Tiki Oasis 11 presents four days of legendary and contemporary Latin and Exotica Sounds including Dionysus Records related artists Big Sandy, Orchestra Superstring and Mark and The Escorts

Tiki Oasis 11
August 18-21, 2010
San Diego, CA

August 18: Tiki Oasis Meet and Mingle:
Bali Hai Restaurant
2230 Shelter Island Drive
San Diego, CA 92106
619-222-1181
www.balihairestaurant.com

August 19 – 21: All event activity:
Crowne Plaza Hotel
2270 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, CA 92108

Event website:
www.tikioasis.com

This year’s Tiki Oasis theme: “South of the Border”
Exotica music – the cornerstone of Tiki – owes a lot to our brethren to the south – Mexico and Latin America. In fact Latin music has always been a rich part of American popular music from Cha Cha and Merengue to Mambo kings, Latin Jazz and Samba to Rock En Espanol. We feel North America’s embracing of Latin music piqued in the mid-1960s when the debonair, Latin-styled trumpet player Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass band challenged The Beatles on the Billboard charts*. It is Herb’s romanticized Mexico that we seek to celebrate this year at Tiki Oasis!

Tiki Oasis 11 features the legendary Jack “Mr. Bongo” Costanzo & His Latin All-Stars, East LA luminaries Mark and The Escorts, Orchestra Superstring featuring DJ Bonebrake from X, Frankie’s Baja Marimba Marimba Mania, Big Sandy with Los Straightjackets, Herb – a Tribute to Herb Alpert, Surfer Joe and his Boss Combo, Marty Lush and His Latin Livers, The Hula Girls and Creepxotica The event is MC’d by ukulele playing stand-up comedian King Kukulele. click here for complete entertainer list

Jack Costanzo is a composer, conductor and drummer, but is best known as a bongo player, hence the nicknamed “Mr. Bongo”. Throughout the 1940s, Costanzo worked with several Latin bands, including a revived version of the Lecuona Cuban Boys, Desi Arnaz, and Rene Touzet. He toured with Stan Kenton from 1947–48 and in the 1950s, and played with Nat King Cole from 1949 to 1953. He also played with the Billy May Orchestra, Peggy Lee, Danny Kaye, Perez Prado, Pete Rugolo, Judy Garland, Ray Anthony, Xavier Cugat, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Curtis. Costanzo visited Havana three times in the 1940s and learned to play Afro-Cuban rhythms on the bongos and congas. Many Hollywood stars studied bongos with him, including: Marlon Brando, Rita Moreno, Tony Curtis, Betty Grable, and Gary Cooper. He has appeared in film and television such as Elvis Presley’s “Harum Scarum” and the “Johnny Staccato” TV series

He retired until 1998 when he made a comeback and in 2001 recorded Back From Havana under the Ubiquity Records umbrella. This album featured the likes of Blue Note’s Guilbert Castellanos, Steve Firerobing and the Panamanian singer Marilu. In 2002 he released another album with the same cast called Scorching the skins, & also mention his two most recent CDs on Ubiquity/Cubop Records “Back From Havana” & “Scorching The Skins“. Jack is currently an active musician and a living legend of Latin/Afro-Cuban jazz.  www.spaceagepop.com/costanzo.htm, www.herencialatina.com/Costanzo/Costanzo/Jack_Costanzo.htm

Mark & the Escorts formed in 1963 as a surf band. By 1964, the group had expanded their musical palette to include rock & roll, r&b and British invasion music. They became a significant part of the now legendary “Eastside Sound” boom which occurred in East Los Angeles in that period, sharing the bill with other local bands including Cannibal & the Headhunters, The Premiers, The Blendells, and Thee Midniters, who all had national hit records at the time.  In 1965, Mark & the Escorts recorded two singles on the GNP Crescendo label, Get Your Baby, the “A” side of their first recording, has been included on four different compilation CDs in recent years.  The band has also been featured or mentioned in many books on the music of the 60s.  In 1966, Mark & the Escorts ended when they changed their name to The Men From S.O.U.N.D.  The three core members of Mark & the Escorts, Mark Guerrero, Rick Rosas, and Ernie Hernandez, stayed together though out the 1960s, eventually recording an album of Mark Guerrero songs for A&M Records in the early 70s as members of a rock band called Tango.  Rick Rosas, went on to play with Joe Walsh for many years before becoming Neil Young’s bassist.  Mark Guerrero, went on to record as a solo artist for Capitol Records and for legendary record producer Lou Adler on Ode Records.  Mark’s songs have been recorded by artists such as Herb Alpert, Trini Lopez, Chan Romero, and his legendary late father Lalo Guerrero.  He continues to perform concerts with the Mark Guerrero Band and the reunited Mark & the Escorts.  Mark also hosts the popular Chicano music website www.markguerrero.com. 

