RiceRokit

RiceRokit is a band created by singer/songwriter/surfer, and "hapa-haole" (half-caucasian; and specifically in this case, French and Japanese descent) Hawaiian native, Kendo--originally the guitarist for the band Dubcat, which features members of Long Beach multi-platinum recording artists Sublime, as well as alumni of their spin-off group, Long Beach Dub Allstars, and Los Angeles 3rd-wave ska ensemble, Hepcat.

History
Born in Honolulu, raised first in Windward Kaneohe, and soon after in Leeward Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Kendo relocated to Los Angeles still as a teen, with heavy metal/industrial/pop group, minor blow--a band he started in junior high school. In LA, they performed in most of the city's main, mid-level music venues, and eventually evolved into a grunge-era rock group, in the early 90's.

Following multiple line-up changes, Kendo formed his next band, Superhero, a new-wave/pop outfit that essentially modeled its sound after 80's icons, The Cars, as well as post-grunge groups like Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer.

Band member difficulties persisted, and he subsequently developed a co-ed, techno-pop troupe, Nexus 6--a reference to the motion picture Blade Runner, and to the model-numbers of the androids (or "replicants") from the popular film and novel. Stylistically, the band aspired to an image (if not sound) inspired by Prince and the Revolution.

This group achieved moderate success in Hollywood, performing at slightly larger, higher-profile venues, and were eventually discovered by an international scout, who booked the band for a short tour of Asia--its first show, on December 31st, 1999--Y2K--in Siam Square, Bangkok, Thailand.

While the rest of the group returned to the US, Kendo remained in the Orient to record a solo album, inspired by the Asian pop scene, and attracting some small-label interest. However, after two years abroad, and with no solid commitments from the record companies, he returned to Los Angeles--140 pounds, with blonde highlights, bizarre clothing, and a 636cc Kawasaki motorcycle (yet another Prince influence).

And so while seeking a name for his next project, and (in light of recent travels) desiring an Oriental theme--as well as considering his current vehicle of choice--the name "Rice Rocket" was the suggested by Corey Little, a surfer-friend and former Superhero guitarist. Rice Rocket is a slang term that generally refers to Japanese cars and motorcycles.

Consequently, after a quick, phonetic misspelling by Kendo, he started the band RiceRokit.

In 2003, at the invitation of longtime surfing-buddy and bassist, David Fuentes, of international ska heroes Hepcat, he joined the established lineup of Dubcat, a group also founded by members of Sublime and Long Beach Dub Allstars. Impressed with the live success of the band in Southern California, Kendo readily transplanted his solo project, RiceRokit, to San Diego, where it is based today.

RiceRokit released its self-produced debut album, Hang Loose, in 2007, and was consequently signed to Megalith Records, an independent label founded by , of 80's ska pioneers, The Toasters. The label is currently the exclusive online digital distributor for Hang Loose in the US.

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