My Old Kentucky Blog is one of the best music blogs out there. Just today, it was referenced along with You Ain’t No Picasso in a Pitchfork media article about the newly released Jeff Magnum demos. Always fresh with unknown artists, My Old Kentucky Blog offers MP3’s, concert reviews, and more. All of that with a sense of humor!

The thing that makes My Old Kentucky Blog so unique is its creator, Dodge. Never afraid to post of his love of Dolly Parton or his hate for Sufjan Stevens, Dodge posts what he likes, and does it proudly. I hope you enjoy the interview with him, it was fun to do.

Let’s get some general background on you. You currently are in Kentucky, are you a life-long resident?

I am actually in Indianapolis, IN – a lot of people get that wrong and I know it’s weird. I was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, I grew up there and my family is there. I actually started MOKB as homage to Kentucky as well as music, but no, I am actually in central Indiana.

I want get an idea of your musical taste evolution if you will. What were some of the first albums/tapes/CD’s you bought?

I grew up with an older brother who loved metal and hair bands…Black Sabbath, Quiet Riot, Judas Priest, Kiss, AC/DC, Motley Crue and Poison were all huge with us. I loved it all because he did. Then we really got into breakdancing and early 80’s rap too. He had varied tastes, so I always have been all over them map. One day I’m Chuck D and the next I’m Edie Brickell. I remember the first cassette tape I bought though was Bruce Springsteen’s “Born To Run”, then stuff like U2’s “Joshua Tree”, REM’s “Green”. I don’t know how it evolved past that really. I was really into gangsta rap with like NWA’s “Straight Outta Compton” yet at the same time I was loving Paul Simon’s “Graceland”.

How about some of the more recent CD’s you’ve purchased?

I buy a lot of used CDs…yesterday I bought Pulp’s “Different Class” and The Black Keys’ “The Moan” EP. Lately, I bought Be Your Own Pet’s “Extra Extra” EP and Broadcast’s “Tender Buttons”. MJ and I go to the record store every Sunday after breakfast these days. This past week I was out of town though, so I’ll probably buy a lot this week. I buy a lot online…today I bought both of The Jolly Rogers’ CDs. 2 CDs fo’ 3 fitty…that’s awesome.

Where do you buy your albums? Is there a particular record store in your area, buy online, and if so, where?

Luna Music (most variety and in-tune with the indie scene) & Indy CD & Vinyl. Also, Vibes (best used selection in town).

When I started listening to music, there were certain musicians that led me in the path of a lot of other bands. Did you have any similar experiences with bands growing up?

No one musician is like “my favorite” or really ever really has been. I have like A.D.D. when it comes to bands and what I like…it changes rapidly. My musical path is a maze; it has and continues to go all over the place, back and forth, doubling back on itself. I used to be late on every band (at least until I started MOKB), but the discovery is the important part, not when.

What are some of your favorite records of all time?

Michael Jackson “Thriller”, Rolling Stones “Exile On Main Street” & “Sticky Fingers”, Kiss “Destroyer”, Bob Dylan “Highway 61 Revisited” & “Nashville Skyline”, Public Enemy “Fear of a Black Planet”, Marvin Gaye “What’s Going On”, Neil Young “Decade”, The Smiths “The Queen Is Dead”, White Stripes “Elephant”, Arcade Fire “Funeral”, A Tribe Called Quest “Low End Theory”, Fugees “The Score”, Eric B & Rakim “Paid In Full”, Paul Simon “Graceland” – I don’t know, there are tons more.

James Brown “Greatest Hits” will always be one of my favorites because, other than being awesome, MJ and I were in a car with Dee (who I was dating at the time) and I am just jamming out, windows down, screaming the Godfather’s truth and they are just laughing at what an jackass I am, but they’re still jamming out too and she also was like, “hmm, I like this kid.” That was the start waaaay before it was the start of MJ and I.

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Any idea how many albums are in your collection?

