Interview with David Butler, June 29, 2009

Partial Transcript: Um, okay, so we're back.

Segment Synopsis: In this opening section, Butler introduces himself and talks about why he came to the University of Kentucky. He initially wanted to leave Lexington and go away for school. He ended up going to the University of Kentucky and moving into a fraternity house during his second semester.

Keywords: People; Schools

Subjects: Businesspeople; College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Radio; Radio broadcasters--Interviews; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Now one of the things that I specifically wanted to ask you about that was, um--a, a lot of this, this project has to do with kind of the, what, what, um, what I call the embryonic beginnings of the radio station.

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about his role in concert committee and the shows he helped create. He also talks about the people who were part of concert committee who helped create RFL. Finally, Butler talks about the rumors concerning the radio station and what, as a concert committee leader, he thought of a student-run radio station.

Keywords: Chairs; Committees; Concert Committee; People; Shows

Subjects: College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Jazz; Jazz.; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Radio; Radio--History.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. Kentucky Kernel.; WUKY. (Radio Station: Lexington, Ky.).

Partial Transcript: Um, let's switch gears for just a second 'cause you are a--you're a unique person to talk to about this in--because I can think of at least three different things to talk to you about.

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks his role as a musician, how it impacted his early childhood, and how he started playing in college. While in college, he played in a band that mostly catered to fraternity houses. Finally, he talks about the circumstances that led him to start the Wrocklage bar.

Keywords: Bands; Bottom Line (Bar); Bottom Line Bar; Drums; Landlords; Playing; Rebel Without A Cause (Artist); Rebel Without A Cause (Band); Wrocklage (Bar); Wrocklage (Venue)

Subjects: Businesspeople; College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Musicians; Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. Kentucky Kernel.

Partial Transcript: Um, let's see so, along those same lines--and again I'm gonna back up just a little bit but--and, and ask you to talk about your impressions.

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about the local music scene before WRFL started. Most of the music could be found in local bars and Butler talks about the bars he would frequent to listen to music. He also makes the comparison between the Lexington music scene and the Louisville music scene.

Keywords: Bands; Cafe LMNOP; Jamie Tittle; Music scenes; Rockabilly; Shows

Subjects: Businesspeople; College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Lexington (Ky.).; Louisville (Ky.); Music; Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So--and this was all before there was a college radio station.

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about the bands that would play at the Wrocklage and the difficulty he would have booking those bands. He talks about creating a calendar to schedule in bands and the differences between booking bands for concert committee and booking bands for his bar.

Keywords: Bands; Booking; Calendars; Reggae; Wrocklage (Bar); Wrocklage (Venue)

Subjects: Businesspeople; College students; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Musicians; Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Let's see, so d--um, talk about any like relationships between, um--did you feel like the radio station was good for business?

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about the impact that WRFL had on the local music scene. Butler argues that WRFL had a very positive impact on the local scene and that WRFL brought some very good bands to the Wrocklage bar. He also talks about the people that he would encounter at the bar and the different characters he met.

Keywords: Alternative Music Week; Bands; Bars; Diverse; Halloween; People; RFL; Shows; WRFL; Wrocklage (Bar); Wrocklage (Venue)

Subjects: Businesspeople; College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Radio; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So, um, how long, how long did you operate the Wrocklage?

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about the circumstances that led him to close down the Wrocklage. He ran the bar until he started having kids and went back to school. Between taking care of his daughter, going to graduate school, and running the bar, it was too much to manage.

Keywords: Bars; Children; Classes; Kids; Wrocklage (Bar); Wrocklage (Venue)

Subjects: Businesspeople; College students; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, so let's see, do you remember any of the, um, kind of RFL people that you might have interacted with?

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about the troubles he would sometimes have when concerts would play at the Wrocklage. The Wrocklage was not a very big place and the floor was not very sturdy. Butler explains how bands playing loud music with heavy equipment and big crowds would be a problem for the building.

Keywords: Bands; Basements; Books; Promoters; Shows; Tour managers; Working; Wrocklage (Bar); Wrocklage (Venue)

Subjects: Businesspeople; College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Well, was--do you have any recollection of the press that--like I talked to Walter Tunis.

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about the details of accommodating the bands that would play at the Wrocklage. A lot of times bands would give a list of items that Butler was supposedly expected to provide. He quickly learned that he did not have to meet every demand that bands would make. Butler also talks about how the concerts he hosted got news coverage so that people would come to see them perform.

Keywords: Band riders; Bands; Booking; RFL; Shows; WRFL; Walter Tunis; Wrocklage (Bar); Wrocklage (Venue)

Subjects: Businesspeople; Journalists--Lexington (Ky.); Lexington (Ky.)--Newspapers.; Lexington (Ky.).; Lexington Herald-Leader; Music; Musicians; Newspapers--Kentucky.; Newspapers.; Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership; University of Kentucky. Kentucky Kernel.

Partial Transcript: I don't know. If there's anything else you want to share.

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about some of his memories of the Wrocklage, both good and bad. He talks specifically about the last night the Wrocklage was open and how sentimental that time was. He also shares memories of problems at the Wrocklage and issues with fights at the bar.

Keywords: Bands; Bars; Clubs; Fights; Memories; Miss; People; Wrocklage (Bar); Wrocklage (Venue)

Subjects: Alcohol; Businesspeople; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Musicians; Radio; Radio stations.; Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership; Violence

Partial Transcript: I r, I really liked at the time and they were, um--but I didn't get to see them.

Segment Synopsis: In this closing section, Butler and Jeffries talk more about the bands that would play at the Wrocklage and the memories they have of the concerts at the Wrocklage.

Keywords: Bill Widener; Memories; Most; People; Shows; Wrocklage (Bar); Wrocklage (Venue)

Subjects: Businesspeople; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Musicians; Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership