Rock into 2004 with the boys in the bands
By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
Mountain Apple Co.
A night with David Gest & Friends (minus his ex) not your cup of cold champagne? Does a midnight sing-along of "Auld Lang Syne" with
Ka'awa reggae band Natural Vibrations headlines New Year's Eve action at The Beach House, Pier 7, next to Aloha Tower Marketplace. A prime-rib buffet, dancing and fireworks add to the evening's excitement as do One Drop, 808 and DJ E Rock.
Kenny Loggins sound about as exciting to you as a double feature of "Caddyshack II" and "Over The Top" on TNT?
Then it's off to the clubs with ya!
With any luck, we can help with our list below of what we feel are the five New Year's Eve nightclub parties with the most potential this year. They're unranked, so choose wisely.
And if all else fails, there's always the rare joy of a night on the couch watching Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie counting down the seconds to 2004 on "America's Party" (Fox, 11:05 p.m.) from Las Vegas. Hope they've been rehearsing counting backward.
Pepper at Pipeline
Ultimate New Year's Eve Bash with Pepper, Pipeline Cafe, 9 p.m.-4 a.m., $20, 589-1999.
The San Diego quartet of transplanted Kailua-Kona boys returns home for New Year's with another live show at one of its favorite Honolulu haunts. It's been a pretty good year for Pepper. Its 2002 sophomore CD "Kona Town" spent much of the year at or near the top of the Tower Records weekly Top 25 CD list, and the alt-punk/pop/reggae band has played to packed houses at a handful of local gigs. Look closely at that red guitar Jamie Lee Curtis is slinging in the "Freaky Friday" movie poster and you'll notice a band sticker slapped on by rumored Pepper fan Lindsay Lohan that ticked off dedicated Pepper-heads. Pipeline will be open to ages 18 and older from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. (for Pepper's live set); and 21 and older only from 1 to 4 a.m. while Mixmaster B spins ($10 cover).
Wear your best black
The Black Ball, Diamond Head Grill, W Honolulu, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., $20, 922-3734.
After flirting with an '80s theme last year, the W Honolulu is back in black for another New Year's Eve, with a request that revelers dress their darkest for this party. It's designed by the cadre of promoters responsible for two of Honolulu's most successful rich-kid weeklies — Friday's "Wonderlounge" and Saturday's "The Goodness," both at Diamond Head Grill — so expect an evening similar to both, taken to the nth degree. Two rooms feature hip-hop and house beats, 21 and older only, and New Year's Eve surprises.
Wave shows the love
Advertiser library photo
Star Ball New Year's Eve, Wave Waikiki, 8 p.m.-4 a.m., $15 advance, $20-$25 door, 941-0424, ext. 12.
Kailua-Kona band Pepper takes on the Pipeline Cafe for its Ultimate New Year's Eve Bash. Expect a full house of dedicated fans.
You'd have to be a complete social misfit not to feel the love at a Wave Waikiki New Year's Eve party. Consistently filled with the friendliest bunch of strangers you're likely to ever toast a new year in with, expect to leave this year's Star Ball with lots of new friends for 2004. Rail performs live; DJs KSM, BTF, Jrama, Sean G and SubZero man the tables. Patrons also receive gratis entry and one free drink for Hair of The Dog, The Wave's official hangover party, New Year's Day at 11 p.m. Lots of celery stalks for bloody marys, too. 21 and older only, both events.
Whizz, bang at Aloha Tower
New Year's Eve Bash with Natural Vibrations,The Beach House, Pier 7, diamondhead of Aloha Tower Marketplace, 5 p.m.-2 a.m., Various packages available; call for prices, 566-0644.
Front-row seats for the annual Aloha Tower Marketplace fireworks display, the best freakin' roots reggae band in the state, and a prime-rib buffet? Hand me a plate and some au jus, mon! The pride of Ka'awa, Natural Vibrations, will headline a night of aerial displays, music, dancing and meat at The Beach House pier. Also guesting live, One Drop, 808 and DJ E Rock. Dinner will be served from 5 to 8 p.m.; entertainment from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. 21 and older. More information on fasting before an all-you-can-eat buffet at www.webmd.com.
Tiki Lounge temptations
Tiki Lounge: A Forbidden Evening of Exotica/Afterhours, Hula's Bar & Lei Stand, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. for Tiki Lounge/2 a.m.-whenever for Afterhours, $15 for Tiki Lounge; $10 for Afterhours, 941-0424, ext. 12.
The sounds of Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman. The call of exotic birds. Multicolored drinks with back scratchers, paper umbrellas and plastic-monkey swizzle sticks. No, not another night of drunken stumbling into those giant glass fishing balls hanging from the La Mariana Sailing Club ceiling. Just some suggestions for the folks putting together this evening of hoped-for imaginative tiki kitsch and forbidden dancing, Hula's style. With Derek Daniels & Friends and The Party Favors designing the decadence, expect a wild ride into 2004. Stick around past 2 a.m. for Afterhours, with two rooms of house, breakbeats and DJs KSM, Racer X, IKON, Vertigo, Sovern T, Spellbinder and more spinning post-sunrise. Really!
Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8005.
Correction: The Don Tiki Dancers will not be appearing at "Tiki Lounge: A Forbidden Evening of Exotica." A previous version of this story was incorrect.
