{"id":28251,"date":"2023-05-16T21:38:33","date_gmt":"2023-05-17T01:38:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/?p=28251"},"modified":"2024-01-02T19:25:21","modified_gmt":"2024-01-03T00:25:21","slug":"take-a-wild-ride-on-the-tropical-thunder-express-from-pooch-and-tiki-farm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/2023\/05\/16\/take-a-wild-ride-on-the-tropical-thunder-express-from-pooch-and-tiki-farm\/","title":{"rendered":"Take a wild ride on the Tropical Thunder Express from Pooch and Tiki Farm"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you gaze into the signature artwork by lowbrow king Mike \u201cPooch\u201d Pucciarelli<\/a>, you’re immediately transported to a surrealistic land of insane roller coasters traversing impossibly twisted tracks in a dark but fantastically fun theme park. Until recently, that imaginary place was limited to canvas, tattoos, and Pooch’s vivid imagination.
\nJump to more below<\/b><\/font>
\n* Toast the Tropical Thunder Express at The Hukilau unofficial preparty on May 25<\/a>
\nExclusive cocktail recipes: Pooch Punch<\/a> | Tropical Thunder Express<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The new Tropical Thunder Express mug set from Tiki Farm, designed by South Florida artist Mike \u201cPooch\u201d Pucciarelli.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now, thanks to Tiki Farm<\/a>, Pooch’s wild world has taken on three-dimensional form with the release of an ambitious four-mug set: Tropical Thunder Express. Packaged in a colorful box adorned with Pooch’s distinctive artwork, it’s almost like four roller-coaster cars from one of his paintings jumped out of two-dimensional world and came to life. <\/p>\n

You can find the mugs in their native habitat in the 2021 digital art piece “The Rum Ride”<\/a>, but the idea for the real-world mugs actually came first. Pooch reached out to Tiki Farm with his first mug design, a moai, earlier that year. <\/p>\n

Tiki Farm owner Holden Westland<\/a>, who was aware of Pooch’s reputation in the lowbrow art world, loved the “Tiki mug as ride vehicle” concept. Pooch seized the opportunity. “I said, because it’s a (roller coaster) car, maybe we should have more,” Pooch said of his conversation with the mug mogul. <\/p>\n

In short order, they joined forces to create a distinctive coaster train featuring four colorful mugs: Grey Moai, Blue Lono, Green Marquesan, and Orange Ku. Westland needed promotional artwork to promote Tiki Farm at Tiki Oasis in August 2021, so Pooch quickly brought “The Rum Ride” to life. <\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Rum Ride, a digital print by Pooch that shows the Tropical Thunder Express mugs in their native habitat.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Like his other classic thrill ride paintings<\/a>, this new piece takes the viewer into a vibrant nether world filled with skulls, Tiki imagery, A-frame huts, a giant moai, and Tiki mugs on wheels happily riding an impossibly angled roller-coaster track. <\/p>\n

He said he intended to paint it, but creating it digitally was essential to meet the deadline. The piece is available online<\/a> as a giclee-quality matte paper print for $50.<\/p>\n

Working off of Pooch’s two-dimensional drawings, Tiki Farm’s sculptors have perfectly captured the whimsical world of his paintings, mashing up Tiki, tattoo, and Kustom Kulture into one cool package. In keeping with the theme, the mugs are not sold separately and must be purchased as a set for $125 directly from Tiki Farm online.
\n* Click here to buy Tropical Thunder Express box of four mugs<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pooch added digital art to his repertoire about eight years ago, but he said he approaches the format much the same as his other art. The main benefit, he said, is speed. “It’s not that different, other than it’s faster,” he said.<\/p>\n

\"Pooch's
Pooch’s original designs for the Grey Moai that inspired the Tropical Thunder Express set.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He created three different views of each mug in two dimensions rather than using 3-D software. Pooch said he could have done the same thing on paper, it was just more efficient to use digital tools.<\/p>\n

No matter the medium, Pooch has carved out his own distinctive style over the past quarter century, simultaneously building a loyal following for his colorful ink work at Altered State Tattoo in South Florida (est. 1996). A longtime fan of Tiki culture, he often includes the imagery in his work, channeled through his own unique lowbrow-inspired lens.<\/p>\n

Turning his Tiki coaster cars into actual mugs was the next logical step. Finally, Pooch’s work has made it into the vast catalog of Southern California’s Tiki Farm, the world’s premiere mug manufacturer since 2000. <\/p>\n

Pooch parlayed his new relationship into an opportunity to create a new custom mug for The Mai-Kai<\/a> when the historic South Florida restaurant reopens later this year. He’s also working on other potential designs for Tiki Farm.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Tropical Thunder Express box from Tiki Farm, featuring mugs designed by Pooch, arrives at The Atomic Grog in March 2023. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Tropical Thunder Express mugs are made in China like most of the Tiki Farm releases, but they feature a matte finish like many of today’s artist-driven custom mugs. The entire set is priced around the same as some single-mug releases, making it a definite deal. <\/p>\n

Released in February, the mugs are 2 pounds each and range from 19 to 21 ounces. The tallest, the Orange Ku, stands 7.6 inches tall. According to Tiki Farm, “Tropical Thunder Express is the perfect gift for any Tiki aficionado and an even better gift for someone who needs to discover the world of Tiki!”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Growing up in Florida, Pooch discovered Tiki and amusement parks at a young age. As his official bio states, he was “raised on a diet of Ray Harryhausen films, H.P. Lovecraft novels, comics, Walt Disney World, and other Florida tourist traps. … His art is a visual cocktail of these influences – with a shot of lowbrow culture – shaken and stirred, then served up in a souvenir Tiki skull on the Day of the Dead.”<\/p>\n

