Louisville Underground Music Archive Oral Histories

Mark Abromavage discusses his early love of music inspired by used singles he and his brother Chris obtained from the jukebox in his aunt's restaurant. He talks about forming Malignant Growth with his instigator friend Kenny Ogle and his brother Chris Abromavage. He discusses the band's development, including Brett Ralph becoming lead singer, their transformation into Fadin' Out and their eventual breakup. Discussing the punk scene he mentions the impression made on him by guitar players such as Tara Key, the O'Bannon brothers of the Blinders, and Alex Durig of the Endtables. He talks about forming Kinghorse with Sean Garrison, Mike Bucayu and Kevin Brownstein; the large audiences they attracted; and recording their album with Glenn Danzig. And he talks about his later bands Arch and the Decline Effect (which reunited him with his brother).

Bailey talks about his friendship with Wolf Knapp and their early band the Afters, and their later group Your Food, their album and their out-of-town tours in a dilapidated van. He talks about his, Knapp's and Janet Bean's trepidation about approaching the "punk house" at 1069 Bardstown Road and the Super Bowl party several years later at which the house's upper floor was destroyed. He discusses personalities on the local punk scene, including Steve Rigot, Ricky Feather and Mary McCarthy. He talks about the Beat Club. (The interview broke off before he could discuss his band the Bulls.)

Bucayu talks about growing up in the East End, his early interest in music and his first band, Solution Unknown; his next band, Maurice; and Kinghorse, one of several Louisville bands that had a shot at becoming a national force. He also talks about the all-ages venue Charley's Pizza and the punk/hardcore scene as a melting pot of Louisville's neighborhood-segregated youth. He discusses bandmates David Pajo, Britt Walford and Sean Garrison and the Self Destruct record label he started and has resurrected in the 2010s.

Buckler discusses his early punk bands Generic Reality and Dot 39 and the impact of hearing local hardcore band Malignant Growth/Fadin' Out. His next band was Slint. He describes how his disagreement over the production of the first Slint album led to his leaving the band and forming King Kong. He describes visiting West End blues clubs and taking lessons from blues musician Smoketown Red. He also talked about several recent music videos he's produced.

Cross talks about her work with Billy Goat Strut Review, transitioning to DJ-ing and making electronic music, issues in the Louisville music scene and the role of race and gender in it.

Durig was born in San Francisco on November 11, 1959. His family moved to Louisville in 1970, when his father was hired as a professor of sociology at U of L. In 1977, shortly after graduating from Waggener High School, he formed the Endtables with friend Joe Frey, Steve Rigot and a number of others. The band continued until 1979, releasing an EP and soon breaking up. He formed another band, Melusian, shortly afterward; it broke up in 1980, the year from which Durig dates his "adult life." He received his PhD in social psychology from Indiana University in 1992 and has written seven books in his specialty, perception and logic.

Feather was born in Louisville in 1958. An early figure on the Louisville music scene, he played in Monsters, Falconetti and Bodeco, which since 1984 has played a wild version of rhythm and blues/rockabilly that ignited rowdy shows and was preserved on four CDs. He lives in Clarksville, IN. Feather describes his experiences growing up in 1970s Louisville; the growth of his musical tastes; his experiences in the early Louisville punk scene; talks about an early performance with the Blinders; and his bands Monsters, Falconneti and Bodeco.

Feiock discusses her time playing guitar with several bands in the Louisville scene.

Garrison talks about growing up in Pleasure Ridge Park in a dysfunctional family and how the punk scene "saved me." He mentions the influence of pioneering South End punks Malignant Growth and discusses his bands Maurice; the massively popular Kinghorse; and Driftin' Luke, which transformed into Five Finger Discount after the band was contacted by the Hank Williams estate.

Green talks about her childhood in Detroit, her educational background, her work as the Singing Librarian and her struggles being classically trained. She discusses the band The Afrophysicists.

Rachel Grimes discusses her musical childhood and in what ways her family has influenced her music career. She discusses her very first band which was titled "Lemonade Hayride," how the band members got together, the type of musical genre, and the influence the band took from. Grimes discusses the various bands that evolved from Lemonade Hayride and Hula Hoop. Grimes explains the tour Hula Hoop took in Britain.

