The Polynesian Paradise Dancers with CAKE (the band) for New Years

..at the Wiltern:

Don't know the band, or their music, so is this a weird combination, or not?

This is the only song I know of theirs. Great song but it seems like an odd combo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p99a6K81zqM

I like Cake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peU2rztucGk

.....and pie......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7aDstrDMf0

Ron posted their two hits and probably best songs. They're on oddball rock band with a quirky sense of humor in their music. Catchy stuff generally, but the combination could be a little odd. Who knows, maybe they have a closet fetish for hapa haole/poly pop?

On 2012-12-31 15:59, GatorRob wrote:
Who knows, maybe they have a closet fetish for hapa haole/poly pop?

Maybe they do. it would be sadly ironic, of course. But it always amazes me how with the outside, non-tiki central world...the first imagery they think of is a hula dancer...and the first music they associate with tiki is Hapa Haole....imagine that. Maybe the outside world could actually teach us a few things about poly pop.

Lucas,

I can hear yer old soap box creaking again.
time to get down.
even though you are 100% correct.

Jeff(btd)

Ahhh musicians, lol

Lucas, but we do associate the Hula girl and Hapa Haole with Polynesian pop! Just not with Tiki :)

Many outside folks associate the above things with the Tiki revival today for similar reasons than not recognizing Tiki as its own style in the mid-century: The lack of perspective (and lack of interest) to differentiate between the two. I love that you are a fan of Hapa Haole, and it was indeed the most prevalent music played in Polynesian supper clubs in the mid-century - but that does not make it as interesting and unique phenomenon as Exotica was. Just like the tropical bamboo hut decor that existed since the 30s in America. All fine and quaint and romantic in a South Seas manner, but artistically not quite as edgy as Tiki decor and Exotica music.

Steve Crane's designer Florian Gabriel himself wrote to me that by the mid-50s, Polynesian pop had become a tired cliche - until Tiki came along and gave it a creative shot in the arm that made it last another decade before it gloriously crashed and burned. Yes, Tiki NEEDED the grandiose stage created by Polynesian pop in previous decades to fully realize its potential. And yes, Exotica music was too rarely played in Tiki lounges, but here is where I come from:

I see myself more as an art historian, not a social historian, so what counts for me is the fact that the evolution of the genre of Exotica absolutely paralleled the development of Tiki Style, chronologically and stylistically. Both united the two opposites of modern and primitive. This was not a coincidence, but happened because both were born out of the same Zeitgeist: The modern primitive mindset of the folks who bought Martin Denny records was the same than the ones that went to Tiki Bob's for cocktails. They were jet age Mad Men, not Matson Line old folks. The former are the ones that interest me more than the latter.

Many Tiki followers especially here in California have personal memories of their exposure to Polynesian pop which created nostalgic attachments to various aspects of it. I have no intention to discount these. Everybody is free to favor Don Blanding or love Don Ho, they all are part of the rise and fall of Tiki. But that does not change the fact that viewed from my definition of Tiki style, one was an old hat and the other a post-Tiki pop star. I am the outsider who is looking at all it with a cold hard stare. :)

Bigbro, one of these days, we gots to collab

On 2012-12-31 19:11, bigbrotiki wrote:
Lucas, but we do associate the Hula girl and Hapa Haole with Polynesian pop! Just not with Tiki :)

Many outside folks associate the above things with the Tiki revival today for similar reasons than not recognizing Tiki as its own style in the mid-century: The lack of perspective (and lack of interest) to differentiate between the two. I love that you are a fan of Hapa Haole, and it was indeed the most prevalent music played in Polynesian supper clubs in the mid-century - but that does not make it as interesting and unique phenomenon as Exotica was. Just like the tropical bamboo hut decor that existed since the 30s in America. All fine and quaint and romantic in a South Seas manner, but artistically not quite as edgy as Tiki decor and Exotica music.

Steve Crane's designer Florian Gabriel himself wrote to me that by the mid-50s, Polynesian pop had become a tired cliche - until Tiki came along and gave it a creative shot in the arm that made it last another decade before it gloriously crashed and burned. Yes, Tiki NEEDED the grandiose stage created by Polynesian pop in previous decades to fully realize its potential. And yes, Exotica music was too rarely played in Tiki lounges, but here is where I come from:

I see myself more as an art historian, not a social historian, so what counts for me is the fact that the evolution of the genre of Exotica absolutely paralleled the development of Tiki Style, chronologically and stylistically. Both united the two opposites of modern and primitive. This was not a coincidence, but happened because both were born out of the same Zeitgeist: The modern primitive mindset of the folks who bought Martin Denny records was the same than the ones that went to Tiki Bob's for cocktails. They were jet age Mad Men, not Matson Line old folks. The former are the ones that interest me more than the latter.

