Jackalope Tales on Radio Misfits

Step right up, folks… to the absolute worst infomercial in human history. This week on Jackalope Tales, Charles and Lisa crack open one of the music industry’s most vile, moldy corners—the world of racist record labels. That’s right… before SoundCloud rappers were embarrassing themselves online, there were entire labels proudly pressing hatred onto vinyl like it was a greatest hits album nobody asked for. Charles dives headfirst into the toxic wasteland of Resistance Records—a label that somehow turned bigotry into a business model… until it collapsed under the weight of lawsuits, criminal ties, and the general fact that being openly awful eventually catches up with you. Turns out, hate isn’t just bad for the soul—it’s also terrible for long-term brand growth. Meanwhile, Lisa unearths the grimy legacy of Rebel Records, where the soundtrack was less “rebellion” and more “regression.” It’s the kind of catalog that makes you want to wash your ears out with bleach and your brain out with a Fleetwood Mac binge. This episode is dark, uncomfortable, and soaked in the kind of gallows humor that only comes from staring directly at history’s dumbest villains and saying, “Wow… you really thought this was a good idea?” We’re not celebrating these clowns—we’re dragging them. Hard. Because if there’s one thing worse than bad music; it’s bad music made by worse people. [Ep 133] Become a J-Lope and follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, X.com, TikTok, and check out our YouTube page for more exclusive content! Produced by: Charles Mooney Executive Producers: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Original Music by: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Kazoo Solo by: Courtney Mooney

Once upon a time, SXSW was a sweaty badge of honor—where unknown bands melted faces in dive bars, record deals were whispered over cheap beer, and you might accidentally discover your new favorite artist while standing next to a guy who hadn’t showered since 2003. Now? It’s a branded tote bag with legs. This week on Jackalope Tales, Charles and Lisa dig into the slow, corporate embalming of South by Southwest—how a scrappy music festival turned into a networking convention for tech bros, movie studios, and companies that somehow think a panel about “the future of synergy” counts as rock ‘n’ roll. Charles mourns the golden era—when the only thing being sold was your dignity for drink tickets. Lisa follows the money trail, where once-grimy venues got replaced by influencer lounges, sponsored stages, and VIP sections so exclusive even the bands can’t get in. From legendary surprise shows… to standing in line for an hour to get a free energy drink branded by a cryptocurrency you don’t understand. It’s the story of how SXSW went from South By Southwest… to South By Sponsored Content. So grab your wristband, scan your QR code, and enjoy a festival experience carefully curated by a marketing department that has never heard of a guitar. Because nothing says “indie spirit” like a panel hosted by a bank. [Ep 131] Become a J-Lope and follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, X.com, TikTok, and check out our YouTube page for more exclusive content! Produced by: Charles Mooney Executive Producers: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Original Music by: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Kazoo Solo by: Courtney Mooney

This week, Charles and Lisa pack their bags for a musical tour of fame, fortune… and very bad life choices. Charles dives into the story of Valentín Elizalde — a man who may have accidentally dropped a diss track so hard it allegedly got reviewed by an entire cartel… with automatic weapons. Meanwhile, Lisa unravels the legend of Chalino Sánchez — the original corrido outlaw, who sang for the wrong people, the right people, and eventually… everyone who probably shouldn’t have been in the same room together. Featuring the most uncomfortable concert moment of all time: the infamous note that basically said, “Great set… see you after.” From bulletproof egos to not-so-bulletproof SUVs, this episode explores what happens when music stops being just music and starts sounding like a very public obituary rehearsal. Requests were made. Money changed hands. Notes were delivered… and not the kind you frame. Jackalope Tales asks the important question: Is it still a “fan request” if saying no voids your life warranty? Press play… and maybe don’t accept any folded pieces of paper mid-performance. [Ep 131] Become a J-Lope and follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, X.com, TikTok, and check out our YouTube page for more exclusive content! Produced by: Charles Mooney Executive Producers: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Original Music by: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Kazoo Solo by: Courtney Mooney

