Entertainment Schedule

• 10:00 a.m. Chair Yoga, with Frannie James
• 11:00 a.m. Market Begins
• 1:00 p.m. Peace Frogs
• 3:00 p.m. Down Loa
• 5:00 p.m. Market Ends
• 8:00 p.m. Jeb Smith
• 9:00 p.m. Conspiracy A Go Go
• 10:00 p.m. Kilgore Trout

Market Vendors

To Be Announced

Conspiracy a Go Go

Bobby Matt Patton heard from guitarist Mark Patrick, who said: "I think the timeline for the band was 1991-1997. The band was originally a 3 piece called The Dwellers. That consisted of Randy Arnold, guitar and vocals, Ben “The Veg” Lower on bass and David Kinsaul on drums. I believe they changed the name, probably in the first year. CAGG was taken from a line in the Richard Linklater film Slacker. I joined the band around 93 or 94. We recorded a 7” “Hey Little Girl” b/w “Gone Away” in 1994. We released the full length “Post Modern Farmer’s Almanac” in 1996. Both were recorded by Jim Marrer at Zero Return, a studio where Man or Astroman did a lot of their recordings.

We used to practice in a loft space next door to the Chukker. A bunch of bands used that space over the years. Club Wig and Storm Orphans both practiced there. Seems like DC Moon may have been in the space too. We would practice then go to the Chukker to drink and/or see bands. I lived above Whirligig across the street, so for about 7 years I spent a lot of time at the Chukker! Saw a lot of amazing shows there!"

Jeb Smith's Rocket Power

Bobby Matt Patton comments: Jeb Smith is probably best known as the bassist and contributing songwriter for Tuscaloosa punk band The Phoebes. Those who remember The Phoebes recall them for being unapologetically mischievous and fun. Jeb says,

"Most of the songs we’ll be playing 11/1 are songs that I started while I lived in Tuscaloosa and didn’t finish. I recorded drums and guitar for more than 30 songs on the Fostex 4-track I got from Guitar Gallery, but I put all the tapes in a shoebox when I left Tuscaloosa in ‘98, and they stayed there for nearly 25 years. In 2021, I finally got that box of 4-track tapes out of the closet, began writing and recording words, added any missing pieces and started putting out albums in 2022. We will also be playing some of the Phoebes songs that I wrote. This show will be the first time I have played my songs for people since the last Phoebes show in ’98, so I’m pretty excited about playing them! Especially since I’ll be playing with my brother, Craig Gates and Mike Hitt."

Jeb's brother is John Smith of American Cosmic and Dexateens. Craig Gates also played in Dexateens and Geek Love before replacing Jeb on bass in Model Citizen. Montgomery folks may also remember Jeb and Craig's punk duo The Smears. Mike Hitt drummed for The Phoebes. Pretty stellar band Jeb has put together this year! Lotta lore and history compounded within that lineup! Jeb also shared a favorite memory of performing at The Chukker. This would have been around 2000, 2001 or so...

"Probably my favorite memory of playing at the Chukker is the Blaspheme compilation CD release show. What a tremendous lineup! Chocolate Lowfat Milk, Nowhere Squares, Model Citizen (I played bass at the time, but I was a fan first), Dexateens and many more. Even APE, which was Craig Gates, my brother (John Smith) and me."

Peace Frogs

Bobby Matt Patton talked to keyboardist and vocalist Jil Chambless about the possibility of the group performing this year. Upon Jil's inquiry within the band the answer was a miraculous "Yes!". Bobby asked Jil to provide some band history and lore for everyone and here's what she sent:

"The Peace Frogs were a band from about 1987 to 1989, starting with Scott Smith on drums, John Rogers on guitar/vocals, Jil Chambless on keyboard/vocals and occasionally flute, Joe Thacker on bass, and Ivan Hart on guitar/vocals. Scott, John, and Jil had been in the Young Americans for a year or so prior to PF. Both bands played rock n roll covers with a few originals and performed mostly at bars around Tuscaloosa. At some point Joe was replaced by Michael Green on bass/vocals and Ivan was replaced by Dan Vogt on guitar.

Dan and Scott opened the Guitar Gallery in 1989. In the early days of the shop Dan also worked as a bartender at the Chukker.

Michael says, “all I remember was feeling like I had finally become a real Tuscaloosa musician when we first played the Chukker.”

Jil remembers a later (maybe the last) PF gig at the Chukker when the band was splitting up because some folks were moving away. She was approached there by Ronnie Myers (former Chukker owner) about joining another local band, Henri’s Notions.

