On Saturday, January 21, critically-acclaimed act The Airborne Toxic Event visited HPR's Atherton Performing Arts Studio. All Things Considered/Afternoon Host Dave Lawrence welcomed an invite-only audience for a performance and interview session.



In this post, you can hear the complete session and see videos of all the music performed.  The  interview segments can be downloaded for your ipod or mp3 player, and each of the songs is also available as a downloadable mp3.

Find out more about the band at their website, theairbornetoxicevent.com.  

SOJA are returning to the islands for four shows on as many islands. The popular reggae act, from the Washington, DC area, are also about to release their newest album, Strength to Survive. Front man Jacob Hemphill called HPR’s Dave Lawrence to talk about the album, their live dates here, and all things reggae.

SOJA play Saturday night in Honolulu with The Green and Anuhea, then move to Kaua`i Sunday with Anuhea at Kilohana Plantation; they hit the Big Island at King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel January 27 and Maui at the MACC January 28, both shows with The Green and Anuhea.

Their official site is sojamusic.com and some of their music is featured below, including a video trailer of their Live in Hawai`i DVD.

This weekend music legend Elton John returns to the islands, for what is now three consecutive Januarys. Along for the ride with the rocket man are his band, featuring longtime guitarist Davey Johnstone and drummer Nigel Olsson. They took time to speak with HPR’s Dave Lawrence before the trip, including memories about the band’s first visit to Hawai`i forty years ago.

Elton John and his band perform at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu this Friday and Saturday night. Get more information on their website, eltonjohn.com. Check out some choice recent live performance videos below.

The Airborne Toxic Event is headed to Hawai`i… The California group is known for orchestral arrangements and instruments unconventional for rock, including a viola. Their biggest hit so far is the 2009 cross-format smash Sometime Around Midnight. HPR’s Dave Lawrence spoke to band-leader Mikel Jollett, who along with his band mates, has visited Hawai`i several times prior to this debut appearance with the group.

The band perform on Maui January 20th at the MACC, and January 21st at the Hawai`i Theatre in Honolulu. Get more info at their website, http://theairbornetoxicevent.com. Here are some videos from the band:

On the local music scene, there’s a Hawai`i rock band beginning to catch fire, and they’re a bit unusual. HPR’s Dave Lawrence spent time with them, and shares their story.

Take a look at EMKE live in action:

Also get more info on the band and see more live videos at the EMKE homepage, as well as on their Facebook page, their official Youtube page, and elsewhere onYoutube.

Island-based musician and surfer Donavon Frankenreiter is back on O`ahu tonight for the opening of the North Shore Surf Film Festival. The friend of Jack Johnson, and former O`ahu North Shore resident, called HPR’s Dave Lawrence to talk about the event, and his life on The Garden Isle.

Donavon Frankenreiter performs tonight at Turtle Bay Resort as part of the North Shore Surf Film Festival. At their website you can find out about some of the benefactors of the fundraising aspect of the event, plus get a listing of films being shown over the weekend, and find out more details. Other artists scheduled to perform include John Cruz and the group Band of Frequencies.

The first telescope was placed on Mauna Kea in 1968. That was a 24-inch instrument. Today, the telescope at Gemini North is 13-times that size. Gemini is one of a dozen observatories now in operation on the mountain. And that’s where HPR’s Dave Lawrence winds up our series on the telescopes of Mauna Kea.

Shawn Laatch of our HPR Stargazer segment is from the Imiloa Astronomy Center, which can be found online at http://www.imiloahawaii.org/; Gemini's website is http://www.gemini.edu/; the JCMT is at http://www.jach.hawaii.edu/JCMT/; NASA's IRTF is http://irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/.

Above our photos from Gemini and interview with their Public Information Officer Peter Michaud. Below is a video I shot during our sunset visit to Gemini:

REO Speedwagon has a history in the islands dating back over thirty years. In an area where melodic, softer sounds heavy on vocals are exceptionally popular, it’s no wonder they still have a strong fan-base in Hawaii. Longtime lead vocalist Kevin Cronin spoke to HPR’s Dave Lawrence, and recalled island memories going back to the late 70's ahead of three island dates.

REO Speedwagon performs Friday 11/25 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall, Saturday 11/26 at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, and Sunday 11/27 at the MACC in Kahului. Find out more about the band at speedwagon.com, their website.

Watch the interview in 1080p HD:

Between full-time and part-time residents from the arts and culture world, Maui has a pretty impressive contingent of well-known artists and musicians that have adopted The Valley Isle as home; one of those folks is Sammy Hagar. HPR’s Dave Lawrence spoke to the one-time singer of Van Halen who opened a beach-themed restaurant at the Kahului Airport recently, and now is taking Maui to the world with a new island export: his Sammy's Beach Bar Rum.

You can learn more about Sammy Hagar and all his various projects at his official website redrocker.com. Above is the new video from Sammy's latest project, Chickenfoot, and their "Chickenfoot III" album called "Three & A Half Letters (I Need A Job)." Below is the interview we recorded at the Hard Rock Cafe when he was in town to discuss the Sammy's Beach Bar Rum project.