Slack Key ‘Ohana has released “Coming Home” today after a standout performance and winning “Best World Music Album” at the San Diego Music Awards earlier this week.
Slack Key ‘Ohana is a Kaleponi (California) based guitar duo consisting of Brian Witkin and Kamaka Mullen with an ever-expanding roster of guest talent rotating in both studio and live performances.
Showcasing a song from their award-winning album, which also debuted at #2 on the iTunes World Music Charts, the duo performed the song “Hanalei Moon” for over 1,200 attendees at Humphreys by the Bay. The performance incorporated a full band including notables Rand Anderson on Pedal Steel (Tom Curren Band), Joe Witkin on keys (Sha Na Na, performed at Woodstock), and Carol Witkin on Ukulele. Carol and Joe are also the parents of founding member Brian Witkin, making the band literally “Ohana” (family). Hula dancers also joined the performance, including Alana Godoy, the current Miss Pacific Islander of San Diego.
As the name implies, the duo specializes in modern Hawaiian sounds via slack key guitar and a vocal sound that echoes the likes of Hawthorne’s Wilson brothers. Notably, the album’s artwork album artwork was illustrated by Tom “Thor” Thordarson, a Hawaiian artist who is known for his work with Disney. The band also recently opened for Jo Koy in the Stella Artois Lounge at the Pechanga Arena.
Slack Key ‘Ohana is building an extensive live show calendar for summer and working on finishing an album they expect to have released early next year.