BY ELIZABETH KIESZKOWSKI / ekieszkowski@staradvertiser.com
A couple things to hype this week:
On Saturday, Jan. 11, underground shop About The Goods celebrates the opening of a new storefront in McCully, upstairs from the delightful Chiko’s Tavern. It’s a step up for this homegrown retailer that focuses on local brands and local artists, including its own.
About the Goods manager Riana Stellburg, right, with co-owner Robin “DJ Revise” Taclas. (Courtesy photo)
Find these good guys at 930 McCully St., Suite 203. Before the move, About The Goods shared space with cellphone shop Advanced PCS in Aiea. In this new hideaway, you’ll find exclusive items along with hip-hop and indie rock wares, sneakers and skills toys — including kendama.
The shop’s grand opening announcement also promises fresh vinyl from Na Hoku Hanohano Award nominees Kwalified, Audible Lab Rats and The Horror Show, and plans are in the works to feature in-store performances by local and visiting artists and DJs.
The shop has been in business since November 2012. Store manager and publicist Riana Stellburg (a DJ and photographer herself who occasionally writes the Honolulu Star-Advertiser), said owners Robin “DJ Revise” Taclas and Jonathan Evangelista are part of the scene as DJs, promoters, artists, skills toy players and sneakerheads. The shop aims to be an intrinsic part of the underground Hawaii hip-hop/sneaker/skills toys scene by putting on events and supporting local artists.
The Broke Mokes will help About the Goods celebrate their new shop location during a party at NextDoor on Saturday, Jan. 11. (Courtesy photo)
After the shop’s opening, About The Goods will be the guests of honor at the launch of “Hip-Hop Saturdays” at NextDoor in Chinatown, 43 N. Hotel St.
Doors open at 9:30 p.m. for those 18-and-over; the party will be headlined by Honolulu Pulse blogger Kalani Wilhelm’s Hip-Hop Artists of the Year, Broke Mokes, along with west side up-and-comers The Horror Show, who packed Nextdoor for an About The Goods-sponsored show just last month. DJs Technique, Packo and Joncozy will playing music throughout the night as well.
Cover charge is $10 for ages 18 to 20 years old, $5 for 21 and up.
Rapper Pusha T, right, with Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA in 2012. (Courtesy photo)
THIS IS BIG: Pusha T is coming to Hawaii as part of the 2014 Pro Bowl madness. See him Jan. 22 at The Republik in support of his new, Kanye West-produced album, “My Name Is My Name.”
Pusha T has always had charisma to spare, but after a few years when he couldn’t seem to gain traction aside from collaborations, reviewers are madly praising his new work and presence. While he has been part of West’s G.O.O.D. Music crew for a few years, it appears the partnership clicked in 2013, gaining Pusha T more cred in some quarters than Kanye.
The Honolulu show, “Supercrush,” is brought to you by DIGS Hawaii and C&A. Get tickets, $35 and $65, here.
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Elizabeth Kieszkowski is editor of TGIF, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s weekly arts and entertainment section. Reach her via email at ekieszkowski@staradvertiser.com or follow her on Twitter.