The House of Wasabi

Return of the Dragon

2012-01-04T12:05:00.000-05:00

Big news, Wasabi Peas!

Kemo, Jay and Anthony will be returning to the 98 ROCK Morning Show with Mickey, Amelia and Spiegel this Friday, January 6th!

Be sure to tune your radios to 97.9 FM beginning at 7:00 AM (or listen online at http://www.98online.com/), to hear the bros talk about music, sushi, and growing up in the House of Wasabi. Of course, they'll be bringing their Mama Wasabi with them! You do not want to miss this very special broadcast!

Here's a clip from our previous morning radio broadcast:

And don't forget to join us that night at The Recher Theatre as Wasabi opens for the Brooklyn Brothers of ZO2! You might recognize these guys from the television show Z Rock (Rock Band by Night... Kids Band by Day). They'll be rocking two sets of originals and classic covers. We are psyched to be sharing the stage with such a terrific trio!

Z02: David Z, Paulie Z and Joey Cassata

Also on the bill will be local bands Teazer and Angel Row, brought to you by Baltimore Sound Management.

Doors open at 7:00 PM, with Wasabi taking the stage at 9:00 PM. The guys are working on something very special for this show - including the debut of a new Wasabi original! Be sure to get your tickets before they're gone!

It's gonna be a great show! See you there!

Countdown

2012-01-01T20:58:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year, Wasabi Peas!

2011 was a great year for the Bros, full of incredible moments that helped shape Wasabi into a regionally recognized musical sensation! And as we look forward to what the new year will bring, let's take a moment in counting down some of the band's Top Ten Favorite Moments of 2011...

10. Partnering with Baltimore Sound Management and promoter/manager extraordinaire - Brian Smith.

9. Becoming WaZOMBIE for ZOMBIES, STRIPPERS AND BEER at Bourbon Street.

8. Celebrating The Hard Rock Cafe's 40th Birthday at the Baltimore Inner Harbor.

7. Opening for Shinedown's Zack Myers at Bourbon Street.

6. First time on 98 ROCK's Noise In The Basement with Matt Davis.

5. Moving from the bar scene to Maryland's premium entertainment venues, including Bourbon Street, The Recher Theatre and Ram's Head LIVE!

4. Opening for Adler's Appetite at Bourbon Street.

3. Opening for The Misfits at The Recher Theater.

2. Playing "Stranglehold" with Ted Nugent vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Derek St. Holmes.

1. First time on 98 ROCK's Morning Show with Mickey, Amelia and Spiegel - featuring Mama Wasabi!

As much as 2011 rocked, we know that we owe it all to our amazing fans. You guys are what made The House of Wasabi into a local phenomenon! Thanks to you, Wasabi has made it into WBAL's Top 40 Excellent Emerging Bands for 2012! We are truly honored to have you with us on this incredible journey. So thank you - thank you - THANK YOU for your support: if you have ever come to a show, signed up for our mailing list, friended us on Facebook, bought our merch... you are the best fans any band could ever hope for.

And 2012 is only gonna get better! How do we know? It's the year of the DRAGON, baby!

I Am Legend

2011-11-02T12:36:00.000-04:00

Happy Dia de los Muertos, amigos! We hope that everyone had an excellent Halloween this year, and the boys of Wasabi would like to give you one last TREAT before we say "goodbye" to ghosts and pumpkins, and "hello" to the holiday shopping season.

On November 3, 2011 at the Recher Theatre in Towson, Wasabi will be opening for the original horror-punk band, The Misfits!

The Misfits: Jerry Only, Robo, and Dez Cadena

The Misfits latest full-length album - The Devil's Rain - debuted on Billboard's Top Independent Album chart at #12 and Billboard's Top 200 at #70. Online, the new release has been the #1 selling punk CD on Amazon.com. Wasabi is thrilled to have the opportunity to share the stage with such a legendary group!

The show begins at 6:30 PM, and will also be featuring Singleton, Chasing Morgan and Juicehead (courtesy of Baltimore Sound Management).

Tickets are $18 in advance, so be sure to contact Kemo, Jay or Anthony to get yours before they're gone!

Happy Halloween from WaZOMBIE!

