Jason Tom dot com Blog

Jason Tom Update

Posted November 19, 2008

Lately I visited several home recording studios working with local underground artists and producers, co-produced this past Friday's MELE showcase with the MELE club, and more. At the showcase I was featured in three acts, and co-produced an additional act. Craig Garcia emceed the event with Will on the sound and lights. Also featured were DJ G, The Freaki Tiki Experience (Will & Alastar), Clarence, Kelsey & Jowyn, Harold Villiarimo, PhoeBus, Faioso, Kalei Gamiao, Gino, Eric Lagrimas, Tak Tsui, John Tussey, R£AL, and more. A talented bunch. Behind-the-scenes I worked with the MELE promotion for the Ukulele Guild Exhibition and Conference at McKinley High School scheduled for November 21st to 23rd (click for online flyer). Mahalo MELE!

Honolulu Community College MELE - Music and Entertainment Learning Experience

On another note I'm also reading God's word on a daily basis to build a growing relationship with Jesus Christ in my life. 'Til next time I blog, hope life is treating you well, and don't forget to give your neighbors a shout out!

1 comment
Posted in General
Tagged as mele, jesus christ, god, music and entertainment learning experience, hcÇ, honolulu community college, and ukulele guild of hawaiʻi

Makana and Jason Tom: amazing turnout!

Posted September 14, 2008

Jason Tom and Makana - Art After Dark at the Honolulu Academy of ArtsThis past Art After Dark "Hawai`i Ink" event on August 29th, 2008 at the Honolulu Academy of Arts featured Hawaiian slack key guitar master Makana. This event had an amazing turnout, especially those who came to see Makana, and I rock it out. People stood, and even sat on beach mats layering the wet grass from earlier poured rain just to experience the evening with us on that Central Court stage. Just from that alone I knew it was going to be an awesome night. MELE were also on hand to document my live moment with Makana as part of a reality series project starring students from the program.

Supporters called out to me as I stood near the stage ready to perform. That inspired me early on to bring excitement on stage. I watched Makana at work with Lopaka Colon on percussion, and Lono Kaumehe`iwa on bass guitar. I could feel the energy of the live Hawaiian music, and slack rock in my gut. Then I somehow imagined myself to be a young Michael Jackson near the wings watching with excitement of Jackie Wilson performing live. That night also featured a stellar line up of Manu, The Resophonics, Kealoha, Indai, Halau Mohala `Ilima, and DJ Hi-Lo.

RumFire Waikiki with Makana: our live rehearsal

Human drum machine Jason Tom and Hawaiian slack key master Makana at RumFire Waikiki.

In preperation for Art After Dark I performed with Makana, Lopaka, and Lono at RumFire in the SherJason Tom outside of RumFire Waikiki.aton Waikiki Hotel two weeks in a row, and that generated a small buzz there. It was from that great atmospheric venue that we gave birth to our live "backyard jam" sessions for our numbers together. On the second week, I invited Kalau, and the four Australian visitors that I met on The Bus. They could not catch us for Art After Dark, but RumFire Waikiki became an awesome alternative for them to catch us live. It was magic!

Honolulu Academy of Arts with Makana: our live set
Art After Dark at the Honolulu Academy of Arts - Jason Tom and Makana!After performing my set with Makana for Art After Dark, a majority of my supporters swarmed me with love off stage. My former math instructor Mark (who was in a music band at one point) said, "it was %@*$ing awesome!" He loved how I faded out in parts, and how I came back hard that generated a dynamic flare to the overall performance. Mario said that he sees an "up and coming" in me as an entertainer. Amy loved the fusion that took place. Lani saw her favorite performers live on stage together. Ellice Island's camera attempted to capture the set with Makana and I, but the energy of our live performance literally zapped the life out of the battery. Oh yeah, and to top it off it was also Michael Jackson's 50th birthday!

I'd love to thank all my supporters for their love, and support!

1 comment
Posted in Beatbox Event
Tagged as jason tom, makana, honolulu academy of arts, art after dark, kealoha, rumfire waikiki, sheraton waikiki hotel, michael jackson, hawaii ink, manu, resophonics, indai, halau mohala 'ilima, dj hi-lo, lono kaumehe`iwa, and lopaka colon

Art After Dark at the Honolulu Academy of Arts: Makana and Jason Tom unite!!

Posted August 21, 2008

To be honest I'm tired of writing about this upcoming Art After Dark August 29th event at the Honolulu Academy of Arts from 6:00PM to 9:00PM, because I know it's naturally going to be packed (somewhere over in the thousands) due to its popularity. It's free to academy members (I'm not a member), $10 to non-members (refunded if you join that night). So getting the word out is not a necessity, but it'd be fun to see the Honolulu Academy of Arts overwhelmed by visitors to the max. The main goal of me getting the word out is to encourage all of my friends and supporters who has or has never seen me live before to come. Yes I will perform, but there's more!

What I'm not tired of writing about is what's going down. I'm not too sure what the "Hawaii Ink" theme is all about for Art After Dark, but I'm most stoked about how slack key master Makana is featured. Makana asked me to perform with him, his band, and for the show on several numbers for this event. Makana saw my most recent First Thursdays HawaiiSlam live performance at the Hawaiian Hut with Hawaiian Ryan, and DJ Azia (tours with Tempo Valley).

It was an on-the-spot performance that I kicked things off solo that rocked the crowd, then had Hawaiian Ryan jump on stage to join me, and then ended it with just DJ Azia at the end. We literally killed, and ripped it. My friend who recently came back to Hawai`i from New York for a short stay said that it was the best beatbox performance he had ever seen live since it had such a strong community feel to our HOT performance. That performance had a 9.0 as its lowest as well as its most consistent score, and I saved stuff for a complete solo that would've potentially tore the hut up to no return. Fellow beatboxer Evan couldn't show up due to other reasons. I didn't get to do my complete solo that night, but just jamming with Hawaiian Ryan that night took the cake. It just means I can save more for later.