Don Tiki is set to provide the soundtrack for steamy romance and jungle love with a show that closes Tiki Oasis 2011 on Sunday, August 21. Don Tiki has performed at the fabled Kahiki in Colombus, OH, headlined a music festival in Berlin, played numerous shows in Las Vegas and of course, rule their very own Pagan kingdom of Honolulu. Their Tiki Oasis show marks Don Tiki’s first ever performance in California! Experience forbidden love as Don Tiki, fresh off their Hawaii Music Awards win for Album of the Year/Adult Contemporary, unleashes a passion party that will stimulate your senses and primal urges. Drawing inspiration from original exotica masters Marty, Arty and Les (Martin Denny, Arthur Lyman, Les Baxter,) Don Tiki boldly moves this evocative genre of music into the 21st century. www.dontiki.com

Orchestra Superstring plays instrumental music inspired by Afro-Cuban, Latin jazz, and the likes of Sun Ra and Cal Tjader. Composed of an eclectic nine-piece band of well known Los Angeles musicians led by DJ Bonebrake of X on vibes,  Orchestra Superstring blends infectious beats and fresh dance rhythms in original tunes written by its members and creates new interpretations of jazz standards. Their second album “Easy” was recently released by Dionysus Records. www.orchestrasuperstring.com

By way of Tijuana, we proudly present the groovy and spicy tribute to the powerhouse sound of Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass. Herb delivers the full glory of the Brass’ sophisticated style with an updated edge that is poised to capture a new generation while re-igniting the passion and utter hipness of a bygone era. Herb exudes the suave, groomed sound that catapulted the Tijuana Brass to the forefront of 60s pop culture. TJB charged the soul of America and the world with their crafty blend of fiery Latino rhythms, zany pop, and South-Of-The-Border temperament. Herb consists of an all-star 7-8 piece band with members from such luminous bands as Clubfoot Orchestra, grammy-winning Brave Combo, The Billy Nayer Show, Les Claypool, Casino Royale, Cirque du Soleil, Idiot Flesh, and so on and so forth. Since its inception in July ’96, Herb has performed with/for James Brown, Nancy Sinatra, Sergio Mendes, SF Symphony’s Black & White Ball, Francis Ford Coppola, SF Giants @ Candlestick (Monster) Park, Super Diamond, and many more! www.casinoroyalemusic.com/herb.html

Frankie’s Baja Marimba Mania is the current solo project of Frank Marsico, former vibraphonist with The Martini Kings. This year’s performance will be a tribute to 60’s chartbusters: The Baja Marimba Band. This brand new unit, created specifically for Tiki Oasis 11, features Warren Giancaterino, former bassist for Sergio Mendes and Liv, percussionist for The Cold War Kids just back from their recent performance at Coachella. Frankie, as usual will be chopping wood on marimba and bending steel on the vibes along with a few other surprises.

No Habla Ingles? No problem! Lucha Libre clad guitar instrumental practitioners Los Straightjackets team up with rockabilly/roots belter Big Sandy to deliver vintage rock ‘n’ roll En Espanol, inspired by Mexico City’s great sixties garage and rockabilly madmen such as Los Teen Tops, Los Rockin’ Devils, Los Apson and many others, who took American hits and re-wrote the lyrics in Spanish and in the process completely changing the song — turning things like “Dizzy Miss Lizzy” into “El Microscopico Bikini!” Their Tiki Oasis set will also make a nod toward East LA and the great border rock of Freddy Fender. http://www.bigsandy.net  www.straitjackets.com

June 18: The Creepy Creeps play The Purple Orchid bar – it’s the bar’s 10 year anniversary! 221 Richmond St, El Segundo, 221  (310) 322-5829 – 9pm or so

The Love Me Nots return to Los Angeles with guests Kiss Kiss Bang Bang plus Bullet DJs Rich Soulshaker, Jason Pandora, Alberto Sol, Lee Joseph, Rick Barzell, DJ Lady Bug and Dr Ray spinning full tilt mod sounds in two rooms for DANCING ALLNIGHTER style!! FREE Bullet mix CD for all online presale ticket purchases!