What if some of the weirdest pop music ever recorded wasn’t just bad taste… but government policy? In this episode of Jackalope Tales, Charles and Lisa dig into the suspiciously bizarre world of Popaganda — the possibility that certain bands weren’t just musicians, but carefully engineered cultural experiments. Charles investigates the chrome-plated chaos of Sigue Sigue Sputnik, the cyberpunk band that sold ad space inside their songs and sounded like a malfunctioning arcade cabinet having a panic attack. Coincidence… or a prototype for weaponized consumerism? Meanwhile Lisa examines the minimalist German oddities behind Trio, the band responsible for the deceptively simple hit Da Da Da. Was it just a quirky new-wave song… or a hypnotic psychological test to see how little music the public would tolerate before complete mental collapse? Along the way Charles and Lisa explore whether pop music might sometimes be less about art… and more about agenda. Because nothing says “covert cultural influence” quite like drum machines, awkward haircuts, and a chorus that sounds like it was written by a malfunctioning fax machine. Jackalope Tales — where the conspiracy theories are questionable, the music is suspicious, and the CIA definitely isn’t listening… probably. [Ep 130] Become a J-Lope and follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, X.com, TikTok, and check out our YouTube page for more exclusive content! Produced by: Charles Mooney Executive Producers: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Original Music by: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Kazoo Solo by: Courtney Mooney

Some record labels say they’re nonprofit. Which immediately raises the obvious question: nonprofit for who? This week on Jackalope Tales, Charles and Lisa tumble down a particularly sketchy rabbit hole after discovering that their former band — Toadies — once signed to a “nonprofit” record label. A nonprofit… record label. Because nothing says charity like royalty statements that look like ransom notes. Were these labels truly benevolent music charities helping artists thrive? Or were they just the same old music industry wolves… wearing thrift-store sheep costumes and holding IRS paperwork? Charles digs into the mysterious world of nonprofit labels — where money allegedly vanishes into “administrative costs,” “artistic development,” and possibly a suspicious amount of craft beer and vintage analog compressors. Lisa asks the harder questions: • If a record label is nonprofit… why does the CEO drive a Tesla? • Why do the bands still end up broke? • And is “artist support” just a nicer phrase for creative tax shelter? Expect nonprofit loopholes, shady music-industry math, and the uncomfortable realization that sometimes the biggest charity in the room… is the band donating their labor. Because in the music business, the only thing more dangerous than a crooked record label… …is one claiming to be doing it for the good of humanity. Welcome to Jackalope Tales — where the legends are strange, the stories are darker than a club bathroom at closing time, and tonight we ask the question: Is it nonprofit… or just another Jackalope? [Ep 129] Become a J-Lope and follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, X.com, TikTok, and check out our YouTube page for more exclusive content! Produced by: Charles Mooney Executive Producers: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Original Music by: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Kazoo Solo by: Courtney Mooney

In this episode of Jackalope Tales, Charles and Lisa open a dusty filing cabinet labeled “Top Secret: Adult Contemporary.” Inside: two power ballads so suspiciously inspirational they may have been weaponized. Lisa follows the whistling trail of the Wind of Change—a song that somehow floated over the Berlin Wall, slipped into the bloodstream of a collapsing empire, and convinced millions that freedom smelled like Aqua Net and Marlboro Lights. Was it written by German rockers… or by a guy in Langley wearing fingerless gloves and softly weeping over a Stratocaster? Meanwhile, Charles investigates Looking for Freedom—a power ballad so potent it turned a lifeguard into a geopolitical event. As Hasselhoff stood on the Berlin Wall in a glowing Members Only jacket, historians insist it was a cultural moment. We ask the real question: how many intelligence officers died inside hearing that chorus for the 400th time? From psychological warfare disguised as soft rock, to ballads engineered to make entire populations feel feelings against their will, this episode uncovers the terrifying possibility that the Cold War wasn’t won with missiles… but with key changes. Because nothing topples governments faster than a grown man whisper-singing about freedom over a Yamaha keyboard preset labeled “Emotional Pad 3.” [Ep 128] Become a J-Lope and follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, X.com, TikTok, and check out our YouTube page for more exclusive content! Produced by: Charles Mooney Executive Producers: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Original Music by: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Kazoo Solo by: Courtney Mooney

