Last Saturday evening, I went to JJ’s Broiler and had a wonderful time. I invited a few friends out to dinner, mostly because I didn’t want to drive to Lihue by myself. Sure, it isn’t too far away, but since my brother went home, I’ve been a bit more prone to spending time with friends. Plus, I thought they would really enjoy what I had in mind.

We got to JJ’s a little after 6pm, and we ate a ton of savory seafood outside on the patio. JJ’s has a great view of the ocean and the atmosphere was festive but peaceful as we enjoyed our meals. Then, around 7:00, we went upstairs for the Songwriter Showcase.

The Songwriter Showcase is scheduled for every Saturday evening this month, a time when up-and-coming songwriters and musicians from around the island can demonstrate their skills and sing to their heart’s content. However, this isn’t like Karaoke night at the local pub. This evening of original music is a planned event, featuring Lynn and Thayne Taylor with NTO.

Anyway, the evening was a big hit with my friends. What they didn’t know came as a big shock: Saira’s cousin was there singing a new song that she wrote about our adventures together. It was a big hit. Of course, she wasn’t the only performer of the evening. Several acts got the spotlight, from jazz and blues artists to Hawaiian traditional and rock music. It was a fun evening and we never knew what exactly to expect. Of course, that’s the way that I like it.

On the drive home, several of my friends announced that they will be returning to JJ’s this next weekend to watch the showcase. I think I’ll probably go with them. After all, there’s really nothing better on a Saturday night than a great group of friends, some live music, and some amazing food.