Not as many as you’d think. I’m a recycler. I put everything on digital and then usually will sell the CD back to get store credit and buy another…I sell a ton in my neighborhood yard sale every year. Lots of people come just for the CDs. I may regret that one day, but that’s just what I do. Maybe 150 to 200 CDs or so. I’m just getting into vinyl, so my collection isn’t really big, but it’s grown a lot in the last couple months. Digitally, the amount of music I have is off the charts…I mean it’s ridiculous.

If you could spend time with 3 musicians, who would you choose?

Keith Richards, Steven Tyler and Neil Young in their primes…just three is way too tough, but those three pop into mind as probably a pretty wild and fun time.

I’m sure you’ve seen some great concerts. Can you tell me what the first concert you saw was and when? To follow that up, are there any particular shows that stand out in terms of being favorites?

I don’t know the first for sure…I was probably 16 or so when I started getting to go to shows…I remember seeing 311 when they were just first coming up, that was an early one, I was 16 then, so that was 12 years ago…weird. It was pretty fun. I love festival shows, I love the atmosphere, but I also really love the crowded little bar and you’re right on top of the artist. This year has been my best year ever for shows because I have just gone to show after show and met just some of the best people. Lolla this year was a blast, we had a big crew and I met Chris and all sorts of awesome kids that weekend.

What are some bands that you haven’t gotten the chance to see live, but would really like to?

Oh there are so many. So many days I just want to pack up and head to NYC or Dallas or L.A. or Chicago, so I’d be closer to a bigger music scene, but I actually really like Indiana and the Midwest. I hate traffic and I don’t much care for the uptightness of some big city people. Housing prices in Indianapolis are like the best in the nation too. You get so much house for your money…but I digress…

Right now, I’d say it’s the bigger bands I want to see that I never have…U2, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones…Beck is one. I’ll make time for the smallers, and they are easier.

If your blog had to have a different name, what would you choose?

Man, that’s weird because I have been thinking about that this past week. I think some people have a hard time identifying with MOKB’s name…I mean, identifying with Kentucky at all. Something a little flashier and one word might be better. Maybe it’d be something like: “Vibratron!” or maybe “Dynomighty Ho!” or I’ll knock off and do “HarryOnumb”. No matter what, I’d call myself “Corduroy Magillicutty”…oh yeah, that’d sell! Actually, “The Spin Cycle” was one name I almost called MOKB. I still like it.

Can you tell me what got you into blogging, and are you surprised by the popularity your blog has attained?

It was actually MJ that wanted to start a blog and suggested it – I think we may have been split up at that time, so I know when I started MOKB it was also as a method of therapy too a little. That’s kind of funny now. She just started one herself actually, but won’t tell me the address…women are evil like that. Other blogs got me into blogging obvs, but it’s also because I work in front of a computer for 8 hours a day and want to shoot myself because of it. It’s a great alternative for me during the day, I wish I could do it full time. Yeah, I’m surprised by MOKB’s popularity at times, especially because of my region/market. NYC and other big city blogs have a big advantage really. I’m just really happy people do like it because I like doing it.

Dodge with wife MJ.

What are some of your favorite blogs? Music or otherwise.

*Sixeyes is who got me doing it and helped me out a lot in the beginning. Totally Fuzzy was another that really peaked my interest and helped me…you should give love to those that really helped you along you know? (in all things, not just blogging) I love all the usual suspects, Stereogum, GvB, YANP, LHB, Brooklyn Vegan, Scenestars, 3hive, Chromewaves, my blog girlfriend Rock Snob…I really love the up-and-comers though cause I know how hard it is to stick with it and not get frustrated or wonder how/why you can/can’t make your blog better or whatever. I like Marathon Packs, So Much Silence, A Plague Of Angels, Aquarium Drunkard, Little Hits and Motel Moka, is a new one I’m enjoying. There are a lot more. I just started using a RSS reader a month or so ago and that has allowed me to visit more blogs daily. I didn’t go to all that many before…the RSS reader has really changed my life actually.

How important do you think music blogs are in general? Do you think they will continue to be as popular as they are today?