Ram's Head LIVE! Review

2011-09-26T13:36:00.000-04:00

Tonight we take a look at one of Baltimore's hottest, or as they like to say "spiciest" live rock bands Wasabi.

We had the pleasure this weekend of seeing our first live Wasabi show at Rams Head Live in Baltimore, Maryland. One thing became obvious right away. When you go to a Wasabi show, you are going to have a good time. The three brothers exude energy on stage and leave little doubt that they are having a great time.

Their stage presence reminds me a lot of New York rockers ZO2, who we love. They are so clearly enjoying themselves that you find yourself smiling in the crowd. Wasabi is musically solid and the set we saw featured a mixture of original tunes combined with a pretty diverse selection of cover tunes including a rocking version of "99 Red Balloons" and a nice cover version of "Crazy Train".

The brothers unabashedly claim an influence from Kiss and cite the iconic band as being an inspiration to them when they were as young as 8 years old. Baltimore music fans may recognize them from their occasional appearances on Baltimore's rock station 98 Rock, where they are notorius for bringing in Japanese food.

The band's original tunes are very strong. and each one seems to have a personal story behind it. The band's opening tune "Booty Rockin" got thigs started featuring not only a great rock tune, but some cool stage effects as well. The emotional tune "Coming Home" was a great song in the middle of the set and was dedicated to U.S. military personnel about whom it was written. It is the band's newest tune.

I don't want to give away too much more about the band yet, since they will be the featured band on Episode 7 of Mid-Atlantic Rock Reviews Behind the Bands, which is being edited right now. I will tell you that you won't want to miss the interview. The guys are entertaining both on and off stage.

Here is the opening song from the set we saw at Ram's Head Live on 9/23/11. You can see the entire set on our YouTube Channel at the same link.

Read the article on Mid-Atlantic Rock Review's website here: http://midatlanticrockreviews.com/page10.php

The House That Rocked, revisited

2011-09-26T13:22:00.000-04:00

Here are some more excellent videos from Wasabi's Ram's Head LIVE! debut. Check them out! Brought to you by the fine folks of Mid-Atlantic Rock Reviews.

The House That Rocked

2011-09-24T15:26:00.000-04:00

A huge heartfelt thank you to everyone who braved the storm and rocked with us! It was truly an amazing show from where I was standing. -Jay

Here are some videos from last night's show at Ram's Head LIVE! Courtesy of K-Rock and Sheila Mid-Atlantic Rock Reviews:

Coming Home

2011-09-21T18:36:00.000-04:00

Wasabi bass player and vocalist, Jay Hitaffer, talks a little about the inspiration that went into writing their latest anthem, Coming Home.

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We were coming home from a show in Gettysburg. As we drove through the battle grounds, through the memorials and gravestones, it became extremely silent. I remember hearing Kemo say, "It takes a lot of sacrifice to be this free."

Over the next hour, we spoke of the first Hitaffer, who came over to fight in the Revolutionary War; of our Grandfather who stormed the beaches of Normandy; of my Grandfather In-law who served during the Korean War. We talked about all the men who served during the war in Vietnam, including our Father, our Stepfather and Kemo's Father In-law. We also spoke about our Stepbrother, who is currently serving somewhere in Iraq or Afghanistan. And we spoke of the countless friends who have dedicated themselves to protecting our freedom.

We couldn't believe how many people we love were and are involved with the United States military, and it struck a chord of pride inside all of us! It was time for us to dedicate a song in honor of those courageous men and women who lay their lives on the line so we can be free.

The ideas started flowing, and all I could see was a soldier on a plane, getting ready to take off…coming home.

It was hard to imagine what I would be thinking if it were me that were away for such a long period of time. I know that when I'm away from my wife for even just a little while, all I can think about is holding her hand and seeing her smile. It's the thought that gets me through most days. The next thing I knew, I felt like I was there on that plane...coming home.

This is what flowed from my pencil, and I hope you like it. We'll be debuting it at our show this Friday at Ram's Head LIVE (September 23, 9pm). We hope to see you there!!

