HaleAmanO

Island Reggae band HaleAmanO is taking Las Vegas by storm. In just a short time they have established themselves as one of the premiere bands in town. The SIX-man band will soon release their debut CD. It's only a matter of time befor the world finds out about HaleAmano!

HaleAmanO started with only two members back in 2005 as a back yard cover band in Las Vegas. The Island Reggae band always rocked the house making a good impression during performances. With a passion for music, band leader Ryan Fleming (a.k.a. Pochomon) had a greater expectation towards the group, which was to get out and spread the word of Reggae. By increasing the band size to 5 members and writing original material, he had what it took to reach his goal.

In April of 2007 HaleAmanO received their first big break at Vizzun Entertainment's Pure Aloha Spring Festival. They opened for artists Braddah Waltah, Jamin Chief Ragga, Ho'aikane, and Pati. The great exposure gave HaleAmanO the experience needed to perform in front of crowds numbering in the thousands.

Short lived, success ended as HaleAmanO hit a stage of turmoil losing three of its band members. Ryan knew in order to continue efforts towards his goal, he had to keep his head up, stay persistent, and move forward.

It was in September of 2007 when Ryan meet fellow band member Izrael Waahila, an inspired Hawaiian R&B singer that brought a different vibe to the group. Starting from scratch, Ryan, along with Iz, and bass palyer at the time Kiki Johnson performed at small gigs testing the bands new sound and capturing the hearts of their audience.

Receiving great feedback, Ryan knew it was time to transform the bands style and pursue a higher level. They found drummer Robert Rodriguez and new bass player Kino Boi forming the new and improved HaleAmanO. Possessing a mixed style composed of Island Music, Reggae, R&B, Roots and Rock HaleAmanO has found their calling. - ALOHAVALLEY.COM

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

HaleAmanO will release its debut CD, "House of the Sharks," next month and spend part of the summer playing at The Pond inside Green Valley Ranch.

Summer's almost here, and few Vegas acts conjure up sunbaked vibes like reggae hybridists HaleAmanO. Time to soak up some good vibrations.

What does HaleAmanO sound like?

"HaleAmanO fuses reggae, blues, rock and soul together to create a unique sound. Our influences come from all around the world. Sometimes people say we sound like 'roller coaster reggae.' We use two guitars, bass, keyboards, two percussionists and ukulele."

Your founder, Ryan Fleming, was born in Hawaii. How does his background manifest itself in your music?

"Ryan is one of three songwriters featured on our upcoming new album. Israel Wa'ahila, born on the Big Island of Hawaii, is also featured as singer/songwriter on the album. Ryan sings and does 'ragga' both on the album and in our live shows. 'Ragga' is a style of rap that is used mostly in reggae music. Their background is the foundation of the type of reggae that we play, sometimes referred to as 'Jawaiian' or 'Island' reggae. Even our name 'HaleAmanO' comes from Hawaii, meaning 'House of the Sharks.' "

To the uninitiated, how would you characterize Island reggae?

"It's the type of reggae that surrounds you with good vibes. Musically, if you can hear the bubble of the organ and the skank of a ukulele, you're probably listening to Island reggae. If you've ever been to Hawaii or Jamaica, you've probably listened to Island reggae."

You're about to release your debut CD, "House of the Sharks," what can you tell us about it?

"HaleAmanO has been around for two-plus years and this is our first full-length album. 'House of the Sharks' is an eclectic collection of songs that, when you listen, they might make you feel as though you're on an island yourself. If soulful vocals are your thing, check out tracks 'Love Me For Me' or 'Hold Me In Your Arms.' If you like more traditional roots reggae music, listen to 'Sky Down' or 'Jah Souljah.' 'Recession' and 'I n I' are more politically charged tracks, but nothing controversial.

"Tidbits: We recorded here in Las Vegas with Brian Garth who plays in a local band called Black Camaro. We recorded live horns. Our album is going to be released June 5th at The Pond inside Green Valley Ranch. We will be playing there every other Saturday throughout summer."