The Grammys happened. Civilization limped away. In this fever-dream episode of Jackalope Tales, Charles and Lisa wade knee-deep into the glittery wreckage of Grammy 2026 like raccoons rummaging through a rhinestone dumpster. Charles dissects the gospel of glam gone wrong as he unpacks Chappell Roan’s now-infamous Grammy moment — the dress that looked like it was stitched together from haunted prom curtains, weaponized tulle, and the ghosts of mall goths past. And yes… the glares. The side-eyes. The full demonic ocular hexes fired across the auditorium like she was trying to curse someone’s Spotify streams into oblivion. Were they artistic statements? Allergies? A ritual? Charles investigates with the seriousness of a man who has paused and zoomed in 47 times. Meanwhile, Lisa dives into the emotional thunderstorm that was Jelly Roll’s acceptance rant — a speech that started as gratitude and slowly spiraled into a sermon, a therapy session, and possibly a Senate filibuster. Was it heartfelt? Absolutely. Did it feel like we were being lovingly yelled at by a motivational preacher who just discovered Red Bull? Also yes. From couture catastrophes to podium prophecies, Charles and Lisa break down the music, the drama, the body language crimes, and the spiritual warfare happening under arena lighting. Because it’s only Roan & Roll… …but we don’t like it. [Ep 127] Become a J-Lope and follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, X.com, TikTok, and check out our YouTube page for more exclusive content! Produced by: Charles Mooney Executive Producers: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Original Music by: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Kazoo Solo by: Courtney Mooney

This week, Charles and Lisa carve up the real main event of Super Bowl LX: the music. Forget who scored more touchdowns — we’re talking about the cavalcade of performers who tried to out-sing, out-anthem, or out-harmonize a football game that literally has cheerleaders dressed like pyrotechnic reject mannequins. From Charlie Puth’s earnest belt of the national anthem to Green Day launching into patriotism-tinged punk rock like a dad trying to reconnect with his skateboarder son, the pregame stage was a buffet of musical identity crises. But wait: the halftime show! The Puerto Rican phenomenon Bad Bunny headlined an almost entirely Spanish set with surprise turns from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, turning what should’ve been a 15-minute pause in football into a full-on cultural summit no one asked for but everyone talked about (especially people yelling about it on Twitter). Strap in for a snarky, slightly bitter breakdown of why the Super Bowl playlist this year was more dramatic, more confusing, and more culturally seismic than the final score — and definitely more soulful than anything the refs did on the field. [Ep 126] Become a J-Lope and follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, X.com, TikTok, and check out our YouTube page for more exclusive content! Produced by: Charles Mooney Executive Producers: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Original Music by: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Kazoo Solo by: Courtney Mooney

Some bands want you to feel the music. Others want you to sign a waiver. In The Show Must Go Wrong, Charles and Lisa dive headfirst into the beautiful disaster zone of live music where safety is optional, chaos is guaranteed, and the stage is just another weapon. Charles breaks down the legacy of Hanatarash, the most dangerous live band ever—where bulldozers, power tools, and flying debris were just part of the set list. No encores. No refunds. Possibly no walls left standing. Lisa counters with her own firsthand trauma—seeing Genitorturers live—a show that blurred the line between concert, endurance test, and something you’re pretty sure violated at least three city ordinances. This episode is about bands that didn’t just push boundaries… They sprinted past them, lit them on fire, and asked the crowd to stand closer. If you’ve ever thought, “This show could kill me,” Congratulations—you’re the target audience. Jackalope Tales — where the music is loud, the stories are darker, and the show always goes wrong. [Ep 125] Become a J-Lope and follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, X.com, TikTok, and check out our YouTube page for more exclusive content! Produced by: Charles Mooney Executive Producers: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Original Music by: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Kazoo Solo by: Courtney Mooney

