Not Tiki! (Now With 20% More Essays On Underappreciated Music!) - Bilge

TM tiki mick Tiki Socialite SOCAL Joined: May 12, 2004 Posts: 4105	TM tiki mick Posted posted on Thu, Nov 4, 2010 3:32 PM On 2010-11-04 14:33, Cammo wrote: "I was being silly Cammo." Actually, so was I. I agree with everything Lucas has been saying, in fact I agree with every single post Lucas has ever made on TC, except the ones about the Beatles!!!! It's absurd to say that Hawaiiana isn't part of the Tiki movement, holy crap you'd have to have nails driven into your brain, drink a barrel of 2000 proof rum, AND watch every episode of Glee to be brain damaged enough to think that Hawaii, original Tikis and uke music isn't "Tiki". How many times do I have to explain this stuff to you guys?!?!??! I am glad at least ONE person sees the logic in it. But before I get pegged as being too much a purist when it comes to Tiki music (I tend to mostly talk about the music aspect of this forum if you haven’t noticed!) it’s important to note that I like pretty much all the bands that regularly post on this forum. All of them are highly creative and interesting, not to mention talented….but I have to be honest and question the true relation to “Tiki” of most of them. The only reason it matters personally to me, is that I see many of them having MUCH more success and exposure then my personal band, The Smokin’ Menehunes. Yes, I am totally jealous. Yes, it pisses me off. And I would submit that it would piss anyone off who has been slogging away at a project for 7 years only to play to an empty room. That’s ridiculous. If we sucked eggs, I would expect it…but we don’t. We are actually a really good and tight band playing a style of music that the average garage rock musician probably cannot duplicate, due to the large amount of “Jazz” chords and structures that Hapa Haole music uses. The way I see Tiki central, unfortunately (and I am stating this out of a sincere desire to see things change) is akin to saying you like Ska music, and having a forum dedicated to it. BUT, on that forum we only talk about new bands like No Doubt, and the earlier Ska bands like the specials or even earlier like the skatellites, are totally boycotted by the forum! That makes no sense! Should not the roots of the movement be revered, and those who can do a really good duplication of it be a bit more popular? An even better analogy would be a reggae talk forum, but when you view it every other thread is about “Reggaeton” (a form of rap music loosely based on reggae) and hardly anyone talks about Bob Marley! That’s the way I feel when I look at California events on tiki central and see that what is being talked about, what gets the most buzz are all the surf rock bands and punk rock bands that have a tiki or two in a song title… That’s what I question about things. I totally understand that things need to evolve or they stagnate and die. So, philosophically I am not against some modern surf band or garage band or punk band that has plenty of tiki imagery but bills themselves as “exotica” when they clearly have a very nebulous relationship to exotica…and I do wish a band like that all the success in the world…but yes, it bothers me that a more pure, authentic band that glorifies the roots and beginnings of something are virtually ignored. In a perfect Tiki world, you would have both the old and the new celebrated (like it says on the main tiki central page)..but with the exception of collecting artifacts, this forum leans very heavily to the modern interpretation of tiki, so much so that the old is ignored almost completely. Personally, I listen to a lot of Hapa Haole music. To me, not only is it the sound of Hawaii but it is the sound of Tiki. Big time! The steel guitar, the strumming ukulele, beautiful classy vocals with haunting and romantic lyrics…this is what I associate with Tiki FIRST. The sound of a steel guitar, instantly paints an impression in my mind of tiki, and it always has since I was a little kid. I remember riding “small world” in Disneyland, and if you recall, as soon as you get to the tropical section the theme song mutates into percussion and steel guitar! The little hula dolls dancing..the smoking tiki god idols! Wow! I know it is basically a cartoon come to life, but in my mind Walt Disney nailed it! Then there is the famous brady bunch goes to Hawaii episode. That one made a huge impression on a land- locked suburban kid like me! And the music you hear in the beginning is all steel guitar as they are driving around the island taking in all the sights! How I use to dream of that vista from Mt. Tantalus!! On another subject, I feel the same way about exotica music, but we have to consider the fact that “exotica” music was really only seen live in a few places. The Shell bar in Waikiki and maybe a couple of other places. But as I have said before, it was not really what you would see if you had gone to one of these kitschy Polynesian joints back in the day. It would have been the Luau and everything that goes with it..and that means hula dancers, hapa haole bands and Polynesian drumming. No, I am not talking about ethnologically correct presentations of primitive pacific islander culture. After all, poi tastes pretty bad, human sacrifices and slavery are never fun to watch or engage in, and the ancient Hawaiian martial art of Lua is all about breaking your enemy’s bones with your hands. Fun stuff, not! I am not a big fan of more modern Hawaiian stuff like Jawaiian or even slack key guitar..too folksy for my tastes. Nor do I like Hawaiian soft rock like cecilio and kapono or even bruddah iz. Yes, they are talented but by every definition, I see little relation to Tiki. But something like Hapa Haole music? It’s mostly sung in English. The chords are jazz based. Only rarely were ancient melodies adapted for this style of music. And it was written during the golden age of Tiki! My point is that the music is inauthentic enough, and inauthenticity is really what we are all enjoying about tiki culture as it is. But it is really a stretch to include loud rock bands in tiki events. At least at the volume and amount they do on this forum. After all, did they really have a lot of distorted or effected electric guitar back in the 40’s and 50’s? Would Don Beach or Vic Bergeron have wanted a band wearing wrestling masks with loud guitars playing in the bar? In the modern Tiki scene, there are only a few bands that I know about that are playing the real deal. My band, the Mai Kai Gents, and the Sweet Hollywaiians. ( There are more in Europe but they really don’t have much to do with this forum.) I just worry about the day when we are gone, and unfortunately, it will eventually happen. Then, will people be pining away for the good old days? Why not come to a hapa haole gig NOW, while it is still happening! Do you know how much research and love for this music people like me have done and have exhibited? A great deal of thought and care went into the songs my band plays. No, they are not originals. They are the classics, timeless classics! A perfect romantic evening for you and your significant other is only made better by listening to the romantic songs sung by a veteran (and true Hawaiian kane!) like Palika “Pat” Enos. How charming and quaint! I say give it a chance! You can see rock bands and punk bands and surf bands any day of the week. They have been here for 30 years and will always be here…but a real hapa haole band? This is a rare thing, friends! So, I find myself agreeing with Telescopes completely. How shocked I was that two years ago, Tiki Oasis was basically one big mosh pit featuring exactly what he described. The Ghastly Ones and the Creepy Creeps headlining? Yes, they are super good bands! I actually like them a lot….but they are not tiki, not even close. I just say that if you want to balance things out, you should at least have a real hapa haole band in there! I get the whole diversity thing…but you need something authentic too. Bring things back to Tiki, real Tiki! Someone needs to start a petition and get us the hell in there! Support your local hapa haole band because one day it won’t be there! And please, don’t read into this that I am insulting or disrespecting the modern tiki-like bands. I am not. I love most of them. I just want to see the day come when you can go to an event and hear both the old and the new. Lately, I feel the old style of hapa haole has just been overlooked or boycotted in some situations…is that right? Right now the music scene on tiki central is really lopsided, partisan and biased towards everything but hapa haole music. The norm seems to be Johnny Aloha and Richard Cheese, who are somewhat making fun of tiki and lounge culture. Makes me wonder if Arthur Lyman was alive today (and younger) would anyone really be going to see him play from this forum if he were appearing at Don’s? And frankly, even If I was not in a hapa haole band and had no personal stake in any of this, I would feel the same way. That’s my story and I am sticking to it! And PS I want to make a shot out to an excellent exotica band that I feel are soul brothers to the smokin’ menehunes..and that is the Stolen Idols. These guys are very much interested in the authentic version of exotica music. They are worth checking out!