A self-taught artist, he turned to tattooing as a career after excelling in the music world<\/a> in his angry youth. Pooch still enjoys playing music, recently contributing lead guitar (and artwork) to a new track from Violetmusik.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Pooch<\/a>
Pooch and Mrs. Pooch (aka Stacy Pucciarelli) at the Altered State Tattoo 27th anniversary party on May 14 in Boynton Beach. Some of Pooch’s recent paintings can be seen on display. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At Altered State Tattoo,<\/a> located on the southeast Palm Beach County coast in Boynton Beach, Pooch and his fellow artists specialize in custom work that pushes the envelope of creativity. The shop recently celebrated its 27th anniversary with a party that featured some of Pooch’s newest artwork, a series of dark paintings inspired by Swiss airbrush master HR Giger.<\/p>\n

His work has been featured in many tattoo publications, including Tattoo Society<\/em> and International Tattoo Art<\/em>. He accepts clients by appointment only by calling (561) 806-5853.<\/p>\n

Pooch’s flair for art bloomed alongside music, but the success of his shop enabled him to fully explore multiple mediums. Quickly gaining notice from galleries and fans of lowbrow and pop surrealism, Pooch has shown his paintings at exhibits across South Florida well as Los Angeles, Seattle, and New York City.<\/p>\n

In 2000, he started painting in oil and acrylic, his early works feeding off his obsession with dark rides and roller coasters. His later work took on all manner of dark topics, from Mexico’s Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) to Giger-esque biomechanical works.<\/p>\n

\"Pooch's<\/a>
Pooch’s Tropical Thunder Express mugs are featured at Driftwood, his local haunt in Boynton Beach. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward, March 2023)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

More recently, he is just as likely to use his digital pen as paint and bushes. Either way, the result is the same: wildly creative, colorful, distinctive pieces that whisk you away to another place and time, much like Tiki. His series spotlighting The Mai-Kai (“Mystery Girl”<\/a> | The Molokai<\/a> | “The Gardens”<\/a>) is a great example. <\/p>\n

You can pick up Pooch prints, apparel and more in the Altered State online store.<\/a> You can also buy signed and numbered giclee prints on canvas through his Pooch Island website.<\/a><\/p>\n

Since the temporary closure of The Mai-Kai,<\/a> Pooch was forced to find his Tiki cocktail fix elsewhere in South Florida. Luckily, a fantastic option surfaced in nearby Boynton Beach. <\/p>\n

While it’s not a full-blown Tiki bar, Driftwood<\/a> features a menu of expertly-crafted tropical cocktails, some served in mugs from Tiki Farm. The 5-year-old restaurant also serves up delicious farm-to-table cuisine.<\/p>\n

\"Pooch's<\/a>
Pooch’s Tropical Thunder Express mugs at Driftwood in Boynton Beach. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward, March 2023)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As a regular, Pooch has a symbiotic relationship with Driftwood and beverage director Joe Everett.\u00a0Not long after he starting visiting and offering positive feedback on the drinks, Everett added a new creation to the menu: Pooch Punch. The artist returned the favor by adding some distinctive ink to one of Everett’s arms.<\/p>\n

Below you will find our tribute to Driftwood’s Pooch Punch<\/a>. In true Tiki tradition, Everett won’t reveal the exact recipe, but we think we’ve come close.<\/p>\n

It’s one of our go-to cocktails whenever we visit Driftwood, which has also become The Atomic Grog’s favorite local spot for inventive food and drinks. Everett and his team create some of the best Tiki cocktails north of The Mai-Kai and south of Orlando, in our humble opinion.<\/p>\n

We also highly recommend the authentic Zombie and Hurricane, plus originals such as Point Nemo and Mad Botanist. The small and large plates, created by owner and executive chef Jimmy Everett (Joe’s brother), perfectly complement the drinks with their bold flavors and high-quality ingredients.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Tropical Thunder Express mug set from Tiki Farm and Pooch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

All things considered, Driftwood was the perfect spot to meet up with Pooch and Joe Everett shortly after the release of Tropical Thunder Express for a photo shoot (see images above and below). Plus some libations, of course. Driftwood now features the mugs in regular rotation.<\/p>\n

After consulting with Pooch, we hope to offer some cocktail suggestions. It makes sense that the four Tropical Thunder Express mugs contain drinks that are near and dear to the artist’s heart (and palate).<\/p>\n

If he were stuck on a desert island with his mugs and four cocktails, this is what Pooch would imbibe:
\n* Grey Moai: Black Magic<\/a>
\n* Blue Lono: Mai Tai<\/a>
\n* Green Marquesan: Pooch Punch<\/a>
\n* Orange Ku: Zombie<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s hard to argue with that lineup. But we went even further and tried to create the ultimate single cocktail for the Tropical Thunder Express mugs by combining flavors and ingredients from all four of Pooch’s favorites. We hope the signature recipe below<\/a> is worthy of its vessels. <\/p>\n

If you’re not quite ready to pull the trigger and order the mugs, Driftwood is the perfect place to go check them out while enjoying top-notch cocktails and food. <\/a><\/p>\n

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A post shared by Jim Hayward (@theatomicgrog)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n