Have you heard Jesse Shiroma and Streetlight Cadence? They are a new upcoming group with a unique sound and a new TV show. Streetlight Cadence met in college and their name comes from playing on the streets during First Friday Art Night.
Jesse Shiroma, accordionist for Streetlight Cadence shares: “I have been incredibly lucky to do something I love as a career. After a year of blood, sweat, and tears I am elated to announce that we have taken our craft one step beyond music and into the realm of television with our new series “Will Play For Food”. Our first season spans 13 episodes and follows our journey across the country and world as an independent band. In each locale we show up in we have to apply our craft and wits to earn enough money to eat and experience the location not as tourists, but as travelers, hungry to learn (and taste!) what makes that particular place unique.
The series will air on KFVE every Wednesday during primetime with reruns on the weekend. This is more than just a call to jubilation though. We are looking for businesses to partner with that are interested in featuring themselves within this episode via commercial time. Whether small boutiques or major entities, I warmly welcome all my entrepreneurial friends to reach out to me if they are interested. We have varying packages of time available and are happy to send a complete electronic document breaking down the show and commercial process.”
Jesse shares his interesting background: “I was born and raised in Hawai’i where the accordion is a very rare instrument. I don’t exaggerate when I say there are probably around 3 actual accordionists in the entire state…myself included haha!
I studied piano as a child but as a young adult I was swept up by the sound of the accordion that I heard on a folk recording. It was simply magical and you can only imagine the look on my parents faces when I said I wanted to play an instrument none of us had tried much less even seen in real life. My parents are strong supporters of the arts though and coordinated with my grandparents in Redding, California to bring an old, out-of-tune, garage sale special, Hohner with them on their next visit to the islands.
I was hooked at first squeeze and couldn’t put it down. I was self-taught for the longest time but was fortunate to receive tutelage from the late Sylvia Marie Barber in California as well as Ralf Brendle in Trossingen, Germany where I worked for Hohner for a year as an accordion repair/maintenance apprentice.
Piano was always an exercise for me that required poking and prodding for me to actually practice but I could spend hours with the accordion exploring it’s incredible potential and cultural stylings. My father would always joke in that he thought it strange I never considered the ukulele or Hawaiian slack key guitar before the accordion.
I started our band Streetlight Cadence with my good friend Jonathon Franklin on violin and Daniel Duncan on guitar as a means to pay for grocery money during college by playing on the sidewalks of Waikiki every night after classes. It turns out if you play together everyday for several hours each day you actually get better! Over time this fun hobby exploded into a full-time career that has us touring as a quartet across the US as well as international destinations such as Japan, The Bahamas, and beyond. I am definitely blessed and humbled to be doing something I love with some of my best friends.”
TV Show “Will Play For Food” : “As a wacky quartet of musicians we have always found a way to forge ahead on our own steam without management, agents, or otherwise. We believe anything is possible and the resulting adventures and audience response has led us to the creation of our brand new television series “Will Play For Food” (WPFF) that will be airing on KFVE every Wednesday at 7 starting September 26, 2018.
The show is a synthesis of The Monkees and Parts Unknown with an emphasis on music, culture, and adventure! It follows us on our travels across the globe and in each city we visit we must use our musical aptitude to earn a meal whether through street performing, walking into restaurants and trading music for food, or other countless creative means to survive as an independent band on the road.
We strive to go beyond the tropes of a rock’n’roll band simply having a good time as we specifically search out venues of culture significance to each area and share unique and engaging stories from the places we visit as told from the locals we meet.
This is more than just a call to jubilation though. We are looking for businesses to partner with that are interested in featuring themselves within this episode via commercial time. Whether small boutiques or major entities, I warmly welcome all my entrepreneurial friends to reach out to me if they are interested. We have varying packages of time available and are happy to send a complete electronic document breaking down the show and commercial process.”
Excerpts from their website: Streetlight Cadence is a four member vocal and instrumental group comprised of Jonathon Franklin (violin), Brian Webb (cello), Jesse Shiroma (accordion and percussion), and Chaz Umamoto (guitar). Often labeled as alternative folk pop, the band draws inspiration from many genres. They perform both originals and covers ranging from pop to classical and have been described as a synthesis between Mumford & Sons and The Killers.
Founded under the streetlights of Waikiki, Streetlight Cadence started as a hopeful dream of earning a few dollars to pay for groceries. Now, it has grown into a musical family. From the streets to the stage, the band continues to thrive through friends, fans, a passion for music, and a bit of wild luck.
Awards include being winners of The Republik’s Bacardi Oakheart Iron Battle of the Bands 2013, winners of the 2014 Honolulu Hard Rock Rising Battle of the Bands, and being 13th place global finalists in the 2014 Global Hard Rock Rising Battle of the Bands.
Streetlight Cadence is a folk pop sensation. Jonathon, Jesse and Brian began as street performers in 2010 in Honolulu, HI, playing for tourists while earning grocery money as college students. The founding members always had a strong desire to stand out from other music groups. Their classical instruments, family-friendly brand and storytelling-songwriting style attracts all audiences, making Streetlight Cadence a group enjoyed by people of all ages. The band can be described as fun-loving, energetic and demonstrate an enormous love
for music and friendship in their live performances.
After winning two successive Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for Alternative Album of the Year and a handful of Battle of the Band competitions, Streetlight Cadence decided it was time to leave Hawai’i for the mainland to pursue more opportunities in the industry. Now based out of Los Angeles, Streetlight Cadence continues to thrive in any environment as a top corporate band to destination weddings and traditional live concerts from sidewalks to stadiums.
Streetlight Cadence (SLC) is a new, young, enthusiastic and full of talent which ncludes 4 friends, an independent Pop-Rock band that has performed from sidewalks to stadiums and back again. SLC said, “With an accordion, violin, cello, drums, and a whole ton of drive and willingness to learn we have turned what was a fun way to make grocery money in to a means to create music for everyone on an international scale. From Japan to the Bahamas and all across the United States, we make it our mission to raise people’s spirits and connect with them through lyric and arrangement. We’re not afraid to touch any genre ranging from radio-friendly pop to rock and even the classical realm as we put our years to tutelage to use. We hope you join us on this adventure into the musical unknown not only as fans but as friends who can reach out to us anytime!”
August 2018 Show Schedule:
Fri. 10/8 Margaritaville at Universal Studios Hollywood 7PM-10PM
Tues. 14/8 Downtown Disney Courtyard 530PM-9PM
Tues. 21/8 Downtown Disney MainStage 6PM-10PM
Thurs. 23/8 Universal Studios CityWalk 6PM-9PM
Sun. 26/8 Downtown Disney MainStage 6PM-10PM
Wed. 29/8 Universal Studios CityWalk 6PM-9PM
For further information:
Booking Inquiries: bwebb2424@gmail.com
Press Inquiries: jesse.shiroma@gmail.com
General Inquiries: streetlightcadencehawaii@gmail.com
