Saturday (Dec 4), 9pm, Hard Rock Cafe, Lahaina, $42 general admission, 21+ only
You know how in the movie The Matrix, you are “a mental projection of your digital self”? Well if that were really the case, I think I’d look a lot like the Minnie to Mickey Avalon (born Yeshe Perl)—gaunt, ashen and wrought like the crispy end of a chewed wire. So it goes without saying that I would thereby look nothing like Avalon’s touring compadre Andre Nickatina (born Andre Adams, fka Dre Dog), whose build might make you wonder if he moonlights as a heavyweight champion. If you don’t know much about Avalon, this line from his succinct online bio speaks volumes: “He moved to the big city, living in cheap motels, eating dollar hamburgers, working the boulevard with ex-models, thorazine freaks, transvestites, mothers, fathers, drunks, junkies and punk rockers alike.” (Oh, BTW, his birthday is December 3—so, you know, maybe get him a lei or something.) Nickatina’s latest, Khan! The Me Generation, hit stores in April and is the 14th solo album to his credit, following up on works like 1995’s I Hate You With A Passion and 1999’s Tears of a Clown. 667-7400, hardrock.com
Last year, we also made Mickey Avalon’s show one of This Week’s Picks. Here’s what MauiTime‘s Ynez Tongson had to say: (December 10, 2009) – I’m kinda embarrassed to say this, but I’m a huge fan of Mickey Avalon. He reminds me of my last boyfriend: dark, lewd and full of substance abuse and criminal charges. I’m surprised his performance here isn’t getting more press coverage (Avalon, not my ex—but hey, if Avalon is interested in being my next ex-boyfriend, that’s fine with me, too). Avalon’s music focuses heavily on his past on the streets, drug use and prostitution involvement. If you like your music sounding like it just rolled out of bed (make up still smeared on from the night before), after having a cigarette for breakfast, definitely make time for this one.
WHERE TO GET TICKETS: bampproject.com / groovetickets.com / Local Motion Surf Shops / West Side Vibes / Hard Rock Cafe – Lahaina / Request Music – Wailuku
LEARN MORE about the artists from their official websites: mickeyavalon.com / andrenickatina.ning.com
NPR picked Avalon’s song “Jane Fonda” as their Song of the Week (May 9, 2007)
The San Francisco Bay Guardian (from Andre’ Nickatina’s hometown) said Nickatina’s Conversation with a Devil: Cocaine Raps No. 3 “(is) better than gnomes annihilating ogres.” CLICK HERE to read what else they had to say.