I think music blogs are very important and will only continue to grow in number, but I believe you only have so much room at the top and a couple have firmly supplanted themselves up there, but even though that may be true, there is plenty of room period, you know what I mean? I find a good new blog every week. With MOKB, I just try to stay true to what I like. I catch shit for it sometimes, but that’s why I started, to talk about shit I like.
You never know though, “Pink Is The New Blog” kinda came out of nowhere and exploded. GvB has kinda done that too…one day I’m telling everyone to check out this cool guy and his little blog called GvB and the next day he’s the hottest blog on the web it seems. That’s exciting. It’s funny too for me, Chris and I went to Lollapolooza together back in June or July or whenever it was and he was seeing like 500 visitors a day and he wanted to grow it and now look at him! He grew it all right…that’s what great content will get you. It happened that way sort of for me too…I was bugging Herr K at Totally Fuzzy and Alan at Sixeyes, Scott at Stereogum, so they linked to me a few times and things have just taken off gradually since. I’m grateful to them and all the readers.

Let’s get away from music for a bit. What are some of your favorite movies and television shows?

I love LOST. I was loving the O.C. back in the day, but it sucks balls now. I still watch, but loathe myself for it. I love HBO and Showtime shows…Deadwood, Sopranos, L-Word, and Weeds. Rome is the best. I miss Carnival.

Movies: The Big Lebowski, Kentucky Fried Movie, Airplane, Rocky 1-3, Godfather – I have a pretty huge DVD collection. I love comic books, so the new Batman Begins and Spiderman 1 & 2 have been favs.

I love a ton of shitty movies too: Varsity Blues, Starship Troopers, bad and sophomoric comedy movies…I have a lot of those and I love them all.

Outside of music do you have any other interests or projects?

I oil paint, I’m an artist by training, so I love to create. I make pottery and ceramic sculpture, not so much these days, but it was my minor and I’m still pretty skilled. I play a lot of sports…softball and basketball mostly these days. I’m overly competitive at sports, but that’s not so good socially as you get older, so I’m working on just having fun with sports…it’s harder than it sounds.

I know you just bought a new house, but if you could pick up and move tomorrow, where would you choose and why?

Oh, overseas somewhere…I traveled during my school days. I went to a University in Grantham, UK for a while and I wish I had stayed longer. Tons of places still to see. Spain is my next stop. But if I stayed in the US, I head to NYC or Chicago…just so much life.

A lot of people have a favorite t-shirt, do you have one?

Yeah, It’s my “California…Bigger Than Texas” t-shirt…I got it at a second hand store. I especially like to wear it in Texas, those kids get fired up about that kinda stuff. It’s pretty funny. Last time I visited Chris, we were at a show and I thought a guy was gonna kick my ass because of it.

Dodge with VHS or Beta wearing his favorite shirt.

But with clothes, I’m kinda gross really. I’ll wear the same jeans every day if MJ lets me, I’d only have about 3 to 4 shirts too. But, she doesn’t let me, so I have tons of shirts and jeans and all that. Our clothes overrun our house at times. I only have like 4 pairs of shoes total though…one brown, one black, one tennis and one black dress. I’m big into jackets though, I have a lot of different jackets actually. I buy a lot of concert T’s though, so I have a few favs…I’m rambling. I hate dressing up until I actually do it, and then I love it…anyone else like that?

In your opinion, what’s the best place to eat on your city?

Hoaglin’s Sidewalk Café is one for breakfast. YATS for lunch…my wife, MJ, loves a lot of the Massachusetts Avenue places to eat, so I do too…Scholar’s Inn for dinner. Bazbeux’s Pizza is great too.

Animals dressed as humans. Funny or not?

MJ loves animals dressed as anything. Me, not so much.

Are we done? Coo. I wanna give a shout out to my lil’ homie Ray Ray and the Uppa 88 Cruesters, Big Perm, I mean, Big Worm and my my baby momma, Boogie Shoes! Haaaaay!!!