Tapin’ Pennies is the sound of a nation learning—too late—that nothing in life is cheaper than “11 records for a penny.” In this episode of Jackalope Tales, Charles and Lisa dig up the glorious scam-adjacent era of mail-order music clubs, when all you needed was a ballpoint pen, a form torn from the back of a magazine, and a penny taped on like a hostage note to your future finances. The promise was simple: vinyl, cassettes, or 8-tracks delivered straight to your door. The reality? Lifetime obligations, mysterious billing, and the creeping feeling you’d accidentally entered into a legally binding curse. Lisa opens the case file on Columbia Music Club, the gateway drug of mail-order regret—where every teenager learned the hard way that “no obligation” was more of a vibe than a rule. Charles follows with the velvet-voiced menace of Longines Symphonette, a company that didn’t just sell music, but a dream… and then invoiced you for it forever. It’s a darkly funny tour through fine print, threatening letters, surprise shipments, and the quiet shame of realizing you owe money for albums you never ordered, don’t like, and can’t explain to your parents. Tape the penny. Lick the envelope. Ruin your credit. This is Tapin’ Pennies. [Ep 124] Become a J-Lope and follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, X.com, TikTok, and check out our YouTube page for more exclusive content! Produced by: Charles Mooney Executive Producers: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Original Music by: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Kazoo Solo by: Courtney Mooney

This week on Jackalope Tales, Charles and Lisa crank the amps, dim the lights, and wave hello to the invisible guy in the trench coat taking notes from across the street. Lisa dives into the rumor-soaked paranoia buffet of Devo—a band so weird, so anti-normal, and so aggressively “we’re all devolving into meat robots” that the feds allegedly kept an eye on them like they were one synth line away from toppling the government. Was it the art? The message? The matching outfits? Or did someone in Washington simply fear the power of a plastic energy dome? Then Charles takes the mic and drags the Monkees into the surveillance spotlight—because apparently even America’s favorite manufactured pop band wasn’t safe once they started getting too mouthy and too independent. When you’re smiling for the cameras but saying the wrong things off-script, Big Brother doesn’t cancel you… he files you. It’s music history with a side of dread, paranoia, and government paperwork—because nothing says “freedom” like a federal employee building a case file titled: “Subject appears to be… funky.” Turn it up. Act normal. And remember: if you’re hearing feedback… it might not be your speaker. [Ep 123] Become a J-Lope and follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, X.com, TikTok, and check out our YouTube page for more exclusive content! Produced by: Charles Mooney Executive Producers: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Original Music by: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Kazoo Solo by: Courtney Mooney

Some songs die with dignity. Others get dragged out of the grave by a 7-second video, a suspiciously sweaty dance trend, and a comment section full of people typing “WHAT IS THIS SONG???” like they just discovered music. In “Brought Back By Thirst Traps,” Charles and Lisa dig up the tracks that social media resurrected—songs that went from forgotten relic to algorithmic deity overnight. The kind of tunes that suddenly become more famous now than they ever were back when radio still mattered and people pretended they weren’t obsessed with strangers on the internet. We’re talking about the hits that got reborn through memes, edits, thirst traps, and “POV: you’re falling in love with a villain” montages—only to end up stuck in your head like a cursed chant you didn’t consent to. It’s dark. It’s hilarious. It’s a little tragic/significantly horny (emotionally). And it’s proof that in 2026, nothing stays dead… as long as someone can shake ass to it in perfect lighting. Welcome back to the graveyard, baby. The playlist is haunted. [Ep 122] Become a J-Lope and follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, X.com, TikTok, and check out our YouTube page for more exclusive content! Produced by: Charles Mooney Executive Producers: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Original Music by: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Kazoo Solo by: Courtney Mooney

