Henry Kapono, John Cruz and Brother Noland have more than 100 years of combined musical experience, and together, with a century in the field, they make up the Hawaiian super group, The Rough Riders. ADVERTISING Henry Kapono, John Cruz and
Henry Kapono, John Cruz and Brother Noland have more than 100 years of combined musical experience, and together, with a century in the field, they make up the Hawaiian super group, The Rough Riders.
“People asks me all the time, ‘How do you three alpha guys stay together?’” joked Brother Noland. “And I say, ‘We tread carefully and with aloha.’”
Named after the paniolo cowboys who took the world rodeo championship by storm in 1908, the musical giants — together for about a year — have a long list of honors, including Grammy and Na Hoku Hanohano awards.
Noland laughed but it’s clear his motto for staying together rings true. In separate interviews, each member of The Rough Riders mentioned the challenges of bringing these three independent musical forces together.
“You see people all the time and you say, ‘We should get together and play some music,’” Cruz said. “But it rarely happens. So when the three of us did actually meet up, our voices sounded really unique together. That was what really inspired us to create this band and put the energy in to make it work.”
And work it did.
Having formed a year ago, the band has had a full schedule of shows throughout the Hawaiian Islands and a tour of the mainland West Coast. This summer the group’s performance roster expands to Japan.
“We all have our own personalities, styles and influences,” Cruz said. “And if we can just be patient and allow time to naturally create the sound that is us, to not force it, then bringing it all together is a beautiful thing.”
In addition to carrying their own musical styles to the mix, The Rough Riders play traditional Hawaiian classics and renew them with modern vitality.
“We take songs like ‘Waimanalo Blues,’” Kapono said. “And put in our own little twist that merges our styles and makes an entirely new sound that’s uniquely ours.”
The band members grew up loving many of the songs, Cruz added.
“For us to be on stage, singing these songs together, is really fantastic,” he said.
Along with some traditional songs, the band has a varied list arranged for the Honokaa show.
“We like to come out strong with our first five songs or so,” Noland said. “And really transport people to that place where music is intimate and everyone is in the zone.”
“But we have some surprises planned for the show, too,” Kapono said, who noted some solos and some new songs that are coming out in an upcoming movie being released this summer.
When the band got together they decided that what they all love to do most is perform on stage. So that is where they put their energy.
“Music is a gift from God,” Noland said. “And it’s our kuleana to serve that gift with aloha e komo mai.”
Cruz elaborated: “We were given this gift of understanding music and to manipulate cords and such in a way that it creates a connection, a message of optimism, of hope and redemption. To feel human.”
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; show starts at 7:30. Tickets to the Honokaa People’s Theatre show range in price from $30-$75. For tickets, Gold Circle premium seating and more information visit www.lazarbear.com or call 896-4845.
Ticket can be purchased in person at Kiernan’s Music and Music Exchange in Kona; Waimea General Store in Waimea; Taro Patch Gifts in Honokaa; and Hilo Guitars, CD Wizard and Hilo Music Exchange in Hilo.
Info: www.roughridershawaii.com or www.lazarbear.com