THE LOVE ME NOTS

A quartet from Phoenix Arizona, play fuzzy, farfisa-drenched rock and roll, full of howls and heartache. All albums recorded by legendary Detroit producer Jim Diamond (White Stripes, Romantics, Dirtbombs) and released on the band’s own label, Atomic A Go Go Records.
“One of the most exciting acts of the moment; Disc of the month. Stunningly Feverish.” – Rolling Stone “One of the few modern garage revivalists that ranks with its storied influences.” – LA Weekly

KISS KISS BANG BANG (USA)
A band from The Northeast Los Angeles Garage Rock scene. With a fashion model lead singer (Devon) & the popular owner/head stylist of The Manic Panic Salon Of Highland Park (Laura) on Combo Organ, this band looks as good as it sounds. Rounding out the band are Kenny (Formerly with The Beat Killers) on guitar, John (Formerly with The Fuzztones/Speedies) on bass, and Tony from The Vaquetones on drums. They are currently in the studio recording their First CD with producer, Dave Klein (Agent Orange/Ghastly Ones/ Bomboras)

FREE BULLET MIX CD FOR EVERY TICKET PURCHASED ONLINE!

FACEBOOK EVENT/RSVP PAGE

CLICK HERE TO “LIKE”
THE BULLET ON FACEBOOK!

** NEW ONE TIME ONLY LOCATION FOR THIS EVENT**

1235 Vine St. (The Saint) + a private afterhours loft above The Saint

Los Angeles CA 90028

Doors open 9pm til ??  /  21+   /  $10 cover

Mark Smith, singer of The Creatures of The Golden Dawn has left us. Mark and I had recently reconnected on Facebook and we were in the middle of putting together a vinyl-only “best of” compilation with tracks from their albums and singles (including tracks from their early ’90s Dionysus releases) when Mark passed – we got as far as the test pressing stage. The future of the release is currently up in the air but I have been in touch with Creatures guitarist Steven Schlack and hope to speak someone from Mark’s family so we can get this release out – it is a brilliant set of 14 of their best tracks.

A good friend of Mark’s, Nicole McMurtrie wrote some words about Mark and also posted an obituary via Facebook which are both in this post.

Have a peaceful journey Mark…
Lee

Obituary from The Morning Call
Mark Smith of Bethlehem passed away on June 1st due to complications related to Huntington’s Disease. Mark attended school in the East Penn School District and graduated from Emmaus High School in 1976. After graduating from Kutztown University, where he studied Business, he moved to New York City where he worked for the B. Altman Department Store for several years. Returning to the Allentown area Mark worked for many years as a credit analyst for Dun and Bradstreet. Mark’s parents were the late Pearl Brotzman from Easton, and Cody H. Smith from Durham, NC.

Over the years Mark had an abiding interest in music which led him in 1985 to begin performing. In part he was inspired by such local mid-1960s Allentown groups as The Shillings and Kings Ransom whose music he had heard in his youth. With the talent of brilliant collaborators who Mark was honored to work with, he was able to form a musical group which came to be called “The Creatures of The Golden Dawn.” Beloved by many, The Creatures performed often in the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, New York. and as far away as Montreal and Moscow. In contact with music lovers all the world, on the last day of his life he was preparing a package of CDs to send to a fan in Spain.

He is survived by his brother Gregg, sister-in-law Irene, and nephew Ian, of Wescosville. Also cousins Linda Brotzman of Schnecksville, and Tom Brotzman of McAllisterville, PA.

Mark was diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease in 2007. It is a debilitating genetic disorder. Contributions in Mark’s name can be sent to the: Huntington’s Disease Society of America, Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter, 502 West Germantown Pike, Suite 405, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 or online at : www.hdsa.org/epch/epadon.html

All friends, family, fans, co-workers, and classmates of Mark are invited to attend and reminisce and remember Mark at a memorial service to be held June 21st at 6pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, Cedar Crest Boulevard & Tilghman Streets, Allentown, PA.

