Post #336610 by The Mayor Of Exotica on Fri, Oct 5, 2007 9:02 AM

I have been to many of the places JB draws from for his topicality. He spends most of his time on St. Barth's, which is probably the last bastion of "old" Caribbean; a small island, basically quiet in spite of it's popularity among the rich and famous. The aesthetic there is very laid back, tropical, of course, and carefree. Basically no crime, no pressure, just sun, sea, boats, and palm trees on beaches. Jimmy is often seen sailing around on his boat "Groovy," and his yacht, on which he lives and gets to gigs nearby, the "Continental Drifter." He is known for giving spontaneous performances on the island, free of charge. The inspiration for "Cheeseburger in Paradise" is the local dive, Le Select, which has decent burgers and good rum drinks for low prices.

There is no tiki culture there, nor in Key West, another favorite hang. I don't think that's what JB is about. He is just a guy who likes laid back tropical hangs, and has made that his brand, which he markets very well. Inasmuch as tiki intersects that brand, he is into it.

Personally, I don't listen to his music, nor like his brand. He is a magnetic performer, and knows how to draw an audience in, to bring them into his world. This is what I admire about him. I am drawn much more to the B column of Sabu's excellent post. It is much more refined and enticing; it's not about getting wasted on Bud Light, Coors Light, and cheap Margaritas, but about taking time to savor the richness of the moment: the drink, the surroundings, and most importantly, the company!!

Let it not be said that I ran for Mayor of Exotica on a platform of lower taxes and less corruption. My platform is lower rum prices, less reality TV and more rights for Pandas!

[ Edited by: The Mayor Of Exotica 2007-10-05 09:02 ]