Coming Home

lyrics by Jay Hitaffer

As this plane leaves the ground

Thoughts go spinning all around

I can't believe I'm headed home

A Flash of all my Memories

Old Faces I can't wait to see now

Finally I'm headed home

I'm Headed Home-To the Land of the Free

I'm Headed Home- Where My Heart will always Be

I'm Headed Home- My Sea to Shining Sea

I can't wait to kneel and kiss the ground

When I get Home.

I think of Faces that I left behind

Still fresh in my heart and mind

I can hardly wait to hold your hand

I hear your voice here encouraging me

I've been dying to hear the real thing

And hold you in my lonely arms

I'm Headed Home-To the Land of the Free

I'm Headed Home- Where My Heart will always Be

I'm Headed Home- My Sea to Shining Sea

I can't wait to hold you in my arms

When I get Home.

When I get home

I'm going to make the time

To find every lost moment

That I left behind

When I get Home

I'll feel alive again

I can feel it now

Like the way I was back when

As your plane leaves the ground

Thoughts go spinning all around

I can't believe you're coming home

A Flash of all these Memories

Old Places you can't wait to see now

Finally you're coming home

You're Coming Home-To the Land of the Free

You're Coming Home- Where Your Heart will always Be

You're Coming Home- To your Sea to Shining Sea

I can't wait to fill your lonely heart

When you get Home.

Twenty Questions: Anthony

2011-09-02T11:29:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday, Wasabi Peas!

Today, we're going to take a closer look at the brothers behind the music with a new installment we're calling TWENTY QUESTIONS.

First on the roster is Mister Sticks 'n Skins himself - Anthony Hitaffer! Take it away, Anthony!

Anthony's got the Beat to move your Feet

What’s Wasabi up to these days?

Wasabi has been busy getting ready for our next really big show at the Ram’s Head Live in downtown Baltimore on September 23, 2011 from 8pm-1am. We have been working on some new songs as well.

What’s it like to be in a band with your brothers?

It’s always crazy being in anything that involves your brothers, especially something that all of the members are passionate about. Being a brother band makes us unique in the way that we have a way of communicating on stage that most other non-brother bands do not. Above all, I feel that being in a band with my brothers is a lot of fun, as long as we are not trying to kill one another.

When did you start playing the drums?

I started playing drums my junior year of high school. I originally wanted to play the guitar, but seeing as we already had four family members who could play either guitar or bass guitar, Kemo decided to teach me the drums instead.

What’s your favorite part about playing music?

I love the feel of the crowd. I am not a studio drummer by any stretch of the imagination. Wasabi performs our best when in front of a large crowd of raving fans.

You come from a very musical family, just how far back does the talent gene go?

A far as I know, the music gene goes back only as far as my parents. My parents met while my father was in the U.S. Army over in Japan during the Vietnam Conflict. While serving in the military, my father also played guitar in a rock/blue grass/country western band. My mother was the sexy singer/go-go girl.

Not only are you a musician, you’re also an artist! Tell us about your artwork.

One of my other passions is comic book art. Do not get me wrong, I do not see comic books as merely a form of entertainment. To me, comic books and graphic novels are the best form of literary expression.

Have you decided if you’re going to publish your comics?

I would love to publish my own comics. My only set back besides the immense competition in the comic book industry is the fact that I am a lone author/writer. While most comics are developed by teams of artists and writers, I am the only mind and muscle behind my comics. None the less, I will always be trying to get my comics published until the day I die.

Will you ever do a comic book about Wasabi?

Sure, if there was a demand. I think the story of Wasabi would make a much better novel or TV movie though. This band and its members have been through a lot of crap to get to where they are today. We have had to fight for everything we have ever gotten.

Anthony's Original Artwork

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Flight! No doubt in my mind. I have dreamt about running in a field and just taking off into the sky. I don’t know how much it would help me if I were to go into the crime fighting business. But to tell you the truth, if I could fly, I really wouldn’t be spending a whole lot of time with my feet on the ground.

You’re currently earning a degree in Art History, correct?

Actually, it’s in Art Education. I am studying to be an art teacher at the University of Maryland in College Park. Most people who know me well are probably laughing at the idea of me being a teacher. However, I believe I could be very happy as an art teacher, and then eventually a professor.

What made you want to be an art teacher?

