Posted on: Friday, July 16, 2004
DJ Rebel Girl buries Underground for live music
By Noelle Chun
Advertiser Staff Writer
The old people were dancing.
Just hours earlier, the couple in their 60s, was eating dinner quietly in Chuck's Cellar, and now — with the Waikiki restaurant transformed into Rebel Girl Underground — they were laying down their moves to hip-hop, rocking out in front of the left speaker.
Kim Kinard Rebel Girl Underground isn't your usual party with sensuality, skimpily dressed women and lots of alcohol. The women are there, but for another reason: Women grab the spotlight in evenings filled with DJs, live painting, live sax, freestyle vocals, dance performers and more.
With about 150 coed party-goers filling the venue to capacity every month, the community has embraced Rebel Girl Underground, but the party will open its doors for the last time this Saturday. Three of the party's four core planners are redirecting their talents into a new band, X-Factor; Saturday's event also will serve as X-Factor's introduction.
For a year and a half, Rebel Girl Underground has promoted women artists in Hawai'i, cultivating a diverse community that demands respect for both women and their art. "Whether you're fat, skinny, good-looking, or ugly, we want everyone to feel included," Nunes said. The important thing is that "the artist is being noted for her dancing, not her look, not the package, not the bling."
But now Nunes is looking to try something new with X-Factor, which throws down a diverse set of beats, including blues, hip-hop, rocking soul and rock 'n' roll.
The band always will be pro-women, especially with Nunes as one of the singers and songwriters, but it will not take the issue on as its primary force — after all, three of the musicians are guys.
"There's definitely an emphasis on female issues, to a certain extent," said Andrea Primm (aka DJ Primmitiv), X-Factor's drummer, "but it's more living in harmony with one another." Other band members include Selah Geissler (vocals), Jess Sazvio (guitar) and Bryan Vanderbeek and Corey Vennen (bass).
Although the end of Rebel Girl Underground will afford Nunes more "mental space" and energy for songwriting, she's sad to see it go. "I'm bummed. Half the people at Rebel Girl are friends with each other. It's a good 75 percent hugs."
For the void that X-Factor doesn't fill, Nunes says there'll probably be another party within the next two months, this time on a larger scale with both men and women artists.
Still, Rebel Girl Underground has set a positive precedent for the new direction. It just goes to show that when you do anything to support the artist, you can be successful, Nunes said. "That's why I want to say thank you to all the supporters. ... The DJ thing just kinda blew up. My prediction is that live music is where it's at next."
"It was beautiful," recalled Kasi Nunes (aka DJ Rebel Girl), the founder and main thrust behind the monthly parties.
Kasi Nunes, front, (aka DJ Rebel Girl) is ending the monthly Rebel Girl Underground parties at Chuck's Cellar in Waikiki and concentrating on a new band, X-Factor.
Nunes believes we live in a patriarchal society in which women need to step up and claim their rights. Nunes does her part through art. "If women are going to put their money where their mouth is, women need to support other female artists."
The Final Rebel Girl Underground
