Eddie Cochran 1960

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The Paradise Luau, Pomona, CA

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The place is called Frankie’s Tiki Room. On Otto von Stroheim’s Tiki Events mailing list I read it’s an authenticly styled bar with lots of bamboo, tapa and contemporary Tiki art. Reportedly the drinks are very good!

Here’s a quote from the newsletter:

Frankie’s Tiki Room, the only authentic tiki bar in Las Vegas, invites guests to experience the one-of-a-kind tiki environment complemented by traditional carvings, original Polynesian art, a full bar and gaming.

Frankie’s Tiki Room is a unique combination of South Seas exotica and modern primitivism, with just a hint of Las Vegas kitsch.  Frankie’s was founded by P Moss, the creator of the infamous Double Down Saloon, located in Las Vegas and New York City.  One hundred percent original and deeply rooted in tiki tradition, Frankie’s is the place where guests can escape to the fantasy any hour of the day or night.  Whether it’s ordering from the menu of exotic rum drinks and traditional cocktails in the tiki lounge, gambling at the bar, admiring the carvings or enjoying the music, Frankie’s Tiki Room does it in classic Las Vegas style.

The interior of Frankie’s was built by Bamboo Ben, the world’s foremost tiki bar designer and grandson of Eli Hedley, who created the décor for the legendary Aku Aku at the Stardust.  Frankie’s link to Las Vegas’ tiki past also includes original carvings by Tiki Bosko, who created exotic works of art not only at the Tropicana, but also the short lived but greatly missed Taboo Cove at the Venetian.  Frankie’s signature tiki is a monstrous island warrior by Crazy Al Evans, surrounded by extraordinary carvings by Tiki Ray and the much revered godfather of all tiki carvers, Leroy Schmaltz.

For additional information, visit www.frankiestikiroom.com

Frankie’s Tiki Room
1712 W. Charleston Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89102

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LEGO Tiki Bar

I don’t know what happend, that LastFM suddenly woke up to my music. I changed my 4 featured tracks there recently, though. Maybe that started it? Let’s see how long this lasts.
Here’s my artists page at LastFM.

Köln – sport2 LIVE*** Am 6. Dezember veranstaltet der DWV einen ganzen Tag rund ums Surfen. Los geht´s mit der Surf-Messe, danach eine große Party. Mit dabei: Die gesamte sport2-Crew sowie die Finalistinnen der Wahl zum Bikini Girl 2008.

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Waitiki live in Berlin, 2008

Check out the videos Waitiki put up on the web. Some from this summer’s Wassermusik, which took place in Berlin. I was there, and it was very special and otherwordly and beautiful.
The following is quoting professahhummingflowah / Randy from the opening post in a Waitiki video thread on Tiki Central.

As you may know, this summer Waitiki launched a new project that has been christened The Waitiki All-Star Exotica Septet. In other words, a 7 member ensemble dedicated to the preservation and performance of classic and modern exotica.

The group is comprised of: Abe Lagrimas & Randy Wong (Waitiki co-founders; drums and bass, respectively), Tim Mayer (‘The Mayor of Exotica’ – sax/flutes), Jim Benoit (Berklee vibraphone wunderkind, of the Phil WIlson Rainbow Big Band), Helen Liu (dazzling violinist, a.k.a. “Ms. Helenini”), Zaccai Curtis (Latin jazz pianist with Paquito D’Rivera, Christian Scott, Wallace Roney), and Lopaka Colon (percussion and birdcalls; son of original Martin Denny percussionist and birdcaller, Augie Colon).

For your listening & viewing pleasure, here are some selected videos from our two recent performances—The Wassermusik Festival (Berlin, Germany) and the Retro Cocktail Hour’s 500th Broadcast Anniversary (Lawrence, Kansas). We will be mixing and mastering audio from the Retro Cocktail Hour show, as well as recent studio and other live performances, for an upcoming commercial release. Stay tuned.

In the meantime:

From our European debut – videography by Jochen Hirschfield of Armchair Travelling and ‘The DVD of Tiki’

Coronation, shot in Berlin. Featuring Lopaka Colon (son of original Martin Denny percussionist, Augie Colon), bongos & birdcalls.

Primativa, shot in Berlin. Featuring Tim Mayer (Waitiki’s Mayor of Exotica), saxophone.

Tiki, shot in Berlin. Featuring TIm Mayer (sax) and Zaccai Curtis (piano).

From our American debut

Sweet Pikake Serenade, shot in Lawrence. A composition by Randy Wong, in the style of Arthur Lyman’s great exotica ballads. Featuring Lopaka Colon (birdcalls/percussion), Jim Benoit (vibraphone), and Zaccai Curtis (piano).

Left Arm of Buddha, shot in Lawrence. Arrangement by Tim Mayer, of Martin Denny’s classic. Featuring Tim on alto flute and Jim Benoit.

L’Ours Chinois (‘The Chinese Bear’), shot in Lawrence. A composition by Randy Wong, in the style of Fritz Kreisler, Martin Denny, and Maurice Ravel. Featuring Helen Liu (Ms. Helenini) as violin soloist.

Firecrackers, shot in Lawrence; the encore to our show. Arrangement by Abe Lagrimas Jr. and Jim Benoit. Features Abe on drums and Jim on vibes.

Hope you like the videos. Sorry that some of the audio isn’t completely synced to the video; I’m still learning how to use Final Cut Express!! Let us know what you think of the group!!

– Randy & The Waitiki All-Star Exotica Septet

Tiki Central Forums – Topic: The Waitiki All-Star Exotica Septet: videos from our European and American debuts.

More than 94% of life on earth is aquatic.

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This is really sad news. One of the last Exotica icons of the 1950s. She experienced several resurrgences of interest in her life and was a truly unique artist. This text is from her homepage.

Nov-2-2008

It is with deep sadness, that we report that Yma Sumac passed away at 11 am on Saturday Nov 1st. It was peaceful. Those closest to her were at her side.

A very, very private funeral will be held at an undisclosed location. Per her and her closest relative’s instructions, she will be interred in Hollywood, where she spent 60 years of her life.

Her last year was spent surrounded by people who loved her and looked after her with the very best care possible. It should be a consolation that she was always surrounded by flowers, your beautiful cards, photos of her glory days, and an extraordinary view of Los Angeles’ west side. Also, her personal assistant’s two little Chihuahua’s, whom she loved dearly.

Although this news is written as “news” we are all devastated here. Indeed, there was plenty of time to prepare, but when that final moment comes, one finds they may not be at all prepared.

Yma Sumac – Official web site – the Inca princess

Some Yma Sumac videos.

CNN on Yma Sumac

Update:
I got it today, but could only read bits here and there so far.
My favorite quote currently is Johnny Bartlett saying:
“See, a lot of surf bands (in recent years) got it so wrong. It’s not just the guitar you use, or the sound you get, or the clothes you wear… it’s the whole package.”

I encourage anyone with an interest in Surf to buy it asap. It’s just epic.

Pop Surf Culture: Music, Design, Film, and Fashion from the Bohemian Surf Boom: Brian Chidester, Domenic Priore
This is going to be a must have book – just trust me. If you’ve read previous publications by the authors (like the latest Dumb Angel Magazine for example), you know they get deep into their subjects and have great sense for entertaining writing. They take you right there, with coolest people – connecting all the dots of southern california youth culture of the sixties.

link to Pop Surf Culture on Amazon for your pre-order. I am Amazon affiliated, which just means by using this link for a purchase you get a great book and support this blog at the same, for the same money. Why give it all to Amazon ;–?