Aug 12 2011
That’s right…the Freaky Tiki Surf-ari is back and better than ever! We even have a logo this time around! We’re still going to take a look at the connections between Tiki culture, surf music and horror while not being quite as…overwhelming as last year’s installment. Weird Jon has also been fine-tuning his music reviewing style …
Sep 30 2010
The Ghastly Ones Official Site Target: Draculon, Ghastly Plastics 2006 Unearthed, Ghastly Plastics 2007 Well, Freaky Tiki Surf-ari has come to a close and I’ve saved what’s often regarded as (and rightfully so) the best for last. Not only do the Ghastly Ones play amazing horror surf jam-packed with horror movie references, but they also …
Sep 30 2010
Satan’s Pilgrims Official Site Plymouth Rock, Musick Recordings 2004 Psychsploitation, Sp Records 2009 According to their official Facebook page, Satan’s Pilgrims formed in 1992 over a (quote) “series of house parties hosted by the members of the band” in Portland, Oregon. Basing their name on the exploitation film Satan’s Sadists, the Pilgrims soon became an …
Sep 29 2010
Don Tiki Official Site South of the Boudoir, Taboo Records 2009 I first became hooked on Don Tiki after hearing the spooky Tiki track “The Natives Are Restless.” Further research on the band led me to discover that they had done other songs with kinda creepy titles, such as “Axolotl” and “The Hypnotizing Man.” Their …
Sep 29 2010
The Surf Zombies Official Myspace Something Weird, Oasis Manufacturing 2009 The Surf Zombies first came to my attention by the way of a “Rock and Roots” CD sampler. The split second I saw the song title “El Funebre (The Hearse)” and the band’s name on the track listing, I knew I was in for a …
Sep 28 2010
Robert Drasnin Official Site Voodoo II, Dionysus Records 2007 Martin Denny. Les Baxter. Arthur Lyman. They are the greats of the classic exotica world. However, I think there’s a name missing from that list: Robert Drasnin. Granted, he’s only released two exotica albums, Voodoo and Voodoo II, but I think their quality and importance more …
Sep 28 2010
Man Or Astro-Man? Official Site Live Transmissions From Uranus, Touch and Go Records 1997 (Original release date: 1995) Founded in Auburn, Alabama during the early 90’s, Man Or Astro-Man? soon rose to fame for both their excellent surf music and various gimmicks. Not only did they base songs on horror and sci-fi movies (even including …
Sep 21 2010
Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited Official Site (Label) The Spooky Sound Sessions, Dionysus Records 2009 After Kava Kon, we have one more stop in our Freaky Tiki Surf-ari side trip through the world of neo-exotica, which also takes us further into the world of space age pop. Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited is something of a mystery …
Sep 20 2010
The Mission Creeps Official Site Dark Cells, Refractory Records 2010 The Mission Creeps aren’t your typical horror surf band. Brandon Specktor of the Arizona Daily Wildcat described their unique style as “gothic/garage rock,” ReverbNation called it “reverb-drenched guitar, psychotic theremin and velvelty…” and one Frankie Estelle calls them a “Cramps-style surfabilly band.” The Creeps themselves …
Aug 30 2010
Chaino Official Site (Label) Eye of the Spectre, Dionysus Records 2008 (Original release date: 1957) One of the most striking things about this CD is the cover, the artwork on which looks like something from a horror comic by Eerie Publications. It features an African tribesman strangling and preparing to whip a native woman in …
Aug 29 2010
The Moon-Rays Official Site Sinister Surf, Sound Imp Records 2006 This may surprise you, but I already knew about the majority of the surf bands I’m reviewing before I started the Freaky Tiki Surf-ari. If I hadn’t heard of them on my own, then Strange Jason had recommended them to me. However, there are a …
Aug 27 2010
Kava Kon Official Site Departure Exotica, white label detroit 2005 Tiki for the Atomic Age, Dionysus Records 2009 For this installment of the Freaky Tiki Surf-ari, we’ll be taking a side trip into the world of neo-exotica. What is neo-exotica? From what I can tell, neo-exotica is exotica music made using synthesizers and other electronic …
Aug 19 2010
Daikaiju Official Site Daikaiju, Reptile Records 2005 Not to be confused with the similarly-named anthology series, Daikaiju is a surf band known for music influenced by Japanese monster movies (hence the name) and the kabuki masks worn by the four band members in order to hide their identities. Thankfully, the band’s origins are much less …
Jul 17 2010
The Waitiki 7 Official Site New Sounds of Exotica, Pass Out Records 2010 Waitiki is dead, long live The Waitiki 7! After their 2005 debut album, Waitiki released two more albums, 2007’s Rendezvous in Okonkuluku and 2009’s Magic Island Sounds: The Wedding Album, before departing from this mortal coil (figuratively speaking). However, its mission and …
Jul 17 2010
Waitiki Official Site Charred Mammal Flesh, Pass Out Records 2005 In our last exotica installment, I shared a story about the origin of the song “Bwana” (and about the use of animal calls in exotica) that had been told to me by an exotica musician. Since he went unnamed in that in order to help …
Jul 13 2010
Witches in Bikinis Official Site Witches in Bikinis, Second Wind Productions 2005 A Scary Kind of Love, Second Wind Productions 2008 All Hallows Eve, Second Wind Productions 2009 Special Edition Sampler CD, Second Wind Productions 2009 Taking their name from the first song they ever recorded, Witches in Bikinis burst onto the scene in 2005 …
Bad Behavior has blocked 7861 access attempts in the last 7 days.