Also a musical memorial party celebrating the life of Mark Smith, leader of The Creatures of The Golden Dawn will be held July 2, starting 9pm at the Funhouse in South Side Bethlehem.

One thing Mark was always good for: Bearing gifts.

He would never leave his apartment without goods to promote the Creatures and garage music…things such as homemade flyers, business cards, buttons, bootleg screen printed t-shirts…

Upon meeting someone, he would shake their hand and make their acquaintance by giving them a hip little token. He constantly was on the path of promotion and trying to enlighten people to a different sphere of music, one you didn’t hear on the radio: Garage.

He would always keep copies of Creatures CD’s stuffed somewhere in his pockets. I know he did, because they would magically appear out of nowhere. And, he would pull these CD’s out and proffer them to unsuspecting folks in the name of garage. He was always trying to get people to see music through a different lens and to open their minds. He would often be hypercritical (“These people can’t look beyond radio and Z-95.”)

Mark vehemently despised bands like Steely Dan, Yes, Meatloaf, Styx, etc. His physical discomfort and joylessness would go from zero to 6o quickly in a public place. I distinctly remember a quip from Stahley’s. Mark and I were sitting at the bar barely tolerating the music.

He looked up and saw a man in dungaree’s walking over to the jukebox. Mark scowled, “I’ll bet he’s going over there to play Steely Dan.”

Upon hearing bad music, Mark would almost start twitching and looking from left to right to see if someone will put an end to this torture blaring through the speakers. As if to say, “Stop! Your attitudes, beliefs and your soul are all in the toilet along with your taste in music!”

He would outwardly question the sanity and I.Q. the general public. Are they retarded? What is wrong with society? Why aren’t there laws to fine such people who listen to Steely Dan? How come we’re breathing the same room air as these people?

Even if mankind is going down the toilet, we still need men and women to hold the kind of passion and drive Mark held. We are a boring, colorless, ignorant lot without people like Mark and all his little gifts. Mark gave a spark of meaning a glimmer of awe to those whom he could reach.

Lucky for me, I was one of them. He was a nugget who dug it.
Nicole McMurtie

Images:

Mark from his Facebook page

Mark posted on Facebook by Dave from What Wave Magazine

The “1000 Shadows” (Dionysus Records) line-up: Steven Schlack, Chris Kender, Mark Heber Smith, Tom Bazylak, Mike Smitreski

For a recap of The Creepy Creeps two-day stint opening for and hanging out with Robert Plant and The Band of Joy, click this link to read the blog post on  “Urban Taxidermy,” the tattoo and art blog of Creepy Creeps’ guitarist, Dave Warshaw

Redondo Beat is touring in SPAIN, FRANCE and ITALY supporting their most recent album “Meet Redondo Beat” on Dionysus Records as well as their other amazing records (Check the Dionysus Records cart!) The band will be selling merch on the tour – if you live in or near one of these clubs – go see them!

Spain
June 04 Saturday- LOGROÑO (Fast Fun Bizarre Festival)
June 05 Sunday- LEÓN (GRAN CAFÉ)
June 07 Tuesday- BARCELONA (SALA MONASTERIO)
June 08 Wednesday- ORIHUELA (LA GRAMOLA)
June 10 Friday-  MONTBLANC (Tgn) (Què a Què)

FRANCE
June 11 Saturday- SÈTE (LA PRAIA)
June 12 Sunday- MONTPELLIER (LE MOJOMATIC)

ITALY
June 14 Tuesday- BRESCIA (Lio Bar)
June 15 Wednesday- PIACENZA (Spazio 4)
June 16 Thursday- ZANÈ (VI) (Cascina Irma)
June 17 Friday- CASTELDARIO (MN) (Rocca’n’roll festival)
June 18 Saturday- LA SPEZIA (Shake Club)
June 19 Sunday- VILLADOSSOLA (Titty Twister)

Robert Plant saw The Creepy Creeps perform and loved ’em. OK so we know a lot of garage and punk fans don’t like Zep but no matter what you think of his old band, he does have pretty good taste in music – – thus he asked the legendary Creepy Creeps to open two Southern California shows for him – and here they are:

June 8: ROBERT PLANT and the BAND OF JOY with THE CREEPY CREEPS – at Copley Symphony Hall, San Diego

June 9: ROBERT PLANT and the BAND OF JOY with THE CREEPY CREEPS – at the San Manuel Casino

The Creepy Creeps are currently working on a new 45 which should be out in time for Tiki Oasis 11!

