TIKI OASIS!

BE PREPARED TO HEAR A FULL REPORT!!!

EVENTS: The Exotica Tour in August!

hey!

just a quick FYI that amazing instrumental band The Exotics are planning a small tour of the west coast in August!

if you're planning on possibly missing Tiki Oasis (which you shouldn't), these gigs might suit your fancy! I plan on checking out the Trader Vic's gig, and enjoying a tasty dinner before hand!

See you there!

DRINKS!

so i'm running a little tally, and curious to see how many people are ACTUALLY reading my blog,

But tell me kindred spirits.. What are some of your favorite Tiki drinks & where to do you get them?

Ready

Set


GOOOOOOOOOOO!

EVENT: Tiki Ti Rum Punch!

once again, and 3 TIMES is a charm, the Tiki Ti brings us back to their Rum Punch! I missed the first one by hours, I got to the 2nd one right at 4pm, and this week (tomorrow), I'll be there front and center properly.

Let me tell you about the Rum punch...

It was HEAVEN, especially on such a hot day, ..those of you in LA can vouch that last week was a scorcher and not so much this week for whatever reasons.

Ok but the punch tasted like taking a bite of a peach, or an apricot.. or some kind of amazing fruit and you barely taste the booze. Good or Bad? Well, I had about 4 of em and really felt the buzz after the first 2 really.

CMON out tomorrow!!

My MUGS!

just thought id share my small, but GROWING collection of TIKI mugs!


Here's my Flickr page with a set of my mugs!

take a look! request to be friends on there if you have an account!

OR there's always Ooga-Mooga's website as well!

This week I SWEAR im doing a new podcast!

EVENTS: quite a few on the horizon!

hello my dark & tiki aficionados..

I've been pretty busy lately working on the site, and getting some new things up. I've just been SLACKING on telling you!

So the newest events that are on the horizon is the ever so popular Tiki Oasis!
Aug. 19th-22nd at the Crowne Plaza Hotel & Resort in San Diego, the Tiki Oasis proves to be the superior tiki weekend on the West Coast.

There will be LOTS to do, and I suggest you book a room if you plan on going. The main hotel has been sold out for some time  now, but the surrounding ones are still open..

If you need more info, just visit Tiki Oasis' website for all the info you need.

Also coming up..

Tonight for starters.. the Tiki-Ti in Hollywood is having a $5 Rum Punch day! From 4 till they run out, they'll be selling their super secret and classic Tiki Rum Punch from a huge container that is being made, probably as we speak..

I imagine this will go QUICK but you need to come down early if you want a taste..

Tiki Oasis in August..

Then there's Mondo Lounge III : Palm Springs Weekend! This was a recent find for me, and I'm absolutely excited for this. A full weekend for all those who love: "Mid Century Modernism, Las Vegas, Hollywood glamour, lounge culture, Rat Pack shennanigans, Martinis, cocktails, vintage fashion, space age, atomic age, exotica (ala Les Baxter, Esquivel), the fox trot, Eames era style, 1950s, 1960s style, Bachelor Pad, minks and black tie, Sean Connery era James Bond, sterophonic sound, nightclub acts ala the Hot Box Girls and the GoldDiggers" as stated on the event page.

I've recently become converted to the PROPER world of mid-century modernism and it's amazing interiors. You have companies like IKEA that are completely ruining that image, and when you see a proper Eames home you suddenly realize what a beauty it is.

So the other one I got waiting for is the Tiki Farm Exhibit at the La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Los Feliz. That will be another great gathering of the Tiki-Philes and will occur on Oct. 19th I believe? will run for about a week or so.. So come out for that!!

MUSIC: Deadbolt

Veering into the surf category.. We have San Diego's finest; Deadbolt.

The FIRST time I heard Deadbolt, I was playing guitar in a band called the Deadlines, and we had met up with our labels' A&R guy. He was shocked that we hadn't heard any of their records. At the time they had released 'Voodoo Trucker' a year prior, but I got stuck on the previous release 'Zulu Death Mask'. This is STILL my favorite album they've released and I can't ever get sick of it. From start to finish, it's just full of so much dread and slow paced, reverb drenched, terrifying surf songs. This record has the undertones of a Arthur Lyman or a Martin Denny record.. if he had been lost in the jungles, picked up a machete, and started carving up the locals. Okay, I know that's kinda horrible sounding, but it's definitely a very DARK vibe in these records.

Their first record was actually a split 7" with Rocket from the Crypt which is surprising because they're both pretty different sounding bands but both kin residents to San Diego. This release was pressed in 1000 increments and is probably very HARD to find. The following releases were Shrunken Head (93') and Tiki Man (94') were pretty amazing records as well. Alot of farfisa, alot of macabre subject matter, and the ever tradermark spoken vocals by Mr. Harley Davidson..

Quickly, I'll Explain that Deadbolt has had MANY members through their 20 years of existence. Founding members Harley Davidson, and R.A. MacClean, with current members, Gary 'Third Degree' Burns, and drummer Tank Johnson. Previous personnel has included; Les Vegas, Les Vegas, The Phantom, Badtime Charlie, Clay 'Moore' Mines, The Coroner, Coffin Boy, Moose Cutter, The Voodellas, and in some cases vocals from Diana Death.

Ok, back to releases.. after those first 2 full lengths, the released 'Tijuana Hit Squad' in 96 which is another favorite of mine. All themed around mexican, mafia, and spanish hit men themes, the band delivers a pretty amazing record that has some memorable tracks. One in particular called 'The Interview', is a 2 and a half minute instrumental featuring the band 'interrogating' a suspect and basically torturing him in some pretty awful ways. From getting slapped, to electrocuted, to burned, to drilled, and finally table sawed.. It's pretty fun to listen to...

So after that record there was ZDM, as noted above, then 'Voodoo Trucker' (99'), Hobo Babylon (02'), Haight Street Hippie Massacre: The best of.. (03'), I Should Have Killed You (05) some live records and the recent release, Voodoo Moonshine (2010). So, 12 releases a handful of singles, and Deadbolt continues to influence countless bands.

If you have the means to ever catch Deadbolt live, it's definitely a MUST. Their live show includes plenty of shit talking, jokes, power tools, in some cases aqua net, drinking, and of course Harley rearranging songs. I just caught them earlier this month in downtown and it was their anniversary gig / record release and it was AMAZING.