See original exotica musician Al Pabilona & daughter Olivia for a session of live exotica music featuring songs and stories in the classic Hawaii entertainer style!

This Sunday, Jan 21, 4-6pm
Forbidden Island, 1304 Lincoln Ave., Alameda, CA 94501

Doors open at 3p.m. • $10 cover • Albums available for sale
Live Exotica and Storytelling and live recording.

(image: Al Pabilona and Arthur Lyman)

Over fifty years ago Al Pabilona recorded the Exotica album titled “Mauna Kea Breeze” with his father and family band in their garage. Al and his family lived in Hawaii and then settled in San Jose where he is still playing music with his daughter Olivia in a band called UNDERTOW.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear live exotica music and catch an original exotica musician. Al Pabilona may be the last living legend playing essentially the same set he would have played in the late 1960s. Lounge and Exotica standards are presented with stories and introductions reminiscent of the heyday of old Waikiki hotel lounge shows.

This show will be recorded live to capture the current sound of Undertow with plans for a future live release.

Al Jr. was only 13 years old when he played drums on an Exotica recording by The Hawaiian Spotlighters. They were originally called Al’s Spotlighters and played at clubs, weddings and other events in Hilo, Hawaii. The family later moved to California. In 1964, Al Pabilona Sr. recorded his musical family inside their garage in Hayward, California. Each family member played an integral part of the band with Bill Pabilona composing the title track “Mauna Kea Breeze”.

He was gracious, kind and awestruck when Dionysus Records approached him to reissue the album – only 200 copies of the original album were made on the Century Custom label. Today, only a handful of these exist, making this one of the rarest exotica records ever recorded!

ROBERT DRASNIN – VOODOO III LP, CD, Digital officially released

Towards the end of Robert Drasnin‘s life – he set out to work on the third, and final, volume of Voodoo which he left unfinished. Drasnin had requested Skip Heller to complete his works and turn them into a releasable album. Skip finished Robert Drasnin Voodoo III which was rushed out as a super limited release, sold only at Tiki Oasis 15 with a few leftovers sold through Dionysus Records Mail Order.

After numerous delays, including an entire pressing of records recalled to due to a manufacturing defect, the official release including remastered audio, extremely detailed liner notes by Skip,  cover art by Claudette Barjoud, and package design by Bob Deck, is now officially released on LP, CD, and digital (available through iTunes, Amazon, and just about all streaming services). The first pressing of 500 LPs is on transparent blue vinyl.

You can order the LP and CD straight from Dionysus at these links. Search your digital provider for downloads and streams.

Robert Drasnin Voodoo III LP
Robert Drasnin Voodoo III CD

These works encompass all the elements that made Voodoo I and Voodoo II legendary entries in the world of exotica music.

Super Rare Exotica Gem Mauna Kea Breeze by Hawaiian Spotlighters reissue on Bacchus out TODAY! Release celebration at Forbidden Island, Alameda, CA., 4/23

ORDER YOUR COPY AT THIS LINK!

Exotica expert and fanatic Jeff Chenult first heard about the elusive HAWAIIAN SPOTLIGHTERS album called Mauna Kea Breeze in 2015. A copy came up on eBay which he bid for, and won. Shortly thereafter he set out to locate group member Al Pabilona or any of his musical family who were still around. He found Al’s profile on Facebook; still playing music with his daughter Olivia in a band called THE GOOD VIBES DUO/UNDERTOW. What luck! To say Al was surprised would be an understatement. He was gracious, kind and awestruck that we wanted to release a record that he had recorded with his father over fifty years ago! Al Jr. was only 13 years old when he played drums on this record. They were originally called AL’S SPOTLIGTHERS and played at clubs, weddings and other events in Hilo, Hawaii. The family later moved to California. In 1964, Al Pabilona Sr. recorded his musical family inside their garage in Hayward, California. Each family member played an integral part of the band with Bill Pabilona composing the title track “Mauna Kea Breeze”.