Jil found a cassette tape of a PF set at Radio Free Tuscaloosa (1988 or 9?) at the old amphitheater and another tape of some original songs recorded at Shamblin Studio in Alberta City. At the Chukker Meetup on Nov 1 John, Michael, Dan, Jil, and Jack Vogt (on drums) will try to resurrect these gems. Scott will be there too."

Kilgore Trout

Comments from the band members:

Drue Bailey (lead vocalist):

Once we were playing the Chukker and Eric and I were interviewed on V-91 before the show. I impulsively blurted out that we were having a keg party after the show at our apartment and everyone was welcome. I even gave out our address, which was at Canterbury Apartments. We were served an eviction notice after the party, but after begging and groveling, we managed to keep living there until eventually the entire band moved into the “Trout House” on 13th Street.

Troy Thompson (guitar):

I believe the first time we played the Chukker was in August of 1990 at the legendary Wonkafest. I think we were the first band, at 6pm. We still hadn’t met Brett yet, so John Loshuertos sat in on drums for us. There were a handful of people there to see us, but were easily outnumbered by all the people working to set up for the event, as they were running behind schedule. For example, they were building the “Algonquin Stage” for performance art in the courtyard while we were playing our set. So when we finished each song, we were met by a smattering of applause from our friends and a cacophony of hammers and skill saws. We went on to play many shows at the Chukker. While we managed to play all the notable venues in town, the Chukker is where we played the most and was our main hangout.

Eric Erbskorn (guitar/vocals) :

bartended at the Chukker for a while and one night one of the regulars had a friend with him and he introduced us. His friend was George McMillan, former Lt. Governor and producer of City Stages. He also told George that I was in a band and then told me that George was the organizer of City Stages. I invited George to come to our next show and he did. After he saw us play he invited us to play City Stages and we said yes and ended up playing City Stages as well as Cityfest in Tuscaloosa, which George also produced.

Brett Tannehill (drums):

I saw so many great shows at the Chukker, but one that really stands out is when Hank Williams III and his metal band Assjack performed. The show basically featured the son of Hank Jr. and grandson of Hank Williams Sr. playing a country music set with The Damn Band, followed by a heavy metal set with Assjack ... and Hank III at the helm for both of them. For the country set, it was truly shoulder to shoulder and probably one of the biggest crowds The Chukker had ever seen, with exception to the bar's final night of mayhem on Halloween 2003. The first set was jam packed with people who clearly had never set foot in the Chukker before. Lots of khaki shorts, polo shirts and backwards baseball caps. But as soon as Assjack cranked up, all the 'visitors' quickly disappeared and those who remained were what I'd consider the Chukker's core crowd. It was like all the clutter had been washed away to reveal the diamonds in the rough. And because there probably wasn't another bar in Tuscaloosa that would have allowed Assjack to play, it's a show that only would have been possible in Ttown's weirdest spot.

Jeff Buckley (bass):

As a young guy the Chukker was a super fun place. In addition to all the friends I would see there, there were lots of different things to do. I was never very good at playing pool, but I was always happy to put my quarters down and join a game with friends or strangers. Similarly, I was never very good at darts, but I would frequently strike up a game with a couple of friends, usually before it got too crowded. For a while they had some video games like Asteroids, or whatever, which were a fun way to spend 50 cents now and then.

The Chukker also provided multiple environments in which you could hang out. When bands were playing, you could ease up to the front and dance around if you were inspired to do so. You could hang back in the back of the band area and sometimes even get a seat at a table if it was a smaller crowd or a mellower band.

If you needed a break from the band, you could go to the pool side of the bar, hang out and chat. Sometimes I would hang out in front and see who was coming and going. I especially loved the courtyard. To this day, my favorite aesthetic is red brick, mixed with trees and ivy. It was a little slice of urban decay. On busy nights, they might have a mini-bar and Christmas lights. Other times, it was nearly desolate and a perfect place for a few people to sit around on random chairs, picnic tables and wooden spools.

The bathrooms were not the nicest place but it was fun to look at decades of graffiti.

I remember that I wrote "Sweat Bee" with a blank space under, it, almost begging someone to write "sucks" in the space but nobody ever did. I had a lot of hilarious conversations with friends and strangers waiting in line for the bathroom. Even though I wasn't yet 21, I was playing in Kilgore Trout so I was able to get in through the band entrance. I remember during one of our earliest gigs, I was happily taking advantage of the free draft beer we received for playing. I walked up to the bar and a nice looking older lady offered to buy me a drink. I happily shared that I was playing and therefore got free beer. She told me to order anything I wanted. I reiterated, as if she didn't understand, that I was already getting FREE BEER, as if this was the best thing in the world. She rolled her eyes, ordered herself a drink and started talking to the person next to her. It's funny how clueless I was back then, but everything worked out for the best.