I was inspired early on in my beatbox career in late 2004 by how Hawaiian Ryan, Kealoha, and more would literally tear the house entirely down when First Thursdays HawaiiSlam was originally at Studio1 (now closed down) in Chinatown. Back then I was blown away by live poetry slam performances at a level I never knew existed before. I often feel that First Thursdays HawaiiSlam hasn't been the same since it moved to the bigger venue Hawaiian Hut with its different atmosphere (a given), but there are still the high moments I look forward to that often has me coming back month after month. Studio1 definitely had an artistic and close community atmosphere that immediately drew onto me.

Opps I went off on a tangent. Anyway, Makana, and I rehearsed together yesterday for next Friday's Art After Dark event. All I gotta say is, I've never met an artist that I've worked with in the past that even come close to Makana's level of professionalism, and mastery of a craft. I'm convinced that Makana is a true visionary. It's bananas to think what he has planned for this event, but I don't want to spoil it. I don't even have to say that to hype anything. I just hope to see you there!

1 comment
Posted in Beatbox Event
Tagged as makana, slack key, jason tom, human beatbox, honolulu academy of arts, art after dark, hawaiislam, kealoha, hawaiian ryan, tempo valley, dj azia, studio1, and chinatown

I wish I could at two places at the same time, don't you????

Posted August 5, 2008

Mark your calendars, this Wednesday, August 27th I will MC and perform at the MELE outdoor "Back to School" concert from 11:00AM to 1:00PM at Honolulu Community College. Also featured will be local ska punk reggae rock band Pimpbot, and more. Admission is free, and all ages welcomed!

Edit
I did not MC nor did I perform with Pimpbot at the MELE outdoor concert. Instead I got replaced on short notice by Island Rhythm 98.5 radio's MC Mental Mele, and performed a short number with Pimpbot's replacement LoveChile. This is stuff I have to put up with early in my career. Do I like it? Of course not, but I have future events that highlight my talents.

Also, I've recently been offered through e-mail to perform three five-minute routines on the same date between 11:30AM to 12:30PM at another location for a promotional event, but can't do it since it falls within the same time frame. I'll be able to do the HCC event though.

It is moments like this that I wish I could be at two places at the same time. I really do. This isn't the first time I've felt this way either. If only I could teleport or travel through time.

Anyway, on another note First Thursdays HawaiiSlam at the Hawaiian Hut (ground floor of Ala Moana Hotel; near Rumours) is this Thursday, August 7th, and show starts at 8:30PM. Cover charge is $3 before 8:30PM, $5 after. All ages welcomed! It is the final "No Rules" slam for the summer. I was considering on not performing at all due to a non-life threatening circumstance, and I'm reconsidering. I'm feeling a "fire" and an urge to perform. It's that "I want it BAD" feeling. Where does it come from? I have no idea. I'm still thinking on it though if I should sign up to perform, but most likely I'll do it. We'll still have to see though. If I know you're coming then I'm guaranteed signing up to perform for sure. So let me know whether you're coming or ditching me.

More events on the way! Stay tuned!

3 comments
Posted in Beatbox Event
Tagged as first thursdays, mele, hawaiislam, poetry slam, hawaiian hut, and honolulu community college

Anyone caught or plan to see Mongol?

Posted July 27, 2008

Now while people have been buzzing about the Dark Knight, Wall-E, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Hancock, Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Kung Fu Panda, Wanted, Hellboy II: the Golden Army, and all those other blockbuster goodies coming out. There is one Art House release that I'm most anticipating to see over any other movie coming out right now, and that is Mongol. The movie poster simply state, "The Untold Story of Genghis Khan." Since Mongol is an Art House independant film, it's only playing in select areas. So be sure to check whether or not it will be or is showing in yours. On O`ahu, it's now playing at Kahala 8 Cinema.

Anyway check this out:

the untold story of Genghis Khan.Mongol

Rating: R for sequences of bloody warfare

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 120 Minutes

Official Site: Visit Site

Distributor: Picturehouse

Writer: Arif Aliyev

Stars:

Review:
"Mongol" delves into the dramatic and harrowing early years of Genghis Khan, who was born as Temudgin in 1162. As it follows Temudgin from his perilous childhood to the battle that sealed his destiny, the film paints a multidimensional portrait of the future conqueror, revealing him not as the evil brute of hoary stereotype, but as an inspiring, fearless and visionary leader. "Mongol" shows us the making of an extraordinary man, and the foundation on which so much of his greatness rested: his relationship with his wife, Borte, his lifelong love and most trusted advisor.

Dates and times are subject to change. Please check with your local theater. Bargain showtimes are indicated in parentheses.

Showtimes

Kahala 8 Cinema

DATE TIMES
07/26/2008 (1:20 PM), 4:15, 7:10, 9:50 PM
07/27/2008 (1:20 PM), 4:15, 7:10, 9:50 PM
07/28/2008 (1:20 PM), 4:15, 7:10, 9:50 PM
07/29/2008 (1:20 PM), 4:15, 7:10, 9:50 PM
07/30/2008 (1:20 PM), 4:15, 7:10, 9:50 PM
07/31/2008 (1:20 PM), 4:15, 7:10, 9:50 PM

Anyone so far caught, are interested, or plan on seeing Mongol?

 

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Posted in General
Tagged as mongol and kahala 8 cinema

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