Those who live in Southern California, Seattle and Honolulu are in for a treat – Don Tiki will be coming to help us celebrate the holidays, Hot Lava style with shows on December 15 in Honolulu (sorry that one is sold out), December 17th in Seattle at Benaroy Hall (info and tickets) and December 20th in Los Angeles at Walt Disney Concert Hall ( info and tickets ) – and, SOCA peeps –  here’s a link for discount tickets at the Disney show!

Fans can expect the band’s signature tunes such as “The Natives Are Restless” and “An Occasional Man.” “Even though we’re tiki-worshipping Pagans, we’ll drop six new  holiday songs to get into the spirit of things,” says producer Lloyd “Fluid Floyd” Kandell, who was one of Anthony Bourdain’s drinking guides when the food impresario visited O’ahu for his series No Reservations. Bourdain came away raving, “Tiki supergroup Don Tiki knows the world, the subculture of tiki…it really doesn’t get much better than this!”

Though the band has lost their beloved lead singer Delmar deWilde, to whom the shows are dedicated, they will carry on with their multi-talented cast and a few added guests. The Don Tiki troupe consists of band leader and composer, Kit “Perry Coma” Ebersbach on keyboards, bassist and purring song stylist Hai-Jung, Charles Degala and Tei Tatafu, Jr. on virile vocals, vocalist, dancer and comedienne Sherry Shaoling, percussionist Lopaka Colón, who continues his illustrious father Augie Colon’s jungle and bird call tradition, tenor ace Tim Mayer on reeds, multi-talented Abe Lagrimas, Jr. on vibes and percussion, tribal drummer Jason Segler, space-age Ryoko Oka on keyboards and t’rung (a Vietnamese bamboo xylophone), exotic dancer Violetta Beretta plus special guest artist Frank Orrall of Thievery Corporation and Poi Dog Pondering. Don Tiki is also honored to bring to the stage special guest artists, legendary SOCAL tiki-shaman Crazy Al, rising Brazillian star Tita Lima and Brazil’s golden tambourine, Carlinhos de Oliveira.

The group has just released their Hot Lava Holiday Songs disc which is available on iTunes and will be for sale on CD at their shows.

Those of us who saw them at Tiki Oasis 10 were knocked out. We are certainly looking forward to seeing the group on their first Los Angeles appearance!

This year’s Tiki Oasis VIP Gift Bag (handed out upon check-in at The Crowne Plaza Hotel and limited to 500) will contain this postcard which has a unique download code for the free 14 song TOP SECRET DIONYSUS RECORDS SAMPLER, featuring tracks from Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited, The Martini Kings, Orchestra Superstring, Kava Kon, Robert Drasnin, Creepxotica, Skip Heller, Jerry Sun, The Creepy Creeps, The Satelliters, The Creatures of the Golden Dawn, Redondo Beat, and Ruby Dee and The Snakehandlers. About a week after the event ends, we will be sticking these in all Dionysus Mail-Order packages until we run out.

Cocktail Nation 228 Palm Springs Serenade

On this show podcast –  Tony Marsico from the Martini Kings was interviewed by host Koop Kooper in regards to the new Martini Kings vinyl release and launch party.

Palm Springs Serenade Podcast

Joel Altruda  Playboys Theme
Henry Mancini Something for Cat
Lenny Dee Moonglow and Theme from Picnic
Howard Shore Ed Wood Main Title
Combustible Edison Call of the Space Siren
Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited The Case
Vic Flick Copacibinsky
Trudy  Pitts Take Five
Paul Phillips I Only Have Eyes For You
Cal Tjader- The Way You Look Tonight
Grace Knight Your Cheatin Heart
Tony Bennett – Wave

Koop Kooper
www.cocktailnation.net

The Martini Kings “Palm Springs Serenade” vinyl LP release, closing party for Brad “Tiki Shark” Parker and Miles Thomspon and Tiki Oasis pre-party!

Sunday, July 29, 2012
4 – 7 pm
La Luz de Jesus Gallery
4633 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90027
323-666-7667
www.laluzdejesus.com

Come have one more look at Brad “Tiki Shark” Parker’s “Tales from the Tiki Lounge” and Miles Thompson’s “Warm Fuzzies, Cold Pricklies“ show and celebrate the release of The Martini Kings’ “Palm Springs Serenade“ LP on Dionysus Records at this combination record release, show closing and Tiki Oasis pre-party.