I think I got bitten by the teaching bug when my brother David suggested it to me one day. I was already teaching martial arts at a studio in Rockville, where I loved the teaching aspect required of me as an instructor. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the financial management part of the business.

Okay, back to the music: Do you have a favorite drummer?

I do not have a specific favorite drummer. To me, no drummer is really better then the other and therefore cannot be classified as my favorite drummer. If I had to pick a few drummers that immediately come to mind, I would have to say: Eric Carr, Peter Criss, and Eric Singer of Kiss, Neil Peart of Rush, Ricky Rocket of Poison, Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins of the FooFighters, and Roger Taylor of Queen (just to name a few).

If you could tour with any band in history, living or dead, who would it be?

Now that is an extremely tough question. I would have to say either Kiss or Queen. Kiss because I have loved them ever since I started liking music, and Queen because Freddy Mercury was in my opinion the most talented front man of any band ever to grace the stage of a rock venue. Shoot, I forgot about Radiohead and the FooFighters.

What’s the one album you can’t live without?

The soundtrack to the anime Cowboy Bebop by Yoko Kano. That soundtrack literally changed my life. I never knew that I liked jazz, blues, and opera until I listened to that soundtrack. Yoko Kano is a genius. I listened to that album everyday for about five years strait, no joke!

What’s the best live performance you’ve ever seen?

Without a doubt Kiss. Those guys wrote the book on how to put on a great show. You want to see how it’s done, go see a Kiss show. You will never look at any other band the same again.

What’s the one band/musician you think the world could do without?

Wow! Ouch! I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes now. I don’t know about the rest of the world, but I could probably go the rest of my life without hearing another Flaming Lips song. I’m not saying that they suck or don’t have any talent or anything like that. It’s just that they are not my flavor type when it comes to music. I am sure the millions of fans they have would disagree with me though. My apologies to the Flaming Lips.

What do you think the music industry needs more of?

I think the music industry needs more bands that don’t sound like the same generic band. It’s as if one producer in the music industry will find something that everyone likes, so the rest of the producers just copy off of him/her and milk anything else that slightly resembles that original something. Heaven forbid the radio stations play a barrage of music that is motley in assortment. Variety can be dangerous I guess.

If you had a motto, what would it be?

“Never compromise, not even in the face of Armageddon.”

Where do you see yourself in the next few years?

Hopefully on tour either in the U.S. or on an international tour. I would really like to travel the world spreading the good word that is Wasabi’s music.

Okay – Batman or Superman?

It really depends on the question. Who would I rather be? I would have to choose Superman because with those types of powers, I could do a lot of good around the world. If you were to ask me whom I feel is the better hero, I would have to say Batman. Why, because unlike the practically immortal Superman, Batman risks his life every night he patrols the streets. If you were Superman, what else would you do if you weren’t a superhero, bag groceries at the mini mart? On the other hand, Batman is a billionaire; he could just be a player his entire life and never bat an eye at any crime he saw. But he chooses to do something in the face of evil. That is why I prefer him over superman. However, MoonKnight is still my favorite. Oh! You can’t forget about HellBoy and Rorschach too. They kick serious butt.

Awesome! Thanks so much!

Love ALL-Serve ALL!

2011-07-30T16:59:00.000-04:00

Throughout its history, the Hard Rock Cafe has been governed by a guiding service philosophy - "Love All - Serve All." Created as a place where all have always been welcome, regardless of age, sex or class.

The Hard Rock Cafe first opened in London on June 14, 1971 and has been known as the true museums of Rock & Roll since. HRC has ultimately become the world's leading collector and exhibitors of rock 'n' roll memorabilia.

The Hard Rock Cafe in Baltimore's Inner Harbor

Three of the Hitaffer Brothers have worked at the Hard Rock Cafe in Washington DC, and Kemo and Jay have rocked the stage of DC's Hard Rock numerous times. The Wasabi Brothers provided entertainment for the Baltimore Hard Rock Cafe's 40th Birthday Celebration and are excited to be returning to the HRC stage for Matt Davis' 98 Rock Hard Rock Summer Concert Series on August 4th 2011.

