Tiki Talk

Tikis in Zero-G? Ben Willis explores the odd connections between mid-20th century Tiki and the Space Age, and how the modern Tiki revival his only strengthened that link between worlds.

Tiki Talk airs Friday afternoons around 2:45 PM Eastern during the Ben Willis show at MegaRockPA.com

Think Tiki is only about gentle ukulele strums and lazy hammock naps? Think again. From its earliest mid-century origins, Tiki culture has always harbored a delicious dash of danger. Step out of line in pulp-era Polynesia and you might find yourself facing a headhunter, dodging a volcano god’s wrath, or having your skull - artfully carved and decorated, naturally - mounted atop a ceremonial pole. Ben Willis explores how a sense of danger adds a special spice to your Tiki space.

Tiki Talk airs Friday afternoons around 2:45 PM Eastern during the Ben Willis show at MegaRockPA.com

What do you get when you take a little bit of the Tropics, a little Modernism, a little Tiki, and lot of rum? Pittsburgh's very own Hidden Harbor! Ben Willis takes a look at the now decade-old modern Tiki bar, and talks us through how to mix up Hidden Harbor's signature Rum Old Fashioned.

Tiki Talk airs Friday afternoons around 2:45 PM Eastern during the Ben Willis show at MegaRockPA.com

While the West Coast was busy building dark, cavernous Polynesian pop temples hidden away from the daylight, Florida brought Tiki outdoors. Ben Willis talks Florida Tiki, from native chickee huts, to Caribbean Painkillers, and all points in-between.

Tiki Talk airs Friday afternoons around 2:45 PM Eastern during the Ben Willis show at MegaRockPA.com

What do you do when time and mother nature wreak havoc on a beloved Tiki icon? You rebuild it, piece by painstaking piece. Ben Willis talks Tiki restoration, both historic and modern, from the regular renewal of original wooden statues in the South Pacific, to the effort to rebuild and restore the megalithic giant Moai of Rapa Nui, and even bringing midcentury Tikis back from destruction.

Tiki Talk airs Friday afternoons around 2:45 PM Eastern during the Ben Willis show at MegaRockPA.com

Decadently sweet, nutty, and often floral, Ben Willis explores the humble origins of a Tiki cocktail ingredient that's almost as indispensable as rum itself! One of Trader Vic's favorite tools, and required for a classic Mai Tai and others, it's time to talk about almond syrup, or as the French say, orgeat!

Tiki Talk airs Friday afternoons around 2:45 PM Eastern during the Ben Willis show at MegaRockPA.com

Call it a lowball, a rocks glass, a double Old Fashioned, or a Mai Tai glass, it’s an absolute staple in any bar. But in the world of Tiki, it’s far more than just drinkware... it’s a piece of art! Ben Willis talks about how a humble vessel became a keepsake, a collectible, and a medium for the artists of the modern Tiki movement.

Tiki Talk airs Friday afternoons around 2:45 PM Eastern during the Ben Willis show at MegaRockPA.com

They say we drink with our eyes first, and in the world of Tiki, the immersive escape begins before the alcohol even touches your glass. Ben Willis dives into how a simple thing - an evocative and decorative Tiki menu - can turn choosing a cocktail into a legendary quest.

Tiki Talk airs Friday afternoons around 2:45 PM Eastern during the Ben Willis show at MegaRockPA.com

How could Exotica - a wholly inauthentic mishmash of foreign sounds, rhythms, and motifs - lead the way for American listeners to accept the sounds of authentic World Music? Ben Willis explores the influence that Tiki's biggest musical genre may have had in shaping tastes decades after its heyday, from Latin Rock, to Disco, and even children's TV.

Tiki Talk airs Friday afternoons around 2:45 PM Eastern during the Ben Willis show at MegaRockPA.com

What could be more theatrical than being immersed in pure escapism, allowing yourself to be transported to a far away tropical land, where warm breezes meet cool, fanciful cocktails? Ben Willis explores the spectacle of the Tiki Bar, and how just a bit of flair and fun can make all the difference.

Tiki Talk airs Friday afternoons around 2:45 PM Eastern during the Ben Willis show at MegaRockPA.com