The band will be playing a set and signing their new album, their first on vinyl – 180 gram vinyl with cover art by SHAG and a free digital download code.

On July 4, exotica and TV/film music legend Robert Drasnin appeared on Over Under Sideways Down episode III on LuxuriaMusic.com  for an in-depth interview about his incredible musical history. Robert brought in numerous samples of music he played on, composed and arranged and told some great stories including one about The Grateful Dead’s involvement in the re-vamped Twilight Zone series.

Here is a link for the show podcast – listen online or download!

Robert Drasnin and Lee Joseph at LuxuriaMusic.com, July 2, 2012

OVER UNDER SIDEWAYS DOWN
with your host Lee Joseph
The first and third Wednesday of the month
3 pm – 5 pm Pacific on LuxuriaMusic.com Internet radio

Hi Friends, I’m going to be joining the crew at LuxuriaMusic.com for my very own two-hour, bi-monthly Internet radio show called Over Under Sideways Down, which debuts on Wednesday June 6 from 3pm – 5pm Pacific.

I named the show after the beloved Yardbirds song, and the name describes perfectly where I’ll be taking the listener: All over the musical map.

Each show will have a different but focused theme. One of the two monthly shows will feature a guest musical or local art luminary who will discuss their past and/or present and share their own and their favorite music. The other show I will do solo, armed with two hours of music and minimal patter.

Here is the show line-up for June and July:

Wed June 6: Tucson, Arizona ’60s Sound Survey with special guest Manny Freiser.

The debut show will feature two hours of music and talk about the local Tucson, AZ. music scene in the 1960s. Former member of The Grodes / The Tongues of Truth  / Spring Fever and writer of Nuggets classic “Let’s Talk About Girls” will join me in-studio to discuss his experiences in the “Old Pueblo,” adventures in Phoenix and Los Angeles clubs and studios and his surprise discovery that one of his long forgotten compositions’ had become a garage-rock classic.

Wed June 20: First Day of Summer and Surf Spectacular

An entire show celebrating the season and featuring a slew of summer, sun, surf and beach songs!

Wed July 4: Voodoo!

Guest Bob Drasnin joins me in-studio to discuss the making of his exotica classic, Voodoo, his exotica comeback album Voodoo II, his big band days, recordings with Red Norvo and his time working in television as composer of music for shows like The Twilight Zone, Mission: Impossible, Wild, Wild West, Hawaii Five-0, Time Tunnel, Lost In Space, Mannix, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and Voyage To The Bottom of the Sea. We will play some of his recordings, incidentals and his jazz favorites.

Wed July 18: Psych 102

Two hours of psychedelic sounds; honing in on tracks you probably, or should know.

Other show plans include:

A Gold Star Studio special featuring previously unheard interviews with studio owners and engineers Dave Gold, Stan Ross and Larry Levine with music and jingles recorded at the studio over their three plus decade existence.

East Side Sounds – Featuring a slew of East LA tracks from the early ‘60s through the early ‘70s with guest, East LA luminary Mark Gurerro.

Passion for Power – Featuring ‘60s power-pop and ‘70s – ‘80s Mod/power-pop revival tracks.

Bubble Glam – A mix of bubblegum and early glam.

Monstereo – A mono/stereo listening session featuring tracks mostly spanning 1966-1969 though I may throw in some exotica records too. I will play select mono/stereo mixes back to back and ask the listeners to comment (via chat room or email) on which ones they like best. Comment highlights will be featured on the Dionysus Records blog.

Do the Funky Ripple, Fletcher! – Two solid hours of soul and funk.

Why Don’t We Do It On The Road? – A mixture of live and fake live recordings.

Out of Vogue – Songs from the 1940s Vogue 78 RPM Picture Disc catalog as well as other 78 RPM treasures.

I’m also planning shows focusing on ‘50s R&B/doo-wop, rockabilly, exotica and more, and will be inviting special guests to share their stories and songs.

Please tune in, and if you can’t listen live, the shows are podcasted right after broadcast and archived on the LuxuriaMusic site.

Cheers –  See ya in the LuxuriaMusic.com chat room!

Lee

Over Under Sideways Down graphic by Ellie – Art Stuff Graphic Design

Here is a collection of Orchestra Superstring live videos. – Be sure to check out their new Dionysus release, “Easy” on CD from the Dionysus cart or on digital via iTunes , eMusic or Amazon.com

Another Tiki Oasis has come and gone.