Catherine Irwin talks about bands she's played in including The Dickbrains, Butt in the Front and Freakwater.

Born in Louisville, Tara Key played in Louisville's first punk band, No Fun, and subsequently in the Babylon Dance Band, the Zoo Directors, Antietam and Rzzo/Key; she has also released a solo album. She is married to Tim Harris, bassist in each of her projects from the Dance Band onward. The two of them put together and published Blue Streak, her mother June Key's memoir. They live in Manhattan.

Maddux describes growing up in Valley Station and his early experiences playing brass instruments. He devotes much of the interview to his first band, Mr. Big (with Irv Ross and Sean Mulhall), from its formation to its breakup and such highlights as playing at CBGB and touring with English band the Membranes. He discusses his later band Evil Twin Theory recording with renowned New York producer Kramer. Guitarist and songwriter in Mr. Big; Krakh; Evil Twin Theory

Maxson was a member of the Dickbrains, Your Food, TRIM, Minnow and Hal Dolls. He lived and practiced at the infamous 1069 Bardstown Road "punk house." He put a massive archive of Louisville punk memorabilia online at http://louisvillepunk.awardspace.com/ and was one of the creators of White Glove Test: Louisville Punk Flyers 1978–1994. Maxson talks about his early participation in the Louisville punk scene, his bands the Dickbrains and Your Food, social atmosphere and living conditions at the "punk house."

Molotov talks about her musical influences, painting, the current musical scene, her favorite venues and gives advice to aspiring young musicians.

Neumayer discusses founding Girls Rock Louisville, gives her impressions of the Louisville music scene of the 1990s compared to 2018, talks about the her experiences as a female musician.

A lifelong Louisvillian, Jeff became the Courier-Journal's music writer in 1990 (although he had contributed reviews to the paper's music pages before then); he has continued in the job to the present. He graduated from Seneca High School and the University of Louisville. He began getting involved in Louisville's underground music scene in the late 80s, after he moved to the Highlands and began covering the bar scene as one of the paper's Nightlife columnists. Louisville bands of the 90s, a decade that Jeff describes as a great age for the city's bands — the young, independent ones who lived and practiced at the Rocket House and had what he describes as "a romantic" attachment to expressing themselves; older indie groups such as King Kong, Love Jones and Bodeco; and even mainstream successes such as Days of the New and Nappy Roots.

Ralph describes growing up in Pleasure Ridge Park and his early interest in music. Punk rock, he says, was his lever into becoming an artist. He discusses his bands Malignant Growth, Fading Out, Rising Shotgun and Brett Eugene Ralph's Kentucky Chrome Revue. He talks about the relationship between punk and his poetry and opines about punk rock and democracy.

Rodriguez talks about her interest in music and trying to connect with musicians after she moved to Louisville. She reflects on Girls Rock Louisville and challenges she has faced.

Rucker discusses her experience as a non-musician in the scene, her entry into the scene, being a woman of color in "white spaces" and the feminist ethos of the punk scene in Louisville.

Samples talks about her musical background and influences, her work with Girls Rock Louisville, challenges she has encountered being a female musician in Louisville.

Stoess talks about growing up in Oldham County; his and his friends' distinctive sense of humor; the Bulls (and the break-up thereof); his concurrent and subsequent band Bo (later called Lemonade Hayride) and how the band would practice its between-songs patter as much as the actual songs; LH playing on John Peel's BBC radio show and recording with North Carolina producer Mitch Easter; their relationship with the English band Boyracer; his subsequent band Hula Hoop; and his Hulaboy collaborations with Boyracer's Stewart Anderson.

Interview with John Timmons, owner of the former ear X-tacy record store in Louisville, Kentucky. Timmons discusses his background; moving to Louisville from Indiana in the 1970’s; his impressions of the Louisville music scene in the 70s and 80s when he was playing in bands and working in local record stores. Timmons describes the founding of ear X-tacy and the history of its various locations. He talks about the ear X-tacy record label, running the store, employees, and the changing record industry.