Funk band ‘Little Hercules’ lands on Kaua‘i to record ‘Hawaii Live-O’

Kevin Rogers of “Swamp Daddy” and Mardi Gras Entertainment is doing it again — bringing world-class live music to our beautiful island in the sun. The Colorado funk-rock band “Little Hercules” will be playing five shows tonight through Wednesday. “This is a ‘recording vacation’ for them,” said Rogers, “They know the island well from previous visits and decided it would be a great place to record their next album.”

The band will be recording at least three of their Kaua‘i shows for the upcoming album entitled “Hawaii Live-O.” They will also be shooting a DVD video of the performances that will include shots of the crowd. “If you ever wanted to be on a live album or DVD, this is your chance,” Rogers said.

Friends with the owner of Waipouli Beach Club, Little Hercules first approached the new resort about shooting/recording at their pool for a ‘Beach Party’ show. They soon found out that Mardi Gras Entertainment and Rogers was the guy-to-go-to for booking additional venues. “They approached me because we share some connections through the New Orleans funk diaspora, so I booked a few more gigs for the band where I think they’ll get a great crowd and some good recording opportunities,” Rogers said.

Little Hercules formed in the small Rocky Mountains town of Minturn, Colo., in 1998. “This is high altitude funk that people love to dance to, rock to,” said Rogers.

The group, made up of Jeff Armistead on keyboards, Christian Bass on bass, Scott Kabel on guitar, and Brian Loftus on drums, all lend their voices to most songs, with Kabel leading the harmonization of original lyrics and dark funk sound.

Little Hercules has shared the stage with funk notables such “The Meters,” “Papa Grows Funk,” Bo Diddley, “The Radiators” and “Spearhead.” The band has toured throughout the U.S. and played at celebrated venues such as Tribeca Rock Club in New York, The Triple Door in Seattle, The Boom Boom Room in San Francisco and the beloved Fox Theater in Boulder, Colo.

“Hawaii Live-O” will be the band’s sixth album, and its second live album. Its latest release “Fascination” is packed with mountain rocky-funk, blending the shadowy side of true rock and floor-scrubbing buttery funk so adeptly that neither is overpowered. Their vocals range from soul-screaming anthems to organized harmony. Alex Rauls of Offbeat Magazine described Little Hercules’ sound as “soulful black pop in the post-Parliament mode … the groove is wide and comfortable.”

Rogers, a musician, promoter and popular DJ on KKCR’s “Mardi Gras Soul Review” every Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., is looking forward to hosting the band while they are on-island. The spring fund-raising drive for Kaua‘i’s community radio station ends Wednesday and in appreciation to the community, KKCR throws a “Mahalo Party” for all new members, old members, and Kaua‘i at large.

This year the Mahalo Party on Saturday at The Church of the Pacific will welcome Little Hercules to the stage at around 5 p.m.

“I’m really happy that we were able to contribute to the Mahalo Party with such a fantastic band,” Rogers said, “It makes me really proud to be able to give back to KKCR’s listeners by bringing Little Hercules to the stage.”

The Mahalo Party is a chance to meet many of the DJs and staff at the station who volunteer to make Kaua‘i’s community more connected through music and informative talk-radio.

Local DJ Raz will open for the band at Robb’s Good Time Grill tonight and at Sunday’s Waipouli Pool Party at 3 p.m. After the five shows on Kaua‘i, the band will head to Maui for a few more shows.

Other “surprise guests” will most likely jump on stage and jam with the greasy grooves of Little Hercules. “I can’t say who, but believe me, there will be some fun and unexpected moments,” promised Rogers.

“Come and support live music on our island,” Rogers said.

These shows are an opportunity for Kaua‘i to reveal the love for music and give aloha to visiting artists who have come to share their unique sound.