Kings of Spade Winning Hearts

by Candace Chang

This Halloween, Hallowbaloo in Chinatown was definitely the place to be. Not only were there amazing dancing performances by groups like The Shakti Dance Movement and Cherry Blossom Cabaret, but it featured fantastic bands like the increasingly popular Kings of Spade. 

Local artists Kings of Spade have been growing a following of loyal fans since first coming together roughly a year ago, finalizing their full band with the addition of bassist Max Benoit. The other members consist of Kasi Nunes on vocals, Jesse Savio on guitar, Matt Kato on drums, and DJ A2Z, aka Mike Morgan, on turntables. They have opened for mega-bands like Bon Jovi, Chris Daughtry, and Mutemath. Now, it is their turn to take center stage - in Chinatown and in the hearts of Hawaiʻi's people. 

Last Saturday, on the night before Halloween, Kings of Spade took the stage at 9:30 p.m., following up behind the reggae band Ooklah the Moc and finishing off that night's Hallowbaloo musical festivities on a fun, frenetic note. They showed up on stage playfully dressed as a band of Indians, with lead singer Kasi renegading as a cowboy and bassist Max in a somewhat revealing loincloth that was at constant peril of the winds. The crowd was thrilled to see them, cheering wildly at the very start of their performance. With such talented artists on stage, it’d have been hard not to share in their enthusiasm.

It is difficult for me to find the words to describe just how spectacular this band is. The combination of Matt on drums and Max's booming bass produces a beat that reverberates down to your bones, forcing your body to flail about in absurd styles of dancing. Kasi’s vocals, altering between the rough grate of rock and the sweet crooning of jazz, adds soul and meaning to the music, as she reaches out and exudes charisma to her listeners, tantalizing their ears and drawing them in. Jesse’s guitar nicely compliments this eclectic mixture of melody, weaving in and out and sometimes stealing the spotlight of a song, while DJ A2Z’s fingers spit out synthesized sounds to smooth it all together and deliver it full and complete in a perfectly bundled package.

But more than the music, it's the energy and personality of this band that I love the most. They have a way of pumping up their listeners and exciting the crowd, feeding off the energy and doubling it back to their fans. Even more than that, this band is special for the way they are always reaching out to their admirers and really getting to know them, whether it’s by mingling with the audience before and after shows or talking to their fans and being personable over Facebook, they always make that extra effort to let their following know that they’re more than just their supporters, they’re their friends. As Kasi said on Facebook, “We play for PEOPLE. The energy back from the crowd is the other half of our music. … We like to be friends with our supporters too, so really our friends come… not ‘fans’.”

With the appreciation they show their devotees, and the talent and style with which they grace the stage, it is clear to see why Hawaii is losing its hearts to the Kings of Spade.