The HRC provides an amazing outdoor arena for LIVE performance, with great views of the surrounding Harbor and Downtown scenery. Adjacent to the stage is an outdoor kitchen and bar. So, feel free to have one of the HRC's famous Burgers while watching the spiciest band in B-more!

The Bros are joined on stage by The Understudies, who go on from 6:20 pm to 7:20pm. Wasabi is set to start playing at 7:30pm. There is NO COVER for this show, and it's ALL AGES.

WASABI at the Hard Rock Cafe 40th Anniversary Celebration in Baltimore

Come on out and experience the House of Wasabi's guiding service philosophy- "Love ALL-Rock ALL!!"

Who's Hungry?

2011-07-09T19:30:00.000-04:00

Baltiwood; a term coined for the tight-knit community of artists that make up Baltimore's independent film scene. Of course everyone is aware of our most famous local-boy-done-good, Mr. John Waters. You might say that edgy and shocking cinema is where Baltiwood excels above all other cities.

So naturally, the bros of Wasabi are very excited to announce that they will be participating in an exciting new film project spotlighting a Baltiwood favorite: The Undead.

Eat Your Neighbors is presenting a feature length film entitled Touring in the Time of the Zombie Apocalypse, and in it will star some of Baltimore's hottest up-and-coming bands!

As part of the production for the film, Eat Your Neighbors will be hosting the special event ZOMBIE STRIPPERS and BEER at Bourbon Street on Friday, July 22nd. Wasabi will be sharing the stage with local music favorites Others May Fall, Contra, Make Love and War, Skitzo Calypso and more!

Click here to see the trailer to this deadly event:

Tickets are $10 in advance and doors open at 7:00 PM. Be sure to get your tickets early, this event is expected to sell out fast! So come for the music, come for the movie, come to get your brains eaten. We hope to see you there!

Here are other videos from past ZOMBIE STRIPPERS and BEER events:

The House of Wasabi Titillating T-Shirt Contest

2011-06-21T13:39:00.001-04:00

Want a way to win FREE tickets to the upcoming Recher Theatre show? It's easy!

Post a picture of you wearing your authentic Wasabi t-shirt on our Facebook wall doing something “titillating.” Whoever posts the best picture will win two free tickets to the show on June 25th!

All pictures must be PG-13. Winner will be announced on Friday June 24th. Good luck!

Street Team Leader Freddie rocks the babydoll tee!

Wreck-er!

2011-06-20T23:32:00.000-04:00

On June 25th, Wasabi will be teaming up with Baltimore Sound Management and The Recher Theatre in a musical showcase featuring some of Maryland's biggest acts! Join us, along with Without Reason, Silvertung, Bleech and Truth 'N Tempest for a wild night of rock 'n roll.

Japanese Breakfast

2011-06-16T23:47:00.000-04:00

In case you missed us on the air, here are some clips from our 98 Rock morning show debut with Mickey, Amelia and Spiegel. Thanks to all of the fans who tuned in!

Radar Love

2011-06-10T22:33:00.000-04:00

Before we get started about all of the awesome things Wasabi has coming up, let's take a moment to reflect on just how ABSOLUTELY MIND BLOWING the show at Bourbon Street was last Monday. Thank you so much to all of the fans who came out to support. We hope that it was as much of a treat for you as it was for us.

Wasabi with special guest Derek St. Holmes.

So what's cooking in the House of Wasabi? Well... SUSHI, of course!

Every time they've been by the studio, Wasabi has notoriously left funny care packages for the disc jockeys of 98 ROCK. Kemo calls them "Japanese breakfast," and they are usually comprised of Japanese snacks like wasabi peas and shrimp chips. Now the Brothers have been invited to come by the 98 ROCK morning show on June 14th to make sushi for Mickey, Amelia, Spiegel and Scott! They're going to start cooking around 7:00 AM, so be sure to tune in to 97.9 FM or 98 Online! As an extra bonus, Romi Hitaffer (also known as "Mom") will be there to offer her authentic Japanese cuisine guidance.

Ringing in the New Year at the House of Wasabi

And then later that day, Wasabi will be performing at the Baltimore Hard Rock Cafe for the Guns & Hoses Legendary Burger Eating Contest from 4:00-7:00 PM! Come watch a Baltimore's finest Police Officers and Firefighters stuff their faces for a good cause! All proceeds go to the Baltimore Child Abuse Center. So if you're by the Inner Harbor next Tuesday, come on down to the Hard Rock. We'd love to see you there!

