I think it’s been about a month since Kokua Fest 2008 but looking through these pictures sends me right back there all over again. Pictures are great like that and even though they may be worth a thousand words as they say, they’re even better. They transport me from the dull here and now to rocking times. Great scenes of motion, people, interesting conversation and general fun. For instance, I’m here at home writing this blog after spending 12 hours on the computer planning my wedding and I’m tired and rather delirious. Before I write these blogs I always browse the pictures of the particular event to stir the creative juices and hopefully something good comes out in written form. Letters, phrases, sentences, paragraph all mingle and eventually form like the first cellular organisms you read about in biology class so long ago. All these parts coagulate, and even mutate sometimes (especially when I’m dead-beat tired like right now in my branium and you get the result that hopefully is somewhat interesting and at least a better story than without.

First off, I have to say what an honor it was to be on board for an event like this. It was easy to tell friends later that throughout the twelve years I’ve been with GJG I can honestly say this was the coolest experience ever. Let me tell you, we’ve had our fair share of experiences, but none quite like this. In fact, the first Europe tour was more fantastic as a whole — 39 straight shows in 16 countries — but for the three days of Kokua Fest 2008 you can’t touch it. I wish we played Kokua Fest every month — I’d be so stoked!

The funny story is — and Jack told it one time at a sold-out Pipeline back in 2003 (?) — Jack Johnson opened up for Go Jimmy Go back before he became a superstar. That’s right. We both played a mutual friend’s wedding up in Pupukea back in the summer of 2001 and we played with a Jack Johnson, a bluesy, folksy mellow guitar player. We played after and the best man ended up throwing the groom in the pool. Yeah, it ended up like that but it started with Jack. I remembered the name because it was catchy to me.

Anyway, so here we are at his festival and it’s the most hyped up musical event year after year. The stories were leading up to the festival were the tickets for both nights sold out in 15 minutes and they were going for up to $1,000 on Ebay and Craiglist. Whoa! Whatever the case we were in through the (back)door and were stoked to see Jack again and Dave & Tim for the first time. The other artists on the bill, Paula Fuga and Mason Jennings were class acts too. Matt Costa showed up for a few tunes as well to the delight of all the girls in the crowd. Ryan and I worked out some horn parts for the encore song and what more can I say? Oh yeah, thanks for having us and giving us an experience that we’ll never forget. Jack, Kim, Kokua Foundation — you guys rock!

Videos from MSN.com!!!

Go Jimmy Go Horns on Kokua Festival “3 R’s” Encore

Kokua Fest 2008 Jack Johnson Performance + More

Bison, Mason, Tim, Jack, Dave, Paula, Ryan @ The Press Conference The Day Before

Can’t You See Why We Were So Stoked?

Yeah! Showtime! Holy Crap It’s Hot!

It May Not Be The Silver Screen But This Will Definitely Do!

Did I Mention It Was Friggin’ Hot? Yeah, It Was Hot!

Bison Looms Over Waikiki

Nightfall And The Light That It Brings

Walking Around I Found Free Banana’s and Uncle Calvin’s Nose Flutes. Kelii and Bart Are Obviously Stoked For Me.

Ryan Called Me Out. I Never Back Down From A Nose Flute Battle! Never.

All 8,000 People Love Us….Nah, That Was For Jack

Last Song Of The Festival — How Do You Top That?

That’s A Wrap! Jack, Take Us With You…Horn Section For Hire!

This entry was posted on Monday, May 19th, 2008 at 12:35 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.