THE NIGHT STUFF
Navarrete's Filipino funnies meant to enlighten

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Rex Navarrete will rule Pipeline Cafe for three nights beginning tonight. The internationally-touring Filipino-American comic now lives on O'ahu.

Take Navarrete's story of his Uncle "Bhoy," for instance.

"Every Filipino family has at least one uncle whose nickname — as required by law — is 'Bhoy,'" said Navarrete. "Go in any Filipino house and there's always that one loud uncle who forces you to drink beer when you're only 7, teaches you how to fight with a knife and tells you horror stories from Vietnam."

Navarrete chuckles over the mental image.

"He's a scary guy, but very informative. He'll teach you real-life skills where you feel like you've learned something, but you also feel mentally molested. You've been mentally touched in the wrong place.

"That's Bhoy."

And that's Navarrete. Born in the Philippines. Schooled in the San Francisco comedy scene for the past 15 years. And since June, running his Filipino-American comedy empire from his new 'Ewa Beach home.

A glutton for road punishment — he tours nationally much of the year, and has performed in Europe, Asia, Hawai'i and the Philippines — Navarrete returns this weekend for a trio of Pipeline Cafe shows. His often-raunchy humor pokes fun at everything from Filipinos' appeal to Mormons to Filipinos as domestic help to little-known facts from Filipino history.

Navarrete especially enjoys schooling audiences on history and politics while getting them to laugh.

"I think (comedians) are frustrated teachers. We're just too lazy to get the degree," said Navarrete. "(Comedy) is the best way to spread knowledge, facts, information and a little bit of pride. There's a good feeling behind it. I'm not up there just to do insult humor and one-liners. Any comic can do that.

"I'm into this for ... sharing a wealth of information about Filipinos."

Perhaps that's why Navarrete swore up and down that he wasn't after the comedian holy grail of a sitcom ("Why don't I just cancel the show myself?"). Instead, he was looking forward to more immediate first-time tours of Australia, England and the Middle East.

Uh, the Middle East?

"Yeah, we're there," insisted Navarrete. "There's thousands of Filipinos in the Middle East. And they might need some good laughs. Because that Arabic humor is just really not crossing over."

At 7 p.m. today, Saturday and Sunday, Pipeline Café. Tickets are $20 advance, $25 at the door; VIP, $25, $30. Call 926-3000 or 479-6004.

WE — THE '80s

The '80s. A decade so full of largess, Wave Waikiki and Star 101.9 FM are taking a whole weekend to celebrate its day-glo, mousse and Falco freakiness. Headlining tonight and Saturday's Ultimate '80s Weekend at the Wave is Los Angeles-based Greed Decade cover band extraordinaire 80z All Stars. The winners of a 2001 San Diego Music Award for best club act, 80z All Stars offers the good (The Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Pop," Violent Femmes' "Blister In the Sun") along with the truly putrid (Nena's "99 Luftballons," Kenny Loggins' "Footloose").

Show up in '80s garb to qualify for totally gnarly prizes. Byron the Fur and real-life Wave Waikiki '80s DJs KSM and Alex promise to spread the Kajagoogoo out liberally. From 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. today and Saturday. Entry is $10 (advance), $12 (at the door before midnight), $15 (advance for two nights). Full '80s dress gets you in free. Tix at www.groovetickets.com. More information at 941-0424.

METAL FOR THE MASSES

The guys in 8mm Overdose insist that metal is back, "meaner and louder than ever." But let's be honest: Did the magic of listening to a good Megadeth or Anthrax thrasher with friends over wine and cheese ever really go away? Write me with your stories.

The Honolulu-born and bred 8mm will celebrate the release of its fifth CD, "Execution Style," and an upcoming late-fall tour with Slayer with two weekend shows. 8mm's sound is a mix of "old-school hardcore and thrash metal" mixed with "heavy guitar riffs of modern extreme metal." Works for me.

10 p.m. today at Kahuna's, Marine Corps Base Hawai'i, no cover. 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Pink Cadillac, $5 (21 and older), $7 (under 21). More information at www.8mmoverdose.com.

NIGHTSPOTTING

Indigo Eurasian Cuisine's

10th Anniversary bash with Chicago-based house pioneer Jesse Saunders at Get Fresh!, tonight from 10 p.m. Saunders spins at the Buddha Bar, Saturday from 9 p.m. ... New York-style jazz with The Newjass Quartet (featuring OutKast "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" guitarist Zaza), Tuesday at thirtyninehotel, from 10 p.m.; $5, 599-2552. ... San Francisco-based DJ Don Tix at Fresh Sweat at Level 2, Saturday from 10 p.m. ... The Forbidden World of Don Tiki at Kapono's, 7 p.m. Wednesday, $20 (advance), $25 (door), (877) 750-4400.

Reach Derek Paiva at 525-8005 or dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.