In this episode of Jackalope Tales, Charles and Lisa head north of the border to untangle the most musically messy political bloodline Canada ever produced: the Trudeaus. First up, Papa Trudeau himself — Pierre Trudeau — the intellectual heartthrob who governed Canada by day and allegedly ran with rock stars by night. We dive into the long-whispered legend of Pierre’s rumored romance with Barbra Streisand, a pairing so aggressively artsy it may have required a beret and a mirror ball. Was it love, politics, or just two powerful egos colliding over candlelight and show tunes? Canada still won’t say. Then we jump generations to his son, Justin Trudeau, a man who looks like he was genetically engineered in a focus group. Charles and Lisa unpack the current buzz swirling around Justin and pop superstar Katy Perry — a story that lives somewhere between tabloid fantasy, internet conspiracy, and “wait… what?” energy. Along the way, we explore the bizarre gravitational pull between political power and musical fame, why Trudeaus keep orbiting artists like moths to a very glamorous flame, and how Canada somehow stays polite while all this is allegedly happening. It’s politics, pop music, rumors, relationships, and enough maple-syrup-flavored chaos to make you question everything you thought you knew about power couples. Trudeau… TrueDat! Because sometimes the wildest musician stories don’t start backstage — they start in parliament. [Ep 121] Become a J-Lope and follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, X.com, TikTok, and check out our YouTube page for more exclusive content! Produced by: Charles Mooney Executive Producers: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Original Music by: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Kazoo Solo by: Courtney Mooney

Attention, maggots. In this episode of Jackalope Tales, Charles and Lisa salute the strange, uncomfortable intersection of rock ’n’ roll and government-issued underwear. Lisa reports for duty with the story of Frank Zappa, whose brief flirtation with the military proved that no amount of discipline can survive contact with sarcasm, long hair, and a brain that refuses to salute. Expect tales of authority figures losing patience and Frank losing interest. Meanwhile, Charles digs into Johnny Cash, a man who joined the military, learned Morse code, possibly learned what not to do with military equipment, and then turned that experience into the emotional backbone of American music — after being politely shown the door. From boot camp boredom to command-level regret, G.I. Jams explores what happens when musicians are briefly forced to follow orders… and how quickly the armed forces realized this might’ve been a mistake. Lock, load, and listen — this episode is not approved by the Pentagon. [Ep 120] Become a J-Lope and follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, X.com, TikTok, and check out our YouTube page for more exclusive content! Produced by: Charles Mooney Executive Producers: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Original Music by: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Kazoo Solo by: Courtney Mooney

New Year’s Eve is supposed to be champagne, countdowns, and pretending your life is about to change. But in Jackalope Tales fashion, Charles and Lisa ring in the new year by dragging out the ghosts, glitches, and catastrophic vibes that show up when musicians tempt fate at midnight. Charles revisits the tragic and eerie final moments of Ricky Nelson, whose New Year’s Eve plans ended not with confetti, but with a plane crash that froze time and sealed a legend in the worst way possible. It’s dark, it’s sobering, and it’s the ultimate reminder that not everyone makes it to “Auld Lang Syne.” Meanwhile, Lisa takes us to a very different kind of disaster: Mariah Carey melting down live on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve when technical difficulties turned pop perfection into televised chaos. Lip-syncs died, dignity followed, and America watched in stunned, sparkling horror. From flaming wreckage to hot-mic humiliation, Balls-a-Droopin’ is our annual reminder that New Year’s Eve doesn’t care about your legacy, your vocal cords, or your survival instincts. So pour a drink, lower your expectations, and join us as we toast another year with stories that prove the ball isn’t the only thing that drops at midnight. [Ep 119] Become a J-Lope and follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, X.com, TikTok, and check out our YouTube page for more exclusive content! Produced by: Charles Mooney Executive Producers: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Original Music by: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger Kazoo Solo by: Courtney Mooney