It seems like the Chukker really got hopping after 2:00 on weekends. You never knew what kind of crowd would roll in. I remember seeing drag queens and other interesting characters. Nobody was more fascinating, though, than the Magic Man. The first time I met him, he asked my friend for a cigarette, which he proceeded to balance upright on his nose. I still don't understand how you can balance something as light as a cigarette on a rounded surface like your nose, but that was just the beginning. Next he balanced a beer bottle on his shoulder. Then he took a pool cue and balanced the beer bottle on top of the pool cue, and then balanced the pool cue on his nose. There are videos on youtube of the Magic Man doing some over the top tricks, in the light of day. He was/is a truly talented individual and he added a truly magical/surreal element to the Chukker.

The Chukker was a great place to go see music. Many times I would go to the Chukker on a weeknight, not knowing who would be there. As I recall a lot of bands who were moving between New Orleans and Atlanta would make a stop in the Chukker. I remember seeing a lot of great bands whose names I don't recall and who didn't even have a tape to sell. It was all about living in the moment and rocking out to some struggling musicians playing to an unfamiliar crowd on the road. I have a flyer for a show Sweat Bee played with At the Drive In, who I believe went on to play big festivals and what not.

The most fun I ever had was playing at the Chukker with one or two other local bands. There was no better feeling than showing up early for a show and seeing your friends who were also in bands already hanginig out or setting up. We had a great time playing with so many of the bands who played the Chukker reunion as well as others who haven't, yet. One of the reasons that we all still celebrate the Chukker was the great community of local bands that called the Chukker home. In my day, I remember playing with American Cosmic, The Phoebes, The Dexateens, Opus Dopus, the Penetrators, American Cosmic, Hooper, the Nooners, the High Beams, the Copacetics, Marley McCloud, Bentley Tock, Clubber Lang, Victor Dog, Conspiracy A Go-Go, Woodside, and many others I'm sure I'll remember later.

I think the greatest show I ever saw at the Chukker was the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Back then, they didn't have a drum set and were a really big band. In a world of guitar bands, the brass band sound was totally different and really filled up the narrow Chukker. Needless to say, they were/are a spectacular band playing some of the coolest music I have ever heard. I bought a beer for one of the trumpet players and chatted a bit. It was an amazing opportunity to get to hear them in such an intimate setting.

Druid City Brewing Company

Bo Hicks says:

Howdy everybody. I own Druid City Brewing the home of the event! I just wanted to give an overview of Druid City and hopefully answer some questions you may have!

Druid City Brewing began on black Friday of 2012 with our friends the Alabama Shakes (playing under a fake name) and Lee Bains and the Glory Fires playing at Egans. Soon after this we knew we were gonna be a place that focused on art and music.

At first, we were in 1400 sq ft but would put on DYI shows, poetry readings and art shows. Not many years later we became the last place in Tuscaloosa that focuses on original touring and local bands. At the beginning of year, we moved 100 yards across the parking lot to a 5000 sq ft space with space for a dedicated music venue (the moon room), kitchen (more on that later), a bar made of a Leland Lanes bowling lane, many old Egan's pictures, a vinyl collection we let ppl pick and play, old tables from the Chukker. Here soon, with Rich Marks' hard work, the Sistine Chukker will be installed in the ceiling.

We of course have beer being a brewery but also offer a rosé wine and a dry cider for those that don't care for beer or are not into gluten. We also have N/A options. We have a kombucha from Harvest Roots in Birmingham, a sparkling hop water, a CBD delta 8 beverage and a whole line of Buffalo Rock sodas.

We have recently opened Ell's Kitchen named after my business partner Elliott Roberts who passed on earlier this year. We smoke our own pork and chicken and don't buy precooked. We are working on a quick service menu for the day and expect to offer many different 1/4 all-beef hotdogs, different nachos, our al pastor chicken sandwhich, BBQ sandwhich, giant freaking pretzel with beer cheese, bowls of chili (great for cornbread cooking contests). We will also offer a substitution of a plant-based Beyond Sausage for any hotdog.

We have worked with the City and received a special events license allowing us to extend our patio a good distance out to accommodate the market, music and people. We do however have to ask that ppl not leave the patio with a beer, cider or wine. We don't wanna get in trouble and want to continue being the funky chunk of weird Tuscaloosa needs.

Thank y'all and I hope this answers some questions!

DCBC Photos