Having been to all 11 Tiki Oasis weekenders, I can without a doubt say that this year’s event was in many ways better than the previous 10, and that my friends is not an easy accomplishment. For instance, Tiki Oasis’ musical line-ups have always been magical but this one was that much more over-the-top. Some of the musical highlights from Tiki Oasis 11 include the legendary “Mr. Bongo,” Jack Costanzo‘s superb Latin Jazz ensemble who just freakin’ NAILED it, tight and tough instrumental insanity from Los Straightjackets who were joined by our pal Big Sandy for a round of rock ‘n’ roll songs en Espanol, an excellent set of Herb Albert tunes from the tribute group Herb, exotic and percussive Latin Jazz sounds from Orchestra Superstring featuring some truly amaazing play between the percussionists as well as DJ Bonebrake’s brilliant performance on the vibes, and the spooky exotic meets surf sounds of our own Creepxotica who played poolside, at the art show and wandered around the event dressed as Dia De Los Muertos mariachis with portable pig-nose amplifiers strapped to their outfits. To cap it all off, for the first time, Tiki Oasis extended through Sunday Night with a most entertaining show including two perfectly paced sets from exotica legends Don Tiki who filled the stage with exceptional musicians on their very first performance in California.  As stated, these were highlights for me – the rest of the music? Two thumbs up!

I’d have to write over a thousand words to truly cover the event from start to finish, so instead of going into detail about how great the symposiums, art,  debaucherous room crawls,  LuxuriaMusic.com and poolside DJs, the fabulous King Kukulele and Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid, marketplace, Otto’s muschache and Baby Doe’s circle skirt were, I’ll just load up this post with Tiki Oasis videos from our friends at Lost in Paradise and other various sources on YouTube so you can see for yourself the color and fun that this event represents and gives to its attendees. Don’t miss Tiki Oasis 12… Stay tuned for the scoop!

I shot a video of Creepxotica playing outside the elevators as the room crawl action was going full steam with my iPod Touch – will post as soon as I upload and edit as I’m still catching up on work here. As more Tiki Oasis 11 videos pop up on YouTube I’ll put those up as well.

Lee
(Photo: Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid –  by Scott Evanskey)

Tiki Oasis Flicker Photo Group

Tiki Oasis Facebook Group

Lost in Paradise videos

Jack Costanzo

Tiki Oasis 11 Car Show with Crazy Al Evans, Perk, SHAG, and the Hula Girls

Burlesque

Jeff Chenault Presents
Exotica Ole’
from Quiet Village to Latin Village

Senor Chenault returns to the Tiki Oasis with an all-new Exotica presentation.  This time with a Latin twist!  You will learn about Exotica’s success in the pop world as well as the significant Latin Jazz artists that helped shape the genre.  Join us as we go south of the border with George Shearing, Cal Tjader, Jack Costanzo, and Eddie Cano.  As Jeff exclaims:  “Exotica music and Latin-Jazz share such a close relationship, that sometimes the only difference is the bird calls.”
As an added bonus Jeff will host a Q & A session with legendary percussionist Jack Costanzo.  One of Hollywood’s greatest session players.   Jack aka/ “Mr. Bongo” has had an illustrious career that spans over 60 years and counting!  Besides his own albums Jack has recorded with Stan Kenton, Billy May, Perez Prado, Pete Rugolo and Xavier Cugat to name just a few.  The Tiki Oasis is honored to have such a distinguished guest. Join us as we bust out the bongos!

Jeff Chenault is a Music Historian, Writer and Exotica DJ.  He is also a staff writer for Tiki Magazine and is currently producing a series of rare Exotica music for Dionysus Records.

Tiki Oasis proudly announces the release of a limited 7” 45 RPM vinyl record

The Tiki Oasis 11 Commemorative 7” Record features Tiki Oasis alumni Lushy performing a memorable self-penned tribute to the event called “Tiki Oasis” and Herb (Herb Albert and The Tijuana Brass tribute ) performing a rousing version of “Tijuana Taxi” in honor of Tiki Oasis 11’s “South of the Border” theme ! This record is pressed in an edition of 1000 on random color vinyl (many different colors in the pressing ) and comes with a  download coupon for free digital versions of both songs. The 45 will be available at the Tiki Oasis 11 merch booth or right here in the Dionysus cart!