,” or the “Korean Wave,” that swept the region starting in the 1990s. Soon he was appearing on television soap operas and sitcoms.
Whether translated or not, his tunes aren’t difficult to understand. Love songs dominate, with titles like “You Touched My Heart,” “The First Time” and “You’re My Spring” — the title track of his most recent album — sung with a voice that ranges from a whispery tenor to a throaty alto to falsetto.
His visit to Hawaii is the last stop of his debut U.S. tour, which has taken him to Chicago, New York, Washington, Los Angeles and Seattle.
“THE SONG”
Featuring Sung Si Kyung
>> Where: Hawaii Theatre
>> When: 7 p.m. Sunday
>> Cost: $79-$169
>> Info: 528-0506, hawaiitheatre.com
