Bands Under The Radar (BUTR)

The only thing crazier than true crime is zoo crime. Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness is a true crime documentary about the life of zookeeper Joe Exotic released on Netflix on March 20. The series focuses on big cat conservationist Carole Baskin and big cat collectors such as Exotic, whom Baskin accuses of abusing and exploiting wild animals.

Although Joe Exotic’s musical pursuits were glossed over in the miniseries, the videos released from 2013-2015 on Exotic’s YouTube channel touch on everything from love and loss, exotic animal ownership and a biker gang that takes in neglected children.

The songs are actually catchy and well-written. The vocals are reminiscent of the mullet-and-10-gallon-hat-sporting twang stars of 90’s country. It would be really impressive if Exotic was actually singing them. However, following the release of “Tiger King” it was revealed that many of Exotic’s songs were actually written and performed by Danny Clinton and Vince Johnson of The Clinton-Johnson Band, who purportedly struck up a partnership with Exotic to write a theme song for his reality show.

Though all of Exotic’s songs may not be a result of his own creativity, the music videos certainly are. They are biographical, tiger-saturated, wacky, and hilarious. His Top 10 music videos are a must watch. If you enjoy the videos you also might enjoy this Tiger King inspired Spotify playlist.

The series is ranked as one of Netflix’s most successful releases to date with Nicolas Cage set to star in a scripted series centered on Joe Exotic based on the Texas Monthly article “Joe Exotic: A Dark Journey Into the World of a Man Gone Wild,” by Leif Reigstad. This is the second scripted series about the bizarre world of “Tiger King.” The first scripted series is based on the Wondery podcast “Joe Exotic” with Kate McKinnon attached to play Carole Baskin.

With Tiger King’s popularity comes memes of course. Compiled below are 20 of the best Tiger King memes floating around the internet for your viewing pleasure. This is much needed comic relief in a time where the coronavirus and pandemic are controlling our lives. Tiger King could not have arrive at a more perfect time.

Get all 15 songs on  Amazon, and BUTR Store.
Stream all BUTR albums on Spotify, Rdio, and Beats.
Download Podcast #69 on iTunes or here.
Download the BUTR app for free here.

BUTR Vol. 12: Americana for Hipsters II
1. Sam Outlaw – Keep It Interesting
2. Jon and Roy – Every Night
3. Jeffrey Philip Nelson – I Will Crawl
4. Willie Sugarcapps – Willie Sugarcapps
5. Dominique Pruitt – You Don’t Have A Heart
6. Ty Stone – Angeline
7. David Garnham and the Reasons to Live – Thought I Knew Him Well
8. The Far West – On the Road
9. Sons Of Fathers – Hell and Back
10. Dirty Sweet – Delilah
11. Elise Davis – Make the Kill
12. Justin Kalk Orchestra – Frown, Frown, Frown
13. Gibson Bull – Matilda
14. Ty Stone – Turnin’ You On
15. Fabrizio and the Fever – Bag of Harps
16. Radiolucent – Fightin’ Man

Ocean Carolina, led by lead vocalist and North Carolina-rasied songwriter Michael Simone, made their debut in the Spring of 2011 with the 5 song EP, followed with their first full-length album, “All The Way Home” in 2012.

Simone moved from coastal North Carolina to Brooklyn and found himself writing songs that were reminiscent of the AM radio that became synonymous with trips to the barber shop he took as a child.

Musicians joining the band for this journey include Caitlin Cary (Whiskeytown) on backing vocals and violin, Jon Graboff (Ryan Adams, Shooter Jennings) on pedal steel, with Peele Wimberley (The Connells) and Jeff Gensterblum (Small Brown Bike) on drums. Layered with the lead vocals and guitars of Michael Simone, the melodic bass guitar of Alex Cox and the 70’s era-Clapton influenced stylings of UK import Chris Buckle on lead guitar and backing vocals, the body of Ocean Carolina is complete.

Recorded and produced by bandmates Michael Simone and Alex Cox in a house off of the bay of Long Island and in an art loft in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Ocean Carolina merges the classic Outlaw country sound of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson with a touch of folk from Neil Young. Simone sings with heart-felt vocals and an intensity that makes you hang on every word reminiscent of Ryan Adams or Jason Isbell.

Listen to “Maybe” on BUTR Vol. 7: Americana for Hipsters I below.
Get the song on or Amazon or online store.

The 10th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference takes place Sept. 16-19, gathering thousands of artists, fans and industry professionals from all over the world.  The Americana Music Festival features approximately 100 performances by legends and the next generation of stars of the four day event.

Scope out the lineup here: http://www.americanamusic.org/site.php?content=conference_showcases

I’m speaking on a great panel Thursday, Sept. 17 at the conference so if you are in town come join us.  Details below and here:  http://www.americanamusic.org/site.php?content=conference_schedule

4:00 – 5:00 pm, Room 110
WORKING THE NEW NETWORK:
NINETEEN ROCK SOLID WAYS TO CONNECT WITH YOUR FANS DIGITALLY (CLE)
Presented by LMDS: Leadership Music Digital Summit
Hal Hassall, Moderator
Kami Knake, TopSpin
Kevin Brown, RockHouse Partners
Paul Josephsen, Eventful Inc.
Roy Elkins, Broadjam, Inc.