What is The Atomic Grog?

Updated May 1, 2012

The Atomic Grog is a new production company spun off from Slammie Productions to promote Tiki culture and its music, art and cocktail scenes. It’s also a blog written by journalist (and Slammie founder) Jim “Hurricane” Hayward.

Slammie Productions, founded in 1992, continues to be South Florida’s longest-running indie concert promotion company, with an emphasis on the legacy punk scene. Recent concerts have included The Casualties, Agnostic Front, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Authority Zero, The Adolescents, and The Queers. Over the past 20 years, Slammie has been a driving force in the local music scene, booking early shows by Dashboard Confessional, Further Seems Forever, New Found Glory, Marilyn Manson, Nonpoint, and many others. Hayward and Slammie also had a hand in booking such top national acts as A.F.I., Blink 182, Deftones, Fall Out Boy, Fugazi, Iron Maiden, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Megadeth, My Chemical Romance, NOFX, Pennywise, Slayer, the list goes on. The company’s signature event in the 1990s was the South Florida Slammie Awards, which ran for eight years and honored the area’s massive (at the time) local scene.

But promoter Hayward’s favorite shows were those that touched on the surf and rockabilly genres, such as Dick Dale, Agent Orange, Exene Cervenka, Nekromantix, The HorrorPops, and The Phenomenauts. He hopes to use The Atomic Grog as a vehicle to bring more such acts to South Florida and help establish a more mature, yet fun, live music scene. Early fruits of his labors were Dick Dale’s two South Florida dates in June 2011 as well as an intimate performance by psychobilly pioneers Nekromantix in September. Hayward recently booked two more Dick Dale dates in conjunction with The Atomic Grog’s first anniversary when the surf guitar legend returned to South Florida in April 2012.

But The Atomic Grog is not just music. As the site’s banner states, it’s about “events, music, art, cocktails and culture.” Since 2008, Hayward has been involved as a coordinator of The Hukilau, the largest Tiki-themed event on the East Coast. Held every year in Fort Lauderdale, the event is a whirlwind of live music, informative symposiums, cocktail contests and seminars, VIP meet-and-greets, retro DJ parties, a Tiki art show, vendors and more. The 2012 Hukilau was held April 19-22 with another great lineup of bands and activities.

Hayward’s involvement in The Hukilau, which draws hundreds of revelers annually from around the world, has opened his eyes to the much wider Tiki scene and its many diverse, creative and fun-filled festivities. He’s also become known for his tropical drink mixology, thanks in large part to the influence of South Florida’s iconic Mai-Kai restaurant. Open since 1956, The Mai-Kai is a mid-century marvel, beloved by Tiki and Polynesian Pop enthusiasts worldwide. The Atomic Grog’s Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide is a unique resource for tropical drink enthusiasts who flock to Fort Lauderdale to sample these one-of-a-kind creations.

A big part of the Tiki scene is the great artwork and artists, which will be featured regularly along with The Atomic Grog’s unique take on cocktails and culture. The blog will offer readers a wild ride on the ever-growing wave of Tiki culture.

Another major area of interest is Walt Disney World and retro Florida. The Atomic Grog has its own distinctive viewpoint on Disney World with a focus on adult-oriented activities such as the food and drinks, plus a fondness for the classic attractions, design, and artwork of the mid-century. All from a Tikiphile’s perspective.

Why Tiki? This modern reinterpretation of mid-century Polynesian and Hawaiian kitsch is actually an honest-to-goodness underground movement, driven by the many talented artists, musicians and cocktailians in true do-it-yourself fashion. To borrow from legendary DJ and writer Jay Strongman’s introduction to his 2008 book, Tiki Mugs: Cult Artifacts of Polynesian Pop …

Inspired by the rich history of Polynesian Pop, the Tiki community is a very organic underground scene with “an anarchic spirit that is refreshing in these times of bland, corporate, mainstream culture.”

We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Aloha!

Hurricane Hayward