Many Tiki followers especially here in California have personal memories of their exposure to Polynesian pop which created nostalgic attachments to various aspects of it. I have no intention to discount these. Everybody is free to favor Don Blanding or love Don Ho, they all are part of the rise and fall of Tiki. But that does not change the fact that viewed from my definition of Tiki style, one was an old hat and the other a post-Tiki pop star. I am the outsider who is looking at all it with a cold hard stare. :)

As usual, Sven, I agree with almost all of what you say...and I think how you compare the modern primitive mad man to the matson line old folks is basically true.....I guess where I find the "sad irony" is in what "tiki" music has devolved into. I say devolved, because whether you use Hapa Haole or exotica as your base, it is still music that had a heavily jazz-based attitude and pedigree...and the music that sometimes is very popular on this forum has little do do with any of it. I may be an old fogey, cranky, on a soap box but I still can't figure out exactly what tatts and punk and all that stuff has to do with tiki, then or now...and before anyone says that I am biased because of the type of band I play with, I was into hapa haole music long before I ever played it. Frankly, I love it...BUT, I love the style of hapa haole that was a bit more modern, say, the 60's and 70's version of it...not quite the real old style that bands like the sweet hollywaians play...I like it with a bit of a sheen and production to it....Hukilau Hulas being what I think is the finest example of what I am talking about.

Lucas,

who are these punk rock tiki bands you speak of?

I don't know of any.
but I might go see them if I knew there name,
and where they played.

if yer to afarid to post it publicly
call me.

Jeff(btd)

On 2013-01-01 18:47, bigtikidude wrote:
Lucas,

who are these punk rock tiki bands you speak of?

I don't know of any.
but I might go see them if I knew there name,
and where they played.

if yer to afarid to post it publicly
call me.

Jeff(btd)

Jeff, why must you always call me out, and make me "go there"?

Ok, I'll play....for starters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF73Q2hgiOc

headlining the biggest "tiki" event in the world. Meanwhile, a hapa haole band that has been gigging for 10 years now is told they are "innapropriate" for a tiki event, not even poolside, not even in the elevators....

So a mosh pit is ok, but vintage hawaiian music is not. Can someone please explain that to me?

Maybe we are not cool enough for oasis....but we sure are cool enough for the NAMM show, where we will be performing in two weeks.

Oh Lucas, Tiki Punk is so yesterday. Tiki Soul/Mod/Ska is the happening thing now...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTb18QefC90

:D

On 2013-01-02 10:49, JOHN-O wrote:
Oh Lucas, Tiki Punk is so yesterday. Tiki Soul/Mod/Ska is the happening thing now...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTb18QefC90

:D

I know. Anything BUT hawaiian music. Don Ho must be spinning in his grave.

I'm just gonna say the Untouchables didn't belong at TO and take the flames as they come.

On 2013-01-02 11:37, TheClamsCasino wrote:
I'm just gonna say the Untouchables didn't belong at TO and take the flames as they come.

No arguments here. Sure, great band....I remember them in high school when I was a mod....

but I can't think of even one thing tiki about them.

I am all for the big tent, to widen the appeal....but c'mon already! I would not have any problems with most of this if a true hapa haole band (like mine) was included....but this is like ordering spaghetti and being told that marinara sauce is not a good fit for the dish.

My favorite thread on this forum, hands down, was the polynesian floor show thread. Band after band in those pictures were hapa haole bands or something extremely similar....yet, the actual bands and the actual music have very little appeal to a majority of people here...I just don't get it.

I mean, I grew up (like everyone here) surrounded by rock music. When I was a teenager, a trip to the music store was to be subjected to nothing but pointy guitars played by dudes wearing make-up and with blown dried hair.

It's boring. Then, and now. We are immersed in it, surrounded by it. I always looked at tiki as something different....no matter what your upbringing was, the vintage music made during that era was excellent, and has stood the test of time. Shame more people don't get it.

Need some Beatles music. :wink:

[ Edited by: grog 2013-01-03 04:15 ]

On 2013-01-02 10:07, lucas vigor wrote:

On 2013-01-01 18:47, bigtikidude wrote:
Lucas,

who are these punk rock tiki bands you speak of?

I don't know of any.
but I might go see them if I knew there name,
and where they played.

if yer to afarid to post it publicly
call me.

Jeff(btd)

Jeff, why must you always call me out, and make me "go there"?

Ok, I'll play....for starters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF73Q2hgiOc

headlining the biggest "tiki" event in the world. Meanwhile, a hapa haole band that has been gigging for 10 years now is told they are "innapropriate" for a tiki event, not even poolside, not even in the elevators....

So a mosh pit is ok, but vintage hawaiian music is not. Can someone please explain that to me?