A reported 200 copies of the original album were made by the Century Custom label, a vinyl manufacturer that catered to private pressings. Today, only a handful of these exist, making this one of the rarest exotica records ever recorded! The audio has been lovingly restored by the legendary Dana Countryman (Cool and Strange Music Magazine, co-conspirator with the late JEAN JAQUES PERREY among others) and cut using a tube system, vintage Scully lathe and Westrex cutting head at HRS in Culver City, CA. The reissued LP features cover photography by Jochen Hirschfeld, producer of The DVD of Tiki. Red vinyl too!!

Tracks:
1) Adventure in Paradise
2) Misirlou
3) Un Like No A Like
4) Yellow Bird
5) Beautiful Kahana
6) Filipino Love Song
7) Mauna Kea Breeze
8) Sweet and Lovely
9) Kawohikukapulani
10) Caravan

Good Vibes Duo / Undertow Facebook page can be found at this link
The duo will be performing at Forbidden Island, Alameda, CA, Sunday, April 23 in celebration of the release, during the bar’s 11th anniversary weekend!
3pm Doors
4-6pm Showtime
Forbidden Island
1304 Lincoln Ave, Alameda, CA 94501

Dionysus Records proudly announces our first new releases of 2016; The Alika Lyman Group “Leis of Jazz Vol 2” and Heller’s Hot Five “I Hate You” 10″ 78 RPM. Both releases are available in our online mail order cart (individual links below) or via retail via our distributor, ILD.

Purchase The Alika Lyman Group “Leis of Jazz” LP at this link
Purchase Heller’s Hot Five 78 RPM at this link

Leis of Jazz LP cover

Heller’s Hot Five 78 label

Marty Lush opens the Alika Lyman Group LP at Wacko

The Alika Lyman Group LP

Lee Joseph and Skip Heller at La Luz de Jesus

Skip Heller and his 78!

The Hi-Desert’s Voodoo Organist, aka Scott Wexton, has released his ninth album, which is his first full-length on vinyl, on Dionysus Records. Organ Voodoo is a exotic, hypnotic, erotic, and rhapsodic collection of songs in which he leaves behind the rough-edged blues and vaudevillian industrial sound of his previous releases, and sails into the seductive Space Age sounds of exotica. The Voodoo Organist “Organ Voodoo” album is available for download via iTunes, eMusic, Amazon and all other digital music outlets – you can purchase a limited first pressing of 500 on red vinyl from the Dionysus Records mail order cart, by clicking this link

Recently,  “Bombay Beach Bondage Boogaloo” from Organ Voodoo by Voodoo Organist was aired on over 400 NPR stations on the Here and Now “DJ Session: ‘Music That’s Shaken Not Stirred’’ episode with guest DJ Darrell Brogdon from “Retro Cocktail Hour” as heard on on Kansas Public Radio.  Brogdon also played Dionysus artist, the late Robert Drasnin whose Voodoo III will see vinyl release in 2016.

Check out the NPR broadcast here!

Dionysus Records proudly announces the official release of Hi-Desert artists Jesika von Rabbit and Voodoo Organist new Dionysus LPs on color vinyl with free digital download codes!

Jesika von Rabbit “Journey Mitchell” – first pressing of 500 on clear vinyl with digital download code – available here or get it from Amazon or your favorite record store!

Voodoo Organist “Organ Voodoo” first pressing of 500 on red vinyl with digital download code – available here or get it from Amazon or your favorite record store!