Check out HaleAmanO at www.haleamano.com. - © Las Vegas Review-Journal

I like seeing people grab their friend and run onto a dance floor — that doesn’t happen when you go to a rock show,” says Chris Parkhurst, keyboardist for Hawaiian-flavored, Las Vegas-based reggae group HaleAmanO, one of numerous acts booked for Saturday’s eight-hour, ninth annual Reggae in the Desert festival.

“You think of Las Vegas as this high-paced nightlife, but there are still people who don’t want to go out and hear 180 beats per minute, like at the clubs. There are people who want to enjoy their time and their friends and their drinks.”

Aiming to wrap the town in soothing aural breezes — while turning up the burner on hot reggae rhythms — this year’s mega-concert at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater also brings to the stage such acts as star duo Sly and Robbie, “mellow canary” Barrington Levy, “Queen of Reggae” Marcia Griffiths, the “freestyling” Mystic Roots out of San Diego, and esteemed Jamaican artist Yellowman.

Adding authentic atmosphere to complement the music, Reggae in the Desert also includes the Caribbean Islands Vendor Village, featuring reggae-style items, exhibits, food and drink.

“I’ve paid particular attention to making sure that entertainerwise, we stay true to the roots and dance hall reggae, rather than go too commercial like the casinos do,” says producer/promoter Frederic Apcar. “Sly and Robbie, those guys are legends. Yellowman, out of all the artists I’ve ever dealt with, this guy is one of the most down-to-earth. As famous as he is popular, he gives it all he has.”

That, say reviewers, is an enormous amount. As one once wrote: “Listening to Yellowman sing is like watching Michael Jordan play basketball. He knows he’s got it, you know he’s got it, and it’s a trip just experiencing him perform.” Widely known as King Yellowman, the musician/songwriter/DJ rose to reggae royalty from a harsh upbringing.

Raised in a Catholic orphanage in Kingston, Yellowman — aka Winston Foster — was shunned as an albino. “We were discriminated (against),” says the performer in a phone call from Jamaica, recalling his affliction that eventually gave him his name, now synonymous with reggae artistry. “I was alone when I was there. I remember some of the time, I sit there myself, crying, you know? I used to be called a lot of names that I couldn’t describe right now.”

Talent propelled him past the prejudice that came with his condition. “That’s what keep me strong,” he says of his passion for the music. “The same people who discriminate (against) me, some of them come to me and they apologize. Some became friends, you know?”

Since then, Yellowman — who also beat cancer of the jaw in 1986 after he was told he had as little as three weeks to six months left to live — has both excited and upset the reggae community with song lyrics considered boastful and sexually explicit.

Enormously influential, his exciting rhythmic inventions were absorbed by America’s hip-hop community. Among his hits is perhaps the longest single-word song title in reggae: “Zungguzungguguzungguzeng.” (Just say, “zoonga-zoonga” several times over, more or less.)

“I love listening to Yellowman,” says Hawaiian-born Ryan Fleming, guitarist/leader of HaleAmanO — which means “House of Sharks” in Hawaiian. HaleAmanO is making its Reggae in the Desert debut, after performing around town at the House of Blues, the Hard Rock Hotel, The Mirage and at the Henderson Events Plaza.

“It’s a big accomplishment to finally get a spot in this festival. When I moved here, you miss all the music from back home, so I thought we’d share it with the people of Las Vegas, because it’s a type of music that’s rarely heard. We’re soul-R&B-roots-rock-and-reggae. A lot of people from rap and rock, they all gathered at our shows and came up to me and said, ‘I don’t really like reggae, but I love your sound.’ ”

That, he says, includes performing raggamuffin, a style of Jamaican rapping, as well as the addition of a ukulele. “Jamaicans, they trip out on the ukulele being played in reggae music, like, ‘Wow, that little thing makes a big noise,’ ” Fleming says. “When Jamaicans came to Hawaii, they called it ‘Ja-waiian’ music.”

Sounds so ... breezy.

A beat to take your mind off the heat. - Las Vegas Review Journal