Post #521466 by Luckydesigns on Thu, Apr 1, 2010 4:00 PM

I think it's very interesting to define tiki music by putting it in context of how it applies to the environment that it is being played in... and I agree that the further that you get away from the 'original' stuff, the more you lose the 'tiki' aspect to the music.

I can very narrowly define 'tiki' music too. I was talking with the drummer of Thee Cormans about it the other day. He said that he was talking with somebody and asked the guy what kind of music do you like... The guy responded, 'tiki music'. When he was further prodded along in the question, the guy really couldn't define what he meant. We both immediately came to the conclusion that traditionally, pure tiki music is Hawaiian (hapa haole, steel, and slack key) and Exotica. Simple as that... But I still feel that it's boring and unartistic in creating 'tiki' music to remain constrained by those boundaries. We should learn from the past and take what was good about that stuff to create something new and exciting. Just like Tikiyaki, just like The Blue Hawaiians, just like The Tiki Tones, and now, just like The Hula Girls are doing... I believe that all of those bands would fit nicely in a playlist at Don's, and it would be super cool. With that, of course, I still feel like there is always room for a purist take as well.

Rockabilly, I agree, is not traditionally considered 'tiki' music. But Marie plays some at Don's and it doesn't seem to bum anyone out. it fits in there nicely. I think that it falls into the question of context... You play too much exotica and people are gonna fall asleep in their drinks...But you play too much rockabilly, and all of the sudden we're at the Doll Hut and not in paradise anymore.... Anyway, The Hula Girls are bending that perception. Even if we're the ONLY hulabilly band out there....

I also remember the discussions about the music at Taboo Cove. I'm sure I was part of that thread too. When I was there, before they killed the place, it was a combination of super loud hard rock (like Kid Rock stuff) and hip hop... I really feel that the music had to do with the fate of that place... Well, that, and a bad location and minimal advertising....