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(posted 10/17/03)
Questions for Tuscaloosa musicians … answers from Ben Barfoot, the Phoebes
These musicians have answered our local music questionairre about the closing of the Chukker.
If you'd like to submit your comments, click here.

Elliott McPherson, Mike Hitt, Ben Barfoot and Jeb Smith were the Phoebes. Here they are in 1996.

Druid City Online ... What was your first experience with the Chukker as a patron? as a musician?

Ben Barfoot, guitar and vocals, The Phoebes ... The first time I remember going to the Chukker was as a freshman at UA with a group of friends that definitely included Chuck Thompson. I’m pretty sure I climbed the back fence in order to sneak in. Man or Astroman? was playing that night. The first time I played the Chukker was with Elliott, just like the last time and all the shows in between. I have only happy memories of those shows and that time period (95-98).

Who is the first band you saw at the Chukker and what do you remember about that night?

Man or Astroman? Fall 1992. I was too busy chasing the same old girl I had been after for weeks to pay too much attention. I had seen the band several times before, so I think I had a decent excuse. Plus, I expected to get thrown out at any second for being so obviously young. Maybe we did get asked to leave. Ask Chuck, he’ll remember what time we got there and what shirt he had on….

Who is the best and worst band you’ve seen at the Chukker and what do you remember?

Best? The Smugglers, without question. I missed Richard Thompson, but I still think this would be my favorite Chukker memory. What a great night. Rock and Roll was never this fun….
I hate to leave out the runners-up: Flop, Hank III, Guided by Voices, Uppercrust, New York Loose, Dash Rip Rock, Fleshtones, Lyres, Superdrag, the Heartdrops, the Hellacopters, Honkey, jeez so many good nights.

Worst? I don’t care. If it was bad, I left. Most bands that played the Chukker were good enough for me.

Name as some of the best local bands you saw at the Chukker. Include any information you can remember about those bands.

Model Citizen, the Dexateens, Stone Weasel, Shame Idols, Pain, Penetrators, the Woggles, D.C. Moon, Kilgore Trout, Sweat Bee, Autumn Lords, Universal Joint, any band Earthdog was in, Conspiracy A Go Go, Storm Orphans, man, so many great bands with songs I still love and listen to to this day. Thanks to all you musicians who might read this for providing such a great soundtrack for my 10+ college years.

Where will you go to see music once the Chukker is closed?

I’m sure I’ll go out just as infrequently as ever. It’s almost always the music rather than the venue that gets me out of the house to see a show. The Chukker has never been the only place I go to see music, just one of the good ones.

What’s the strangest sight or experience you can recall from the Chukker?

A bachelor party that happened there once. Ask the Midnight Mayor… he’ll be able to answer this question for me.

How would you describe the Chukker under its current ownership?

Seems just fine. I’ve noticed a lot of hard work and extra effort from the owners and Rusty Luquire since the reopening. I don’t even know who runs the place or owns it anymore, so I may be talking out of turn here, but I appreciated the talent they brought to town and their obvious dedication to the Chukker as an institution.

When you hear the name Ludovic Goubet (the previous Chukker owner), what comes to mind?

Not much. Nothing especially nice….

What will Tuscaloosa lose when the Chukker closes on Halloween?

A landmark, an ad hoc museum of rock-n-roll culture (when full of patrons), and mainly the home of so many people that have no other place to call “home” (and don’t want to). I can’t say that I’ll miss the Chukker (it’s been months since I’ve been there) because to me, that place and those times have already happened. It didn’t end all of a sudden, but I doubt it could ever be like it was (whatever that means). And I wouldn’t want it to be. I don’t have the energy anymore. Fond memories, though. Lots of ‘em.

What do you plan on doing on the Chukker’s final night?

Eat candy and drink whiskey. I’ll stop in and hopefully catch up with some friends I have not seen in a while. Can’t WAIT to see Sweat Bee!

The Chukker closed forever Halloween weekend 2003. Music for the Last Stand of the Chukker was provided by the Woggles, Club Wig, Model Citizen, Sweat Bee, DC Moon and his Atomic Supermen, and The Last Gunslinger. Click here to read more about the history of the Chukker.

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