 Jesika von Rabbit and Voodoo Organist celebrate the release of their new Dionysus albums  at Pappy & Harriet’s and BAR in July

Thursday, July 9, 9 PM at Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown:
53688 Pioneertown Rd, Pioneertown, CA 92268, (760) 365-5956 www.pappyandharriets.com
Tickets at this link
Saturday, July 11,  10 PM at BAR in Palm Springs:
340 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (760) 537-7337 www.barwastaken.com

Dionysus Records announces the release of two hi-desert area artists on vinyl: Jesika von Rabbit ”Journey Mitchell” (Dionysus Records ID1233164) and Voodoo Organist “Organ Voodoo” (Dionysus Records ID1233160). Both artists will celebrate the release of their albums at the renown Pappy and Harriet’s in Pioneertown on Thursday, July 9, and at BAR in downtown Palm Springs on Saturday, July 11. Albums and other merchandise will be available at both shows.

Winner of Best Front Woman at the 2015 Coachella Valley Weekly (CV Weekly) Music Awards, Jesika von Rabbit along with Todd Rutherford formed cult favorite Gram Rabbit releasing several well-received albums, netting a long list of television and film licensees, and playing successful string of shows including a main stage appearance at Coachella. Taking a break from Gram Rabbit and armed with a stockpile of songs celebrating her love of electronics, von Rabbit has created and released her first solo album;, a playful, poppy, and psychedelic ‘adult theme park-pop’ experience titled ”Journey Mitchell”.

“… Part pop princess parody, part desert gypsy, Jesika takes us on a strange trip. Journey Mitchell, is laden with new wave influenced synths, keyboard melodics and infectious dance beats… Jesika von Rabbit wants to penetrate and disturb you. The undercurrent of Gothic industrial baselines, ghostly echoes and Jesika’s hallowing voice, leaves resin in your system that will bewitch you long after the music fades.”- Coachella Magazine

“Organ Voodoo” is the exotic, hypnotic, erotic, and rhapsodic ninth album by Scott Wexton a/k/a Voodoo Organist in which he leaves behind the rough-edged blues, rock, punk, goth and vaudevillian industrial sounds of previous releases and sails into the seductive Space Age sounds of exotica. The album is influenced by his love of exotica, lounge, and space-age pop music and was inspired by artists such as Sir Julian, Enoch Light, and Martin Denny (who he shares a birthday with).

In the mid ’90s Wexton left his Detroit home for the Music City—Nashville, TN—to work with Amphetamine Reptile noise legends Today Is the Day. He eventually moved to California and ended up in the Mojave Desert. He began performing as the Voodoo Organist in 2001, has self-released several albums, and played over 800 shows nationwide to the delight of fans and press.

The first run of von Rabbit’s LP is pressed on clear vinyl and includes a vinyl only bonus track. The first run of Voodoo Organist’s LP is pressed on red vinyl. Both contain a free digital download. Dionysus Records is distributed by ILD www.ildistro.com.

This year’s Tiki Caliente in Palm Springs returns to its original home at the Caliente Tropics hotel and  kicks off on Thursday, May 14 with a special art show from Claudette Barjoud a/k/a Miss Fluff – accompanied by the “the Exotic Sounds of DJ Lee” – Thursday Night Tiki Caliente entertainment features The Martini Kings and The Jimmy Psycho Experience!

Check the event website for tickets and more information about the even which runs May 14 – May 17!

The entertainment schedule includes
Friday
Troy Fernandez
The Hula Girls

Saturday
Smokin´ Menehunes
Ding Dong Devils
Glasgow Tiki Shakers
Tiki Joes Ocean

Sunday
Jason Arimoto
Kimo

The soft, warm breeze carries the sound of rustling palms and sensuous exotica music to your ears. Before you, your glass, filled with a fine rum libation, clinks together with new friends. Heartfelt calls of “Aloha” awaken in you a long-buried memory of primitive excitement. This has been your dream. Are you on some far-off tropical island?
Yes… and it´s called Tiki Caliente.

On April 25, I’ll be returning to Tonga Hut, Palm Springs between 7 PM  till Midnight spinning exotica, soul, lounge, Latin grooves, surf and more! If you are in the desert, please drop by!

Tonga Hut, Palm Springs
254 North Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Tonga Hut Website
Tonga Hut, Palm Springs Website