On 2010-11-04 14:33, Cammo wrote:
"I was being silly Cammo."

Actually, so was I. I agree with everything Lucas has been saying, in fact I agree with every single post Lucas has ever made on TC, except the ones about the Beatles!!!!

It's absurd to say that Hawaiiana isn't part of the Tiki movement, holy crap you'd have to have nails driven into your brain, drink a barrel of 2000 proof rum, AND watch every episode of Glee to be brain damaged enough to think that Hawaii, original Tikis and uke music isn't "Tiki".

How many times do I have to explain this stuff to you guys?!?!??!

I am glad at least ONE person sees the logic in it.

But before I get pegged as being too much a purist when it comes to Tiki music (I tend to mostly talk about the music aspect of this forum if you haven’t noticed!) it’s important to note that I like pretty much all the bands that regularly post on this forum. All of them are highly creative and interesting, not to mention talented….but I have to be honest and question the true relation to “Tiki” of most of them. The only reason it matters personally to me, is that I see many of them having MUCH more success and exposure then my personal band, The Smokin’ Menehunes. Yes, I am totally jealous. Yes, it pisses me off. And I would submit that it would piss anyone off who has been slogging away at a project for 7 years only to play to an empty room. That’s ridiculous. If we sucked eggs, I would expect it…but we don’t. We are actually a really good and tight band playing a style of music that the average garage rock musician probably cannot duplicate, due to the large amount of “Jazz” chords and structures that Hapa Haole music uses.

The way I see Tiki central, unfortunately (and I am stating this out of a sincere desire to see things change) is akin to saying you like Ska music, and having a forum dedicated to it. BUT, on that forum we only talk about new bands like No Doubt, and the earlier Ska bands like the specials or even earlier like the skatellites, are totally boycotted by the forum! That makes no sense! Should not the roots of the movement be revered, and those who can do a really good duplication of it be a bit more popular?

An even better analogy would be a reggae talk forum, but when you view it every other thread is about “Reggaeton” (a form of rap music loosely based on reggae) and hardly anyone talks about Bob Marley!

That’s the way I feel when I look at California events on tiki central and see that what is being talked about, what gets the most buzz are all the surf rock bands and punk rock bands that have a tiki or two in a song title…

That’s what I question about things. I totally understand that things need to evolve or they stagnate and die. So, philosophically I am not against some modern surf band or garage band or punk band that has plenty of tiki imagery but bills themselves as “exotica” when they clearly have a very nebulous relationship to exotica…and I do wish a band like that all the success in the world…but yes, it bothers me that a more pure, authentic band that glorifies the roots and beginnings of something are virtually ignored.

In a perfect Tiki world, you would have both the old and the new celebrated (like it says on the main tiki central page)..but with the exception of collecting artifacts, this forum leans very heavily to the modern interpretation of tiki, so much so that the old is ignored almost completely.

Personally, I listen to a lot of Hapa Haole music. To me, not only is it the sound of Hawaii but it is the sound of Tiki. Big time! The steel guitar, the strumming ukulele, beautiful classy vocals with haunting and romantic lyrics…this is what I associate with Tiki FIRST.

The sound of a steel guitar, instantly paints an impression in my mind of tiki, and it always has since I was a little kid. I remember riding “small world” in Disneyland, and if you recall, as soon as you get to the tropical section the theme song mutates into percussion and steel guitar! The little hula dolls dancing..the smoking tiki god idols! Wow! I know it is basically a cartoon come to life, but in my mind Walt Disney nailed it!

Then there is the famous brady bunch goes to Hawaii episode. That one made a huge impression on a land- locked suburban kid like me! And the music you hear in the beginning is all steel guitar as they are driving around the island taking in all the sights! How I use to dream of that vista from Mt. Tantalus!!