Maybe we are not cool enough for oasis....but we sure are cool enough for the NAMM show, where we will be performing in two weeks.

Lucas,

I'm not sure, but I would think that the Creepy Creeps would say that they are (not) a Tiki Band.
They played one year on the main stage, The Zombie theme year(Zombie-Creepy Creep)
get it?
They Have a Side project called Creep-zotica that has played by the pool.
Very mellow surf/lounge versions of their songs, and new ones.

But you wouldn't know that, because yer never there.
I would think if you liked tiki, you would go to events.
But we only see you at Tiki Events that yer playing at,
then you leave shortly after.
So yer take on what is going on is very limited,
and biased.
Try going to an event and soaking in what is going on.
Instead of trying to figure out why yer not playing it.

Jeff(btd)

[ Edited by: bigtikidude 2013-01-04 00:21 ]

On 2013-01-02 11:37, TheClamsCasino wrote:
I'm just gonna say the Untouchables didn't belong at TO and take the flames as they come.

For those of you who are newbies (Clams) to the Tiki Oasis party, or or those of you who have never been (Lucas), Tiki Oasis is themed in order to present a wide array of art and musical acts that are tangentially associated with Exotica. Usually we try to present Exotica-centric bands on Friday (Ernie Menehune, WAITIKI, Bob Drasnin, APE, Tikiyaki Orch, Tiki Joe's Ocean, The Maikai Gents, etc) and bands related to the theme on Saturday (HERB, Untouchables, Phantom Surfers, Ghastly Ones, magician James Dimarre, etc).

Here's how The Untouchables fit the bill for Tiki Oasis. (speaking very slowly so everyone understands) Last year's Tiki Oasis was "Spy" themed. One of their biggest hits was "I Spy for the FBI" and a great spy video accompanied it. They also do "Agent 00 Soul" a spy/ska/soul classic. And they wear suits and fedoras so they look pretty secret agent-y to begin with.

Now, long before YOU were into Tiki, The Untouchables were into Tiki. Naturally since they were into vintage 1960s culture they would be fans of Tiki. This comic book, albiet it VERY 80s in an MC Hammer kind of way, shows them as secret agents versus the Tiki Brothers!

So not only is there a strong spy connection but a slight Tiki connection.

look in upper right corner of this panel for Tiki mask grafitti

To me, the sound of "Tiki" is all about Martin Denny and that type of sound.

On 2013-01-04 20:46, Otto wrote:

On 2013-01-02 11:37, TheClamsCasino wrote:
I'm just gonna say the Untouchables didn't belong at TO and take the flames as they come.

For those of you who are newbies (Clams) to the Tiki Oasis party, or or those of you who have never been (Lucas), Tiki Oasis is themed in order to present a wide array of art and musical acts that are tangentially associated with Exotica. Usually we try to present Exotica-centric bands on Friday (Ernie Menehune, WAITIKI, Bob Drasnin, APE, Tikiyaki Orch, Tiki Joe's Ocean, The Maikai Gents, etc) and bands related to the theme on Saturday (HERB, Untouchables, Phantom Surfers, Ghastly Ones, magician James Dimarre, etc).

Here's how The Untouchables fit the bill for Tiki Oasis. (speaking very slowly so everyone understands) Last year's Tiki Oasis was "Spy" themed. One of their biggest hits was "I Spy for the FBI" and a great spy video accompanied it. They also do "Agent 00 Soul" a spy/ska/soul classic. And they wear suits and fedoras so they look pretty secret agent-y to begin with.

Now, long before YOU were into Tiki, The Untouchables were into Tiki. Naturally since they were into vintage 1960s culture they would be fans of Tiki. This comic book, albiet it VERY 80s in an MC Hammer kind of way, shows them as secret agents versus the Tiki Brothers!

So not only is there a strong spy connection but a slight Tiki connection.

First off, Otto, I was at the 2004 tiki oasis when it was still at caliente. You might remember that was the first and last time the smokin menehunes played your event. Then, while I was still in the hula girls, I played 3 tiki oasis events, that included car shows, room parties and main stage.

Second, I don't know if the "long before you were into tiki" was directed at me, but I have been listening to Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman since I was 5 years old...and that would be around 1970. Been "into" tiki culture since I lived in hawaii during the 80's. However, did not know it was called "tiki" until I discovered this forum.

Also, as I mentioned, the untouchables surely are a good band, but they are so marginally tiki it's laughable. You are connecting the dots in a very nebulous way, and so do a lot of other people on this forum, and at the same time, you totally exclude hapa haole music from your event, and specifically my band, for whatever reasons you have. Whatever happened in the past was almost 10 years ago now. Great music should be bigger then that, you know?

