Generic music in tiki bars

I visited three tiki bars this month (December 2024): Tiki-Ti and Tonga Hut in L.A. and The Luau in San Diego. The music being played in all three bars was classic rock.

Now, I'm not a stickler for tiki bars having to play only exotica from the likes of Denny, Lyman and Baxter, and I'm certainly open to creative musical ideas. But it just seems lazy to play classic rock. I can (and do) hear that in any sports and dive bar. And I think a big part of the atmosphere of any good tiki bar is the music being played. It's disappointing. Sigh.

[/end rant]

I truely think that the music is so important to a tiki bar. It is the last piece of escapism that changes your mood and attitude that bery few people even notice, but it effects them. Those place are in CA, throw in some surf rock and such to keep it fresh, but it does sadden me to hear of bars missing the music aspect.

It's true at Wusong Road here in Cambridge, MA as well - my local watering hole. Excellent overall in every other regard, but the music choices are sometimes a bit baffling. I have heard good choices there before but lately, not so much "in the style!"

We will be adding some exotica ambience to the Golden Tiki Las Vegas on the Orchestrotica's tour coming up - live - in Jan 2025 - no classic rock shall be played (live!)

Mr. Ho

I hear you....it can be off-putting to say the least. I assume, from the bar owner's perspective, they fear the 'exotic' tunes will not keep the 'average' visitor seated. It's like seeing sports on the TV behind the bar. Annoying, for sure. I can only imagine the daily stresses and challenges of owning and operating a bar.

Noooo, The Tonga Hut, too?!? Was just there couple weeks ago and they were playing killer xmas weirdness. Not a Doobie Brother in sight. What is happening there?

I've even used The Tonga Hut (along with Frankie's in Vegas) as an example of a tiki spot that still keeps the music appropriate...

In another thread, some folks reported that politely asking the bartender if they have any tiki music can work. Hasn't worked for me ("No, sorry, the owner sets the music and we can't change it") but it's worth a shot.

" I assume, from the bar owner's perspective, they fear the 'exotic' tunes will not keep the 'average' visitor seated."

I would guess that, too. Which I think is (if you'll pardon my French) a bunch of hooey. Makes as much sense as saying: we can't sell 'weird' food like Thai or sushi, so every place sells burgers.

Given that it was December, I would have been fine with Xmas tunes -- especially odd ones like MrFab mentions. And like I said in my original post, I'm all for creative ideas and don't need only exotica. Lagoon of Mystery did a series of videos about the wide variety of music you could play in a tiki bar to create a great atmosphere: https://www.youtube.com/@LagoonofMystery