Instrumental Asylum have sent us this cute comic-slash-flyer for their upcoming gig (Saturday September 6th!  Don’t forget!)  I thought it only right that I share it here with you all…  enjoy!  (Click on the image to embiggen)

We’ve just created a Flickr group for those of you artistic types who have taken photos in, of and around the Tiki Bar!

Feel free to join up and share your photos - it’s free - http://www.flickr.com/groups/tikiloungeandbar/

Also remember if you have an awesome shot of your best mates’ “Zombie Face”, or any other photo you’d like included in our Gallery, you can shoot them through to photos@tikiloungeandbar.com.

To help the creative juices start to flow, here are some awesome photos that were sent to us by a recent customer Eliza:

Just a quickie - This coming Friday (August 22nd) sees cutesy-horror arrtist Megz Majewski (whom we have mentioned before) opening a gallery exhibition at Ruban Rat (described as a “Designer Toy Store and Gallery“) at 423 King Street, Newtown in Sydney.  If you’re in olde Sydney town, I highly recommend popping in and checking out Megz’ innocently evil artwork. Details are in the flyer below.

Cheers,

Kev

Hi there Tiki fans!

Ben Roger’s amazing surf rock band, Instrumental Asylum returns to the Tiki Bar. Instrumental Asylum plays surf guitar music inspired by the likes of Dick Dale and Duane Eddy. Instrumental Asylum will again be joined by vocalist Jasmine Mahon, so expect a sultry rendition of a classic 007 theme song or two.

Catch a sneak preview at http://www.myspace.com/benrogers39instrumentalasylum

Band starts some time after 8pm, so get in early to guarantee a seat! Don’t forget our happy hour between 6-7pm for $10 Cocktails!

Call 9428 4336 for more information. $8 CC.

Cheers,

Kev

I came across some very sad news recently.  The owner of the La Mariana Sailing Club, Annette Nahinu passed away on the 19th of July at age 96.  Annette’s contribution to the preservation of Hawaii’s recent Tiki Bar heritage is immeasurable.

The La Mariana was opened over 50 years ago in Honolulu in Hawaii.  Hawaii had recently become the 50th state of the United States of America, and Tiki fever was gripping the country.  Entrepreneurs (Don the Beachcomber amongst them) began opening enormous Tiki resorts and restaurants throughout the islands.  As the Tiki trend began to cool and the venues started to close down, Annette would be there to collect what was left of the decor and furniture that was being disposed of.  Over the decades the collection of Tiki artifacts that have amassed at La Mariana is impressive.  It’s like a shrine to the great Tiki Bars of the Islands.

La Mariana is on my short list of about 5 Tiki “must-sees” in the world today.  I was lucky enough to be able to visit there at the start of this year, but sadly did not get an opportunity to meet Annette.  The La Mariana is an absolutely wonderful place.  The atmosphere is thick with history and has a great organic “hand-made” vibe.  It is what I imagine our bar will feel like in 50 years time.

I hope La Mariana is taken over by the “right” person.  Annette’s legacy is an American treasure, and it deserves to be looked after.

I’ve attached an album of photos I took at La Mariana so you can see how special the place is - click on the image below to see more.

Cheers,

Kev

Click for photos of La Mariana Sailing Club

In our latest attempt at stretching the reach of the tiki aesthetic’s “crossover” appeal with various subcultures and genres, Tiki Lounge and Bar are proud to announce that local Funk Band “Mainsqueeze” will be performing a high energy show on Saturday July 26th!  Here’s the skinny:

Mainsqueeze, 6 piece 60’s funk band comprising of lead vocalist: Chloe Wilson, baritone sax: Sammy Valentino, drums: Domenic Prattico, guitar: Ashley Klus, guitar: Tony Millilo and bass:Mike Ostapchuk.

The group have been rehearsing extensively for the last 8 months to become Melbournes funkiest new band giving audiences authentic, obscure southern funk.  The band comprises of 6 experienced musicians who have a passion for funk and funky soul. All members also work professionally in various other local bands. Lead singer Chloe was the former lead vocalist with Mo Tunes. She has also recently worked as a backing vocalist to New Orleans funk master Eddie Bo and provides sweet backing vocals for local Cabarock band The Dice Age. Other members are currently involved with the Melbourne Ska Orchestra, The Dice Age, The Moment of Truth and other Rhythm and Blues bands.

Kicks off around 9 pm!

I just had to share this t-shirt design which I found on threadless.com.  I thought it would be a good opportunity to introduce you to our most popular drink…

At the Tiki Bar we serve a famous Don the Beachcomber classic cocktail called a Zombie.  The Zombie is an excellent example of a cocktail made with lots of fresh juice and premium rums with a lot of complex flavours.  The recipe we use is considered by many experts in the field to be close to what Don’s original Zombie Cocktail would have been - with passionfruit, lime, lemon, angostura bitters and lots of big, bold rums.  We top ours off with a flaming passionfruit husk representing the “brains” of the Zombie, to which we add a magical voodoo powder made from Chicken bone and Human blood (no, really!   Trust me, I’m a bartender!).   The voodoo powder - sent to us by a witch-woman living on a small french colonial tropical island in the indian ocean called “Reunion Island” - is dropped into the live flame which throws up a tempest of sparks (often burning the hair off the poor bartender’s knuckles).

We are pleased to say that despite the “voodoo powder” this drink is vegan safe - the chicken was also vegan.

Hi Crew!

I’ve been talking recently to a wonderfully dark Vancouver-based artist named Megan Majewski.  Her work is incredibly dark and at the same time is strangely cute, but gives you a chill in the same way that the works of Tim Burton and Jhonen Vasquez do.

Megan reports that Tiki is alive and well in Vancouver; in addition to her own interpretations of “horror/tiki”, the most excellent video podcast Tiki Bar TV  is also filmed in Vancouver (I <3 Lala!).   Megan’s painting work can be found along with her 3d animation and some other merchendise (including a Tiki T-shirt and Tiki buttons!) at www.deadkittie.com.  Check it out!  With any luck someone will pick up her work and exhibit it in Australia (Outre, Kustom Lane…  I’m looking at you…)

Cheers,

Kev

Aloha Groovers and Shakers!

A real beaut evening coming up at the “Tiki Lounge and Bar”!

Saturday 12th July

Escape to Surf Guitar heaven with…..

“Instrumental Asylum”

9.00pm

$8 cover charge.

Drop in to the Tiki Bar to enjoy the “groovy surf/lounge/guitar noir/jazzy sounds” of the infinitely cool and talented Instrumental Asylum lead by master guitarist Ben Rogers.

Featuring special guests Jasmine Mahon on vocals and New Yorker Al Kash on drums & percussion.

Check them out on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/benrogers39instrumentalasylum.

Also, don’t forget our happy hour from 6pm - 7pm where we sell selected cocktails for $10 a pop! 1950’s prices*!

Call 9428 4336 for more information.

cheers from

Tiki Lounge & Bar - 327 Swan St Richmond

03 9428 4336

*I’m guessing.