In 2002, Bacchus Archives relased a 12″vinyl slab and CD  consisting of the eight known recordings by Los Angeles ’60s garage legends, The Preachers, known best for their OVER THE TOP version of “Who Do You Love” which was originally unearthed on an early Pebbles compilation.  Only 500 copies of the 12″ were pressed which sold out a few years ago. We’ve finally repressed this LOUD slab of garage goodness, which also has photos and an excellent interview with Preacher’s keyboardist Rudy Garza on the back cover. Order the vinyl here or order the CD here – and enjoy this amazing video of The Preachers live on the Shivaree show in 1965!

Jonny Whiteside Presents The Messaround’s Lucky 13 Edition with wah-wah overlord Del Casher, punk legend Dave Drive & The Zoomies, roots alchemists The Skip Heller Trio, destructo-rock sensations The Ingrates! Dick Deluxe fronts the houseband! All Ages! No Cover! No Prisoners!

Jonny Whiteside’s Messaround at Viva Cantina
Sun., March 20, 5-9 p.m.
900 West Riverside Drive,
Burbank, CA 91506
all ages; no cover.
FREE PARKING across the street at Pickwick Bowl (same owners)
www.vivacantina.com

Strap on Yer Dribble Cups To Suck Up This Highly Spiced Burgoo of Outright Slash & Burn Chaos Versus Cool, Controlled Old School Perfection

Messaround Witch Doctor Jonny Whiteside ecstatically yields to popular demand and welcomes back the incomparable guitar stylist Del Casher. The first visionary to adapt the wah-wah peddle unto a guitar (and the first to record with it), Casher is intimately conversant with the full spectrum of American music, from pure communicative jazz to frosty cocktail blues to rabble-rousing rockabilly. This is the cat who truly did the 1960’s Hollywood music business “A-Z”–as lead guitarist for Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch by day and as hired hand for Frank Zappa at the Whisky by night; an in-demand session player, who has cut with everyone from Frank Sinatra to supplying the twang for TV’s Bonanza theme and backing up Elvis Presley onscreen in Roustabout, Casher’s dazzling, wah-wah laced mastery is nothing less than mesmerizing.

The Thrill-O-Meter is sure to bust with Big Beat Mayhem Supergroup The Zoomies. Fronted by punk rock icon Dave Drive (Gears, D.I.’s) on guitar and vocals (!!!) with the equally esteemed veterano Dig Pig on guitar, plus Marty Perez, Ralph Lopez and (maybe even) Mike Manifold–the Zoomies will throw down thunderous, sublime trash rock for what is certain to be an auspicious Messaround debut, and we’re proud as hell to be hosting these gnarsome artistes.

Get-around singer-musician Skip Heller, the formidable, Les Baxter-mentored stylist who has collaborated with the likes of Sun Goddess Yma Sumac and Pachuco Boogie Godfather Lalo Guerrero, brings his crack trio, eccentric repertoire, decades of far-ranging experience and rare insider insight. The prolific and passionate Heller ranks as one of the West Coast’s most discriminating and broad minded talents, a man whose innate hep quotient and well-chilled instincts guarantees a performance loaded with sizzle and sensitivity.

Making another wild-hair Messaround debut tonight is the Ingrates, who’ll fire a high-calibre barrage of Iggy-Motorhead-Ramones bunker-busters directly into your soul. Fronted by untamed rock doll Paige Darling (whose 20th century incarnation the Darlings were good enough to make the Bomp Records roster) and featuring tenured Hollywood hellraisers Chris “Poobah” Bailey, Tommy Wright (late of 80’s-era Raji’s miscreants the Little Kings), along with Chris Schwartz and Jill Guido, this frantic combo is certain to live up to their name via a distinctive wall-to-wall-FTW-with-a-backbeat disregard for every known form of societal normalcy.

With an opening benediction from our brand spankin’ new houseband frontman Dick Deluxe and beloved ‘Mess stalwarts Paul Marshall and David Raven–the righteous rockers upon which we build this tabernacle–plus the inevitable surprise guest performers and the singular culture of lurid flat-git-it balling which the Messaround has created, it’s yet another blow-top schizo-phonic session of the highest order.