Streetlight Cadence began in Hawaii as street performers in 2010. The band performed on the busy streets of Waikiki so they could earn some money for groceries. The band became a fixture of Waikiki and Honolulu’s Chinatown.
Their endless energy, positive attitude, and unique instrumentation and arrangements made them stand out. Did I mention that they all play classical instruments? But, like most bands from Hawaii, Streetlight Cadence were forced to relocate to the mainland in order to expand their audience.
After three years on the mainland Streetlight Cadence returned to Hawaii for a homecoming tour, including four shows at Blue Note Hawaii. The band, Jonathan Franklin (violin), Brian Webb (cello), Jesse Shiroma, (accordion) and newest member Ben Chai (drums, guitar, violin, and everything!) looked very comfortable playing a jazz club. The band played songs from their three releases including “Roger’s Song”, “Thinking of You”, and “Don’t Let Go”. One of my favorite songs was “End of the World”. This song should be included in at least one of the Walking Dead television series. Energetic and full of life, the song could be the backdrop of a scene in which characters are reunited or untimely ripped apart. I don’t know if I have ever seen a band so happy to be performing. There was a lot of interaction between members and their energy rubs off on the audience.
After a short tour of Japan they will return to Los Angeles. If you are a fan of Mumford and Sons or The Lumineers you should definitely check these guys out. Family friendly and their storytelling songwriting style allows this group to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages.