KALAI: Rebel Hands

Kalai

Rebel Hands

© 2004 Treble V Music

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

A 15-track display of hardcore acoustic blues/jazz, phenom writing and more vocal soul than you've ever heard.

notes

1979 to 1998
(Kaniela Ka lei ali'i O'kalani Kala'i December 18, 1979)

Kalai was born in Hawaii and raised in the A.K. Son of a Ke ho alu cowboy and mothered by a good woman with heavy burdens. Ten years of life, most of them spent as an Alaskan, yielded him a wisdom of wilderness and a man's knowledge of hard times. He later left high school tooling a guitar at sixteen and building a recordable repertoir by age seventeen. The latter half of his adolescence becoming then devoted to the ironic expression of that which was passing him by.

1998 to 2000

Several explorative tangents dictated Kalai's pace of life for the next few years although music remained a surviving therapy for him. At eighteen he relocated south with the intention of attaining a college degree in entomology. He completed one year of school working as a commercial fly tyer for international fly-fishing outfitters such as L.L. Bean and Cabela's. He also wrote story-based and "How to" articles for several outdoor life publications such as Rod & Reel and Fly Fisherman.

2000 to 2002

Discovering that the exploitation of his wooded childhood nostalgia brought him no closer to returning to it, Kalai made a conscious decision to pave a career path in music. At twenty-one aided by friend, Sam Cardon, he began production on his professional debut "Acoustacism" on the Treble V Music label (Innovators, Digability, Soulmate, Innovators II). Acoustacism featured drummer Rick Sinese who would later become a regular member of Kalai's band. Then at twenty-two Kalai returned home to Anchorage, Alaska to construct an in-house studio where he would produce his second album "Six Strings And The Rainy Day Man", an album on which he would perform all of the instrumentation as well as engineering, mixing, and cover-art.

2002 to 2003

Since Kalai's first two albums were recorded almost back to back he was unable to perform extensively until his second album was released. He then began to establish his live shows, sometimes playing acoustic but also joining forces with premiere bassist Eric Wallengren (Karizma, Louise Goffin, Poor Arnold). The two performed dozens of vocal/guitar/bass shows together. The duo was then joined by veteran drummer Rick "Sneez" Sinese (Sam Cardon, The Given, Dixie Chicks) adding a third dimension and a sense of foundation for larger shows. While still performing a twenty-three yr. old Kalai began work on his third record "Rebel Hands".

2003 to 2004

His third Treble V Music release, Rebel Hands, was an undertaking from writing to printing. It became an eight-month, fifteen piece process that used music to bury bad memories and mourn family tragedies. The cover sports a tailored work from accomplished Painter, Graff Artist and Illustrator Ben McPherson. The material explores Kalai's most intentional lyrics, original compositions, and savvy productions yet.

reviews

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  • Rebel Hands
    author: Stephanie the Ace

    Kalai hasn't disappointed me yet. Now I own all 4 of his CD's and I love them all. This one has the most interesting music and is very emotional. I love the dark sounds, the whaling and screaming cries he creates. He is phenomenal! One of the most talented singer/songwriters I've ever heard.

  • Just Listen
    author: Sierra

    Rebel Hands is very peaceful. What would have made it better was if it had the song, "I Like to Kill Small Animals," which I've heard live (don't worry, it's really funny...) I liked it, the CD is very expressionistic and you can tell that Kalai loves his work.

  • Great original singer songer writer, with excellent musical abilities!
    author: alan

    This cd is the 3rd from Kalai,(as far as I know). The music is very unique, mixing blues with some chromatic Django Reinhardt Gypsy Jazz licks. It is a great cd, that gets better the more you listen to it. I feel the sound is somewhat comparable to a more upbeat ben harper album. But Kalai demonstrates a higher level of musicianship. Also this album was mixed by the music genius Sam Cardon. It is mixed better than the first two albums, in fact it is probably the best mixed cd I have ever heard from any singer songwriter. (my preferred listening genre)

  • still biting my fist
    author: ben

    This CD is sick, unfortunately it doesn't have the 12 minute version of Fish Hook (song 10) that I just heard live in Hawaii... absolutely jaw dropping! I was near tears. Kalai is an ax master! I am surprised this CD isn't a capitol record.

  • Very strong, very good!
    author: ethan

    This album, contrasting his "six strings's" one which i bought first, is very different--darker, more raw, it seems. However, it takes me to an incredible place while listening--genuine, authentic, and pure. Incredible acoustics and rythyms.