On 2013-01-05 08:01, lucas vigor wrote:

On 2013-01-04 20:46, Otto wrote:

On 2013-01-02 11:37, TheClamsCasino wrote:
I'm just gonna say the Untouchables didn't belong at TO and take the flames as they come.

For those of you who are newbies (Clams) to the Tiki Oasis party, or or those of you who have never been (Lucas), Tiki Oasis is themed in order to present a wide array of art and musical acts that are tangentially associated with Exotica. Usually we try to present Exotica-centric bands on Friday (Ernie Menehune, WAITIKI, Bob Drasnin, APE, Tikiyaki Orch, Tiki Joe's Ocean, The Maikai Gents, etc) and bands related to the theme on Saturday (HERB, Untouchables, Phantom Surfers, Ghastly Ones, magician James Dimarre, etc).

Here's how The Untouchables fit the bill for Tiki Oasis. (speaking very slowly so everyone understands) Last year's Tiki Oasis was "Spy" themed. One of their biggest hits was "I Spy for the FBI" and a great spy video accompanied it. They also do "Agent 00 Soul" a spy/ska/soul classic. And they wear suits and fedoras so they look pretty secret agent-y to begin with.

Now, long before YOU were into Tiki, The Untouchables were into Tiki. Naturally since they were into vintage 1960s culture they would be fans of Tiki. This comic book, albiet it VERY 80s in an MC Hammer kind of way, shows them as secret agents versus the Tiki Brothers!

So not only is there a strong spy connection but a slight Tiki connection.

First off, Otto, I was at the 2004 tiki oasis when it was still at caliente. You might remember that was the first and last time the smokin menehunes played your event. Then, while I was still in the hula girls, I played 3 tiki oasis events, that included car shows, room parties and main stage.

Second, I don't know if the "long before you were into tiki" was directed at me, but I have been listening to Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman since I was 5 years old...and that would be around 1970. Been "into" tiki culture since I lived in hawaii during the 80's. However, did not know it was called "tiki" until I discovered this forum.

Also, as I mentioned, the untouchables surely are a good band, but they are so marginally tiki it's laughable. You are connecting the dots in a very nebulous way, and so do a lot of other people on this forum, and at the same time, you totally exclude hapa haole music from your event, and specifically my band, for whatever reasons you have. Whatever happened in the past was almost 10 years ago now. Great music should be bigger then that, you know?

Our founder, Uncle Pat Enos:

The Polynesian Paradise Dancers are pretty good

On 2013-01-05 09:40, lucas vigor wrote:

On 2013-01-05 08:01, lucas vigor wrote:

First off, Otto, I was at the 2004 tiki oasis when it was still at caliente. You might remember that was the first and last time the smokin menehunes played your event. Then, while I was still in the hula girls, I played 3 tiki oasis events, that included car shows, room parties and main stage.

Second, I don't know if the "long before you were into tiki" was directed at me, but I have been listening to Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman since I was 5 years old...and that would be around 1970. Been "into" tiki culture since I lived in hawaii during the 80's. However, did not know it was called "tiki" until I discovered this forum.

Also, as I mentioned, the untouchables surely are a good band, but they are so marginally tiki it's laughable. You are connecting the dots in a very nebulous way, and so do a lot of other people on this forum, and at the same time, you totally exclude hapa haole music from your event, and specifically my band, for whatever reasons you have. Whatever happened in the past was almost 10 years ago now. Great music should be bigger then that, you know?

Our founder, Uncle Pat Enos:

Lucas,
My apologies. I did not realize that you were in the Smokin Menehunes back when they played Caliente tropics.
Also forgot that you were in the Hula Girls earlier on. Of course I remember the last time The Hula Girls played on the main stage with you in band, I believe I talked to you briefly backstage.

My apologies again for referring to you as new to neo-Tiki. I have only heard from you since 2004 and I know Sven has been researching Tiki Bars since at least 1984 and I have been frequenting Tiki bars since I was about 22 (Kelbo's in 1986)

And, as I noted, I am not against Hapa Haole music, The Maikai Gents have played many TO, Ernie Menehune is classic Haole music, The Friki Tikis played one year, the Uke jam has been a very successful aspect of TO since moving to SD and they play Haole Hawaiian tunes.

I often throw in some hulas and haole Hawaiian tunes during my monthly Exotica DJ gigs that I have been doing at Forbidden Island for a few years and other locations for the past 16 years.

Sorry, otto. I don't mean to come off as such a dick...I am just really passionate about hapa haole music. I have always held it as equal weight with exotica, when it comes to tiki.

On 2013-01-05 20:31, lucas vigor wrote:
Sorry, otto. I don't mean to come off as such a dick...I am just really passionate about hapa haole music. I have always held it as equal weight with exotica, when it comes to tiki.

I appreciate passion. I think our interests interestingly overlap.