As published in Ventana
magazine, October 2014
Call of the Tropics
From Midtown to Downtown, Tiki culture is ablaze in
Ventura—and it’s not just a string thing.
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| Photo of Brad Ranola by T Christian Gapen. |
It’s been a banner year for Midtown Ventura’s Anacapa
Ukulele. In February, Brad Ranola and his partners opened a second ukulele
shop, in Los Angeles. In June they hosted the first L.A. Ukulele Expo, and now
they are looking to expand the Ventura shop they first opened as a leap of
faith three years ago.
The
countless YouTube views of ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro shredding the
cover of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” could be a big reason for their success.
And who can forget Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s timeless but fairly recent
“Somewhere over the Rainbow”? Ukulele music has come a long way since Don Ho’s
“Tiny Bubbles.” The modern ukulele movement has indeed piqued the interest of a
new generation of would-be players. But Ranola insists the instrument’s broad
appeal is due to its size and ease of use.
“Four
strings, four fingers is a lot easier than six strings, four fingers; and the
nylon strings are easier on your hands,” Ranola says.
Along
with a smaller, more portable size and the ergonomic benefits, the ukulele is
also more affordable. And affordability doesn’t necessarily mean a compromise.
As Ranola puts it, “A cheap ukulele sounds better than a cheap guitar.”
A
professional international musician for the last 18 years, Ranola got bit by
the ukulele bug five years ago, but in order to get ahold of the instrument he
wanted, he had to call a friend in Hawaii. He soon realized this was a niche
that needed to be filled.
“I
really wanted to become proficient at this instrument, and what better way than
to open my own shop?” Ranola says with a chuckle. It was also an opportunity
for him to get off the road as a traveling musician and focus on his family. “I
can still fulfill my love for music but be home more.”
With
a mid-century vintage Hawaiian vibe, the Ventura shop’s design is meant to
encourage hands-on interactivity with the instruments they have for sale. It’s
this play-before-you-pay philosophy that draws customers in.
“Part
of the reason why we opened, is you want to feel the instrument,” Ranola says.
“It inspires you to want to play and get better. It’s more of an experience.
It’s a place where people can play.”
Among
the more unique ukuleles they sell are the bongolele, the banjolele, and a
surfy ‘50s-era ukulele with an enormous headstock—to stick in the sand like a
surfboard. They’ve also got an iconic triangle-shaped treholipee, “a fun
kitschy instrument” that Ranola says would be perfect at a place like VenTiki
Lounge.
While
co-teaching a ukulele class at Disney Concert Hall with Grammy Award-winning
Hawaiian musician Daniel Ho, Ranola shared what he and his partner Cary Hitsman
had done at Anacapa Ukulele. Ho suggested a partnership with himself, blues
ukulele master Jason Arimoto, and the Japanese American Cultural Community
Center in Los Angeles. Within a year, U-Space opened their ukulele retail shop,
ukulele school, and café in the heart of L.A.’s Little Tokyo. In addition, the
partners dedicate a lot of their time to non-profit outreach, providing
instruments and instruction to underprivileged youth in the community.
The
instrument’s appeal to all ages is what’s proven to be particularly exciting
for Ranola and his partners. “It’s a real communal instrument,” he says. “The ukulele
is the great equalizer; there’s no ego. It’s a great instrument that can reach
lots of demographics.”
Classes
offered at both the Ventura and the Los Angeles locations attract all ages,
from kids to seniors. “The kids play a lot of pop music, the older ones play
early jazz, and obviously there’s a lot of Hawaiian music. We teach a lot of
classical, reggae, and island music, too.”
Growing
in popularity is the kanikapila—a sort of ukulele circle/jam session. Anacapa’s
website lists several locations throughout Ventura County offering weekly
gatherings. Ranola sees the company expanding in Ventura in much the same way
U-Space did in Los Angeles. He’s hoping to soon add a café featuring local
pour-over coffee and prepared sandwiches and pastries. “Coffee and ukulele go
hand-in-hand,” Ranola says with a hopeful smile.
He
could be on to something. The world could certainly use more coffee klatches
and impromptu kanikapilas.
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| Photo of Dr. Shocker by T Christian Gapen. |
[SIDEBAR]
VenTiki Lounge & Lanai
Despite
its downtown location, you’re sure to feel like a castaway at VenTiki Lounge
& Lanai. With its piped-in ukulele music and occasional orchestrated
volcanic eruption, you can almost hear ripe coconuts falling to the ground.
Cocktails are taken seriously here—you won’t find a drop of pineapple juice in
the Mai Tai, which is made the proper way, right down to the hand-smacked mint
leaves called for in the original recipe created by Trader Vic’s in Oakland in
the 1930s.
“In
the tiki community, we believe in traditional garnishes to accentuate the
drink,” says Dr. Shocker, VenTiki’s manager and self-proclaimed evangelist
preaching the gospel of tiki.
The
first tiki movement came about when World War II soldiers returned home from
the Pacific, but became a fad in the ‘70s when original drink recipes were lost
and adulterated. “The ‘70s were the dark days of cocktails,” explains Dr.
Shocker. “These drinks are part of the craft cocktail movement and made the
correct way: light and refreshing and balanced, not sickeningly sweet.”
Since
opening 15 months ago, the quirky little bar has become a popular locals’
hangout, and a regular stop for Ventura Food Tours. Drinks made with myriad
ingredients are served in intricate tiki mugs and sometimes set ablaze.
“The
Alter of Sacrifice—it just screams it needs fire.” Made with lime vodka, two
kinds of bitters, and spiced vanilla syrup, it certainly does.
Dr.
Shocker brings another Zombie to life.
Zombie Recipe
With Halloween approaching, a favorite seasonal cocktail is
the Zombie, which was invented in the ‘30s by Don the Beachcomber.
Ingredients:
¾ ounce lime juice
½ ounce grapefruit
1 ½ ounce pineapple juice
¼ ounce falernum liqueur
1 ¼ ounce gold rum
1 ounce dark rum
1 ounce Lemon Hart 151 rum
½ ounce grenadine
2 dashes Angostura bitters
6 drops Pernod
¾ ounce lime juice
½ ounce grapefruit
1 ½ ounce pineapple juice
¼ ounce falernum liqueur
1 ¼ ounce gold rum
1 ounce dark rum
1 ounce Lemon Hart 151 rum
½ ounce grenadine
2 dashes Angostura bitters
6 drops Pernod
Combine
all ingredients in a shaker and pour into glass. Garnish with mint and lime.
VENTIKI LOUNGE & LANAI 701 E. Main St.; 805.667.8887,ventikilounge.com
