Los Angeles, California
September 2006

"Almost Famous"

My Host Is: Jim B (aka Tikiyaki Sr.)

Next: Tikiyaki Ohana says "Aloha"

Bud here reporting from LaLa Land.

Tikiyaki Sr has been a most gracious host. I'm having all kinds of new experiences. Tikiyaki Jr has a really big Ohana, and they are all a little nutty, like him. They love to eat, and blast music...mostly
classic rock. They're huge KISS fans here, and I joined the KISS Army too....so let's ROCK AND ROLL ALL NIGHT, and party ev-ry day!

(Cool...my cousin and I use to rock out to the Double Platinum album. Also had a 45 with "I Want You" that I listened to over and over. Kevin was Paul Stanley and I was Peter Criss. Good memories.)

Here's me and the Tikiyaki Ohana....that's not even all of them, just the ones who were not too hungover to get in a family snapshot!

They also have alot of "statues" of their ancestors hanging on the walls. It's a Tikiyaki Shrine pretty much everywhere. He is really in to the tiki thing and Polynesia. He's got a blog.

Check THIS out. I've only seen one on tv, until now! Tikiyaki Sr had a small brush with fame, and his band, Fuzzbubble, won this MTV award. (Under viewer's choice section) Pretty cool huh? He's not famous, He's ALMOST famous. (See also: Hitt Man - Just picked up the first album...cranked it up...it's killer if you're in to metal...Tikiyaki Sr shreds!)

This is me and Tiki Jr in the recording studio, Sound Zero Studio. Tikiyaki Sr invited me to get in on a session. He played me some of his stuff...pretty cool. I told him I wanted to record something, so here's us layin' down some tracks >>>

Drums get recorded first. I had a little trouble at first, but once I locked into the groove, I nailed it.

Don't asked me how I reached all the drums....I'm a GNOME remember, I DO possess SOME magical powers.

Next, we throw down some guitars and bass. WOO, CRANK IT UP ! Tikiyaki Sr has some *itchin guitars and amps. I LOVE IT LOUD ! Eddie Van WHO? I shred, dude!

Here's us rehearsing our vocal parts, Tiki Jr and I harmonize really well. It's like Jon Bon Jovi and Ritchie Sambora! Tikiyaki Sr, said "John Bon WHO?" He preferred we made it more like Lennon and McCartney. OK, then....I am the Egg Man, They are the Egg Men, I am the Puna Gnome....Koo Koo Katchoo!

(I ran across Ritchie & Heather walking down the beach at Kiholo Bay in Waikoloa a few years back. Told them where one of the sights was in the area. Had to do a double take. Heather is obviously unmistakeable. I looked like a wigged out wild man with my hair everywhere...probably scared them....lol. Hey Ritchie - remember that day? Doubt it.)

Here we are cutting the vocals. Those headphones sound great! SO friggin loud, my ears were ringin' afterward. Hey, if it's too loud you're too Old!

Time to mix. I asked Tikiyaki Jr to take some of the echo off my voice. He told me not to be like Greg in that episode of the Brady Bunch when he became Johnny Bravo, and complained about it being "all electronics". Listening back, he was right, I ain't exactly Sinatra, I can use all the help I can get. (It would be killer if one of the "Brady" kids hosted Bud. Is calling adult actors "Brady kids" politically correct? I won't hold my breathe. Yes I own the first season on DVD.)

Sidenote: Mr. Eyesner from Disney called again...he said, "I heard you're cutting a record, I wanna hear it when it's finished, maybe we can sign you to the Disney label."

I told him, "Right, me and Hilary? I'm a serious artist, not teenie pop fluff, do you have any idea who's producing this record?" Boy, he just doesn't give up. Should've signed me when I was in your office a few days ago man!

We sat back and listened to our efforts. Sounds great. Soon, You'll see this picture "on the cover of the Rollin Stone."

Man, we were beat after the session. We just chilled out with the doggies afterwards. The big one is Fleegle, the little one is Puggles.

Fleegle is only half rottweiler (half beagle), she looks scarier than she is. Puggles is a puppy still (half beagle, half pug) and she's SO hyper...this is one of her rare, sleepy moments.

I'm doin' all kindza cool stuff here at Hale Tikiyaki. More soon....

Aloha, Bud and Tiki Jr

(Photos: Jim B. / Dialogue: Jim B. & Tony V.)