Newark, New Jersey’s Tiki Idols probably know some of the characters I hung out with when I was discovering new bands in New York City once upon a time. Hell, they might even be some of those characters. Kurt Reil of the Grip Weeds produced this album, and I may have seen that band a few times over a few years. There may even be photographic evidence if I dug hard enough.
I began this review with the intention of posting a capsule review of one song, “Stillwell and Surf,” an incredibly fun Central Jersey surf send up (and video), but I managed to find the EP at ReverbNation, and I dug in for a ride. It’s not all surf, but it’s all fun, especially when you consider that some of the best ever surf tunes have been recorded in places that aren’t Los Angeles or California or near the beach. And “Stillwell and Surf” is still definitely the biggest draw, especially with the accompanying music video, but you should stick around for all of the fun tunes.
The whole concept triggered a memory of listening to Georgia Tech’s radio station, WREK, especially the surf music show that always exploded on the airwaves every Tuesday night. Man, that was an incredible show, and most of the tunes were new or recent releases. Unfortunately, it is no longer around.
There is also “Rock N Roll Girl” that calls up visual stories frankensteined in a mash-up with my vivid imagination manifesting an ethereal limbo of teenage angst and happiness existing in the limbo of New Jersey indie rock on the fringes of regional popularity outside of New York City thrilling indie rock adult boys crushing on adult Girl Rockstars with Guitars (and probably boots). This does it better than my imagination, folks.
The whole EP is worth digging into, even the “Stuck in Cleveland” which is more than a reminder of the old Credence Clearwater Revival classic “Stuck in Lodi,” especially since I was stuck in Ohio for about a year. Peak Tiki Idols erupt in “Stillwell and Surf,” a must listen and watch, with an animated music video of a Tiki idol rocking out and crushing just about everything in its wake. But instead of South Jersey beach antics, this one references several placenames and rides at Coney Island in Brooklyn.
There doesn’t seem to be a CD or vinyl release, but you can find the EP, here, along with their website, here, and the obligatory YouTube video, here.
Cheers,
RadioMike, still plugging away on 15 March 2026