Post #809125 by Swanky on Sun, May 21, 2023 6:45 AM

I do not like Exotica music in tiki bars. I used to have it in the mix in the Hideaway, but over the years I deleted all of it. It is distracting and just plain wacky. It is a mood killer.

I have tons of Exotica and I certainly like the genre.

One of the key elements of exotica is often its quirkiness with sound effects and bird calls and odd instrumentations. Those things are jarring in a tiki bar.

At the same time, some of my favorite Hukilau memories are hearing it played live in the Mai-Kai either in Molokai or back in Tahiti, or even just on stage. If I could hear Martin Denny at DtB Waikiki in the day, it would be incredible.

On the sound system, it isn't good.

I consider the music to be another decoration to a tiki bar. It's another layer. It is not the focal point. If it is not there, it is not complete. If it is the wrong music it is off-putting. Just like going to a classic Mexican or Chinese or Indian restaurant. You may have no idea who is playing or what they are saying, etc., but it is a detail of the environment you expect, and don't actually notice unless it is missing or wrong.