On another subject, I feel the same way about exotica music, but we have to consider the fact that “exotica” music was really only seen live in a few places. The Shell bar in Waikiki and maybe a couple of other places. But as I have said before, it was not really what you would see if you had gone to one of these kitschy Polynesian joints back in the day. It would have been the Luau and everything that goes with it..and that means hula dancers, hapa haole bands and Polynesian drumming.

No, I am not talking about ethnologically correct presentations of primitive pacific islander culture. After all, poi tastes pretty bad, human sacrifices and slavery are never fun to watch or engage in, and the ancient Hawaiian martial art of Lua is all about breaking your enemy’s bones with your hands. Fun stuff, not!

I am not a big fan of more modern Hawaiian stuff like Jawaiian or even slack key guitar..too folksy for my tastes. Nor do I like Hawaiian soft rock like cecilio and kapono or even bruddah iz. Yes, they are talented but by every definition, I see little relation to Tiki.

But something like Hapa Haole music? It’s mostly sung in English. The chords are jazz based. Only rarely were ancient melodies adapted for this style of music. And it was written during the golden age of Tiki! My point is that the music is inauthentic enough, and inauthenticity is really what we are all enjoying about tiki culture as it is. But it is really a stretch to include loud rock bands in tiki events. At least at the volume and amount they do on this forum. After all, did they really have a lot of distorted or effected electric guitar back in the 40’s and 50’s? Would Don Beach or Vic Bergeron have wanted a band wearing wrestling masks with loud guitars playing in the bar?

In the modern Tiki scene, there are only a few bands that I know about that are playing the real deal. My band, the Mai Kai Gents, and the Sweet Hollywaiians. ( There are more in Europe but they really don’t have much to do with this forum.)

I just worry about the day when we are gone, and unfortunately, it will eventually happen. Then, will people be pining away for the good old days? Why not come to a hapa haole gig NOW, while it is still happening! Do you know how much research and love for this music people like me have done and have exhibited? A great deal of thought and care went into the songs my band plays. No, they are not originals. They are the classics, timeless classics!

A perfect romantic evening for you and your significant other is only made better by listening to the romantic songs sung by a veteran (and true Hawaiian kane!) like Palika “Pat” Enos. How charming and quaint! I say give it a chance! You can see rock bands and punk bands and surf bands any day of the week. They have been here for 30 years and will always be here…but a real hapa haole band? This is a rare thing, friends!

So, I find myself agreeing with Telescopes completely. How shocked I was that two years ago, Tiki Oasis was basically one big mosh pit featuring exactly what he described. The Ghastly Ones and the Creepy Creeps headlining? Yes, they are super good bands! I actually like them a lot….but they are not tiki, not even close. I just say that if you want to balance things out, you should at least have a real hapa haole band in there! I get the whole diversity thing…but you need something authentic too. Bring things back to Tiki, real Tiki!

Someone needs to start a petition and get us the hell in there! Support your local hapa haole band because one day it won’t be there!

And please, don’t read into this that I am insulting or disrespecting the modern tiki-like bands. I am not. I love most of them. I just want to see the day come when you can go to an event and hear both the old and the new. Lately, I feel the old style of hapa haole has just been overlooked or boycotted in some situations…is that right? Right now the music scene on tiki central is really lopsided, partisan and biased towards everything but hapa haole music. The norm seems to be Johnny Aloha and Richard Cheese, who are somewhat making fun of tiki and lounge culture. Makes me wonder if Arthur Lyman was alive today (and younger) would anyone really be going to see him play from this forum if he were appearing at Don’s?

And frankly, even If I was not in a hapa haole band and had no personal stake in any of this, I would feel the same way.

That’s my story and I am sticking to it!

And PS I want to make a shot out to an excellent exotica band that I feel are soul brothers to the smokin’ menehunes..and that is the Stolen Idols. These guys are very much interested in the authentic version of exotica music. They are worth checking out!

Post #563475 by tiki mick on Thu, Nov 4, 2010 3:32 PM