Keep it fresh!

Stylin'

2011-06-04T22:41:00.000-04:00

Nothing better than brand spankin' new merchandise! And we've got a whole shipload of Wasabi t-shirts to hand out.

We have black t-shirts with the white dragon logo (pictured below). We also have pink baby-doll shirts with the black dragon logo for the ladies.

Both of these will be available for purchase during the Bourbon Street show on June 6th! So swing by the merch table and pick yours up while supplies last.

Guess who's coming to dinner!

2011-05-30T17:35:00.000-04:00

We have some very big news to share.

As we've mentioned before, the upcoming show at Bourbon Street Baltimore on June 6th is going to be massive. Every show at Bourbon Street has been an amazing experience, and Wasabi is thrilled to be a part of this local music scene and to share in the incredible pool of talent.

And in Charm City, just about anything is possible. It was at Wasabi's last NITBL showcase where Kemo, Jay and Anthony got to meet a Living Legend.

You might recognize Derek St. Holmes as the vocalist and rhythm guitar player for Ted Nugent. The night he showed up at Bourbon Street, he was scheduled to perform with that evening's headliner, Zack Myers. Derek is as gracious as he is talented, and is a known supporter of local music acts. He is also – hands down – the COOLEST person we’ve ever had the privilege of meeting.

And so it is our great honor to announce that on June 6th, at Bourbon Street Baltimore, Wasabi will be joined on stage by the extraordinary, the illustrious, and the incredibly good looking Derek St. Holmes.

We hope that you will join us for this once in a lifetime performance!

Keep it fresh!

In the studio

2011-05-29T15:24:00.000-04:00

Here's a glimpse behind the scenes as the brothers work on their latest single,"Some of That."

Get ready...

2011-05-25T23:19:00.000-04:00

We're gearing up for what promises to be Wasabi's biggest and baddest show YET!

Once again, Wasabi has teamed up with Matt Davis and 98 ROCK's Noise In The Basement Live local music series. Tune your dials to 97.9 FM on June 5th from 9PM-midnight during the NITBL broadcast for the debut of Wasabi's latest single, "Some of That."

Then on June 6th, come out to The Quarter at Bourbon Street in Baltimore, where Wasabi will be jamming with local acts Sin 4 Sin and The White Lighters. There will be open bar from 8-9PM, not to mention .98 cent drink specials for the rest of the night. And it's for a great cause, with proceeds going to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

But if you needed only ONE reason NOT to miss this show, here it is: ADLER'S APPETITE.

That's right, Wasabi will be sharing the stage with the legendary Steven Adler of Guns N' Roses. Like we said, this is a show you do NOT want to miss!

So be sure to come out June 6th to Bourbon Street for Noise In The Basement Live. Kemo, Jay and Anthony will be handing out tickets before the show, so get there early before they run out!

Hope to see you there! Keep it fresh...

For more information about Noise In The Basement Live.
For more information about Bourbon Street Baltimore.

Welcome to The House of Wasabi

2011-05-24T23:08:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the official weblog of Wasabi. Wasabi is a Baltimore based band, formed by brothers Kemo (guitar, vocals), Jay (bass, vocals) and Anthony Hitaffer (drums).

While most kids would be spending their time playing in the sandbox, these boys would build stages to put on elaborate tribute concerts. Using cardboard instruments and makeshift pyrotechnics, they would perform alongside KISS 8-tracks for anyone who would watch.

Once Mom and Dad bought real instruments for the boys, it wasn't long before they decided to take off the make up and start writing their own music. Kemo and Jay entered the club circuit when they were 12 years old. By the time they were 16, they were headlining their own shows and loving every minute of it. Upon entering high school, Anthony finally joined up with his brothers, and Wasabi was born!

Today, Wasabi continues to make a name for itself by bringing the arena rock experience back to Baltimore. This blog will document the musical journey of the band - from studio to stage, and beyond.

Thanks for being here. Keep it fresh, keep it green.