I’ve never been to Boston — and that’s all changing, thanks to Waitiki and Beachbum Berry. That’s the one-two punch that’s got me hopping on the next red-eye to Beantown:

WAITIKI presents An Exotic Beantown Sippin Safari featuring beach Bum Berry! Pho Republique will host this exciting event, a tiki-filled evening which includes four amazing tropical concoctions available (and mixed by the Bum!), dim sum apps ala Pho, and a special photographic slideshow by the Bum about the history of these drinks. Brother Cleve to keep the beat going between sets and other surprises may follow! There will also be tiki raffle prizes given out! View the press release for more info.

For all you tikiphiles: drinks will be sourced from the original recipes of some classic cocktails found in legendary Boston tiki establishments of the past (Trader Vics, Kon Tiki Ports, etc.) Check out Beach Bum’s 2007 Salon mag interview; a hoot!

RSVP today at sippinsafari@waitiki.com as there is limited seating for this free event. Or call (617) 262-0005. Okonkuluku!

More later after my fab trip!

• Waitiki
• Beachbum Berry

Not too long ago, Waitiki announced that longtime drummer Space Kadet was leaving the Waitiki fold, headed on to new adventures in Hawaii. The new drummer that Waitiki selected was Robert “Bobby Bongo” Schultz, but scheduling conflicts have sent Waitiki on the search again for a new drummer. Enter the mysterious “Laughing Boy,” pictured left. Who is this drumming wonder? I do not know, and the Waitiki website isn’t giving up its secrets. As a matter of fact, the Waitiki boys appear to be making a game of it, as Laughing Boy’s page on the site simply reads:

Do you know who this is? Take your best guess! Let us know at band@Waitiki.com.

He looks a lot like a kid I went to elementary school with named Shane, who lived in a haunted house. But I’m guessing that’s not him.

The boys have two major shows coming up: a special performance of their 21-piece Esquivel Orchestrotica in Mexico City on April 1, and a warm-up show in Boston on Friday, March 24. If you can make it to either of these shows, do not miss them!

UPDATE: Clever monkey ookoo lady figured out who the mysterious drummer is — it’s Mike Connors, who previously was the drummer for Combustible Edison. Great addition to the band, guys!

• Waitiki’s website
• Change in Waitiki Lineup [Humu Kon Tiki]

Boston-based Exotica band Waitiki has announced a change in its lineup. Drummer and pandologist Space Kadet (a.k.a. Abe Lagrimas) is moving back to his home state of Hawaii. Enter Bobby Bongo (a.k.a. Robert Schultz), an accomplished percussionist who has played with the Boston Symphony and the Boston Pops, and is principal percussionist for a number of other ensembles. He was nominated for a Grammy in 2005 for Best Small Ensemble Performance for his work on Yehudi Wyner’s The Mirror. But the real question is — will he be able to skin the goats? All indications point to yes. From the Waitiki website:

The Boston Globe has referenced his work as “subtle, with cat-like alertness,” his musicianship as “dazzling” and his performance as “spellbinding.”

Well, that’s good enough for me. Okonkulú and wishes for the best of fortune for both Space Kadet and Bobby Bongo!

• WAITIKI has new drummah and pandologist! [Tiki Central]
• Waitiki’s website
• Ahhhh… Waitiki! [Humu Kon Tiki]

This Witco bar is up on eBay in the Rhode Island area. The bar comes with three matching stools, and looks to be in excellent condition. This is a very lovely specimen. The bar can be picked up if you’re local, but the seller is able to deliver to New York and Boston for a small fee, and is willing to quote for shipments outside that area. The starting bid for the bar is $9.99, with an unknown reserve amount. Sven Kirsten’s next book will be taking an in-depth look at Witco — best to buy it now before everyone knows how cool it is!

• Witco Westenhaver Tiki Bar 3 Stools Kahiki Bob’s Shag [eBay]

A tropical-themed coffee shop in Shrewsbury, Connecticut Massachusetts had a large tiki stolen recently. The 5′ tiki is a large Ku with red eyes (pictured left), and is a fairly common design used for large displays. It’s not one-of-a-kind, but there can’t be very many of these in New England… if you spot this tiki, contact Lalajava.