  • A real find!
    author: bowmeister

    Just discovered Kalai while sampling tunes on CD Baby. Have only listened to the CD once so far, but REALLY liked it, which means it will probably become one of those CDs I come back to again and again. Great vocals, great playing, great songs!

  • "I can dig it"
    author: tadj

    I agree that the 1st two were better but I'm not as familiar with Rebel Hands yet. Definitely good tunes and worth the buy!

  • hold me closer to the crown
    author: bjonmon

    kalai is an exceptional and ,as yet, undiscovered talent. plays the strings like a madman and a voice that calms this soul. buy it now!!!!! truly inspired, the man is in it for the right reasons.

  • at a kid!
    author: tyler ``t-money`` beardall

    this cd is something you can listen to when you need to unwind and just chill. deep lyrics with meaning are hard to find now a days.

  • Very Good
    author: Mike Hammer

    Good Stuff, shouldn't miss out on this stuff.

  • MOST UNDERATED ARTIST
    author: Tyler

    I think Kalai is awesome. Better than Jack Johnson, and all of those other artists. He is so underated!

  • Satisfies my Soul!
    author: Ben

    This is the way accoustic jazz and blues are meant to be played! It satisfies my soul and the lyrics and OH... the composition, Kalai never ceases to please me!

  • AWESOME
    author: cda

    the songs were great. i fell in love with six strings and the rainy day men and this one is just as good.

  • soul expressiveness...unprecidented!
    author: Jayme McKillop

    This cd i believe really encompasses kalai's deep rooted dark side...which i believe strips his musical soul naked for all to see...extremely impressive...i love the percussion and deep gutteral chanting!!!

  • Don't miss out!
    author: Tol

    Do yourself a favor and buy Rebel Hands!

  • love the cd kalai is one of my all time fav. artists. album is beautiful
    author: aubree

    cd is awesome. very instramental, and the style of music is really unique. five stars

  • sincere, excellent album
    author: Cory Rydman

    great evolution in style. This CD is unbelievable. The music gets better and better

  • different
    author: kevin

    Rebel Hands has a totally different feel to it then Kalai's first two albums. I especially like track 13, expect i/m not sure what the end of the song is all about. I feel like the first two albums you can jam a bit more to them. This album is deeper and less jamable, if that's a word. Never the less I was intrigued by Rebel Hands and am anxiously awaiting album number four.

  • So different!
    author: Lala

    It was an awesome CD, but not what I was expecting. I know that musicians like to grow with their talent, but I was so in love with his first two CD's. There's great acoustacism, vocals and even organ, but I'm much more attracted to the style of the previous. Either way, I love it all!

  • Amen Amen
    author: IvanHoe

    Unbelievable! I don't know what that last guy was talking about; the musicianship, the songwriting, the vocals and production are DOPE! This is Kalai's Rubber Soul. You've stirred the pot deeply baby, keep it going RED BOILING HOT! Amazing, Amazing.

  • not as good as 1st two, but good...
    author: Ryan

    Kalai's first 2 cd's were incredible. The first one especially was amazing and the second was a great follow up album. The Third album has a completely different feel, straying greatly from his original style. Good, but not great. Then again the first album especially will be difficult to top.

  • Music for the soul
    author: J~Luv

    This is a cd that I can listen to over and over again. The sounds soothe my soul.

  • the best acoustic jazz I have ever heard, bar none.
    author: Sharlen
  • As expected, awesome.
    author: Linzplay

    It is clear that Kalai is maturing as an artist and attracting attention of the music industry as he goes. This album is obviously higher budget than the other two, with considerablly more accompaniment. Kalai, however, maintains the honest sound of unadulterated musicianship, and his own guitar talent has never been better. I can't wait to see what's next, but in the meantime, I have Kalai on constant cd rotation!

  • Kalai moving forward
    author: Acoustic Phil

    For those already familiar with Kalai's previous two releases, this album will be some what of a surprise. At first listen, Kalai fans will recognize that there is a far less pop-feel to this album than his second. Rebel Hands is more of a progressive album where Kalai showcases his ever-maturing musicianship as a professional guitarist, singer, and songwriter. The album reveals that Kalai is not afraid to experiment and expand his own brand of music. If Kalai keeps putting out albums like this, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, and Keller Williams better make some room!

  • Wow!
  • GASP!
    author: Who's yer daddy?

    OK. Who's playin' with us? I've never heard of Treble V Music unless it's a sub-label of a major. Kalai's Rebel Hands is better than anything I've been spinning lately out of ANY label.

  • this cd is deep i listen to it all the time
    author: landon

    this album is amazing it stands out from anything else that i have ever heard. It reflects all sides of human emotion. this is music at its highest!

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