Thanks for the correction!

• Tiki-theft crime wave continues [Tiki Central]
• Lalajava

In my recap of Hukilau, I made mention of one of my best finds — the Boston-based Exotica group, Waitiki. Waitiki is four guys: Tim Mayer, “The Mayor of Exotica;” Brian O’Neill “Mr. Ho;” Abe Lagrimas, Jr., “Space Kadet;” and Randy Wong, “Professah Humming Flower.” Randy and Abe met as youngsters in Hawaii; both made their way to Boston, where they met up with Brian and Tim — all four are graduates of prestigious music schools there. Randy’s parents knew Arthur Lyman, and he had a strong impact on Randy.

The Waitiki boys are very, very silly. A very nutty and bright sort of silly that struck a serious chord with me. They are a lot of fun — a LOT of fun — to spend time with. This wacky tone carries over into their original songs, which touch on such topics as watermelon sacrifice and the intersection of adorable furry animals and proper grammar. However, their set at the Mai Kai was a tribute to Martin Denny, with an all-classic Exotica set. Listening to Waitiki play at the Mai Kai, I was struck by two things.

First, any Exotica composed after the ’60s just doesn’t sound the same to me, even those pieces by the greats such as Martin Denny and Robert Drasnin. They aren’t bad works, they just don’t evoke that same feel of the exotic and the mysterious. Randy Wong’s original composition, Sweet Pikake Serenade, was the first time I had heard a modern composition that sounded ready to take its place alongside those great classic songs. Halfway through hearing it, I had forgotten that it was a new piece. Stunning, beautiful, and moving.

Second, their entire set was Exotica as I’d never experienced it before. These songs are ones I’ve heard, and loved, dozens and dozens of times over. Over years of hearing them, I’d created a scene in my head of middle-aged, somewhat-serious men playing these songs quietly and intently. The Waitiki boys have every bit the intent and serious focus while they’re playing, but they play with so much life, so much vibrancy, and so much energy. They made Exotica fun. They brought Exotica completely to life for me in a new way. They made me look at Exotica music in a whole new way. Fabulous.

Okay, so here’s the latest in Waitiki Appreciation: They have a new album out, “Charred Mammal Flesh.” Their expanded 20-piece configuration, called Waitiki Orchestrotica, which was created for the purpose of playing faithful recreations of Esquivel songs, will be playing at an Esquivel tribute concert in Mexico City on April 1, 2006. A few tracks from a September performance of the Orchestrotica is available for download on the Waitiki website. Uh, what else… oh yes, they’ve also been wanting to get a show together in NYC somewhere, hopefully at Otto’s Shrunken Head (where another favorite of mine, Fisherman Vibraphonic Trio, plays on Mondays). And also, the guys are on the lookout for radio stations around the country that would be a fit for their music (KEXP in Seattle leaps to mind, and Senor Amor’s Molotov Cocktail Hour on L.A.’s KXLU).

Waitiki is now on your radar — take advantage of their existence! Get to see them if you can, and get their album & all that stuff. Okonkuluku!

• Waitiki’s website
• WAITIKI Plays Mexico! + New Esquivel Show Recordings Available [Tiki Central]
• WAITIKI performing in NYC (Winter, 2005) – would you come? [Tiki Central]
• WAITIKI needs your help with radio promo [Tiki Central]
• My Travels: Hukilau [Humu Kon Tiki]

New England has a fair amount of tiki to choose from; the two places that have been considered for a gathering are Hu Ke Lau in Chicopee, MA, and Kowloon in Saugus, MA. A date has not yet been set, but the momentum looks like it will hopefully happen in the next few weeks. If you live in the New England area and are interested in meeting other tikiphiles, be sure to jump right on in — tikiphiles are a notoriously friendly bunch.

• New England Tikiphile Events [Tiki Central]
• Hu Ke Lau [Critiki]
• Kowloon [Tiki Central]