Lexington Road Trip
#509 / Flood Time Capsule:2002
Twenty-three years ago this week, the band hit the road to Lexington, Ky., accepting an invitation to play for the evening on Nick Lawrence’s “Curtains @ 8” show on 91.3 of the FM radio dial.
Following the host's direction around the University of Kentucky campus, "we found our way into the secret side door of McVey Hall," Charlie Bowen said in a later email to his mom, and up to the fifth floor and the studios of the historic WUKY-FM.
“Since we arrived before Nick got there, we just unpacked the instruments and started jamming. Doug Chaffin arrived a little later and, following the sound, found us, got out his bass and by the time Nick arrived at 7:30, we were all tuned up and ready to go.”
Nick's show aired live on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for one hour, and he had live music most nights. The Flood was to be on the air with a regular of the show, a nice singer/songwriter named Carla Van Hoose.
“I figured we'd be splitting the show with her,” Charlie said in the email, “but it turned out Nick gave over most of the show to us, with interviews, five or six live tunes and two cuts from the album. He set us up around three mikes, did a quick sound check and were on the air at 8. After quick introductions, we launched into our first tune, a lively version of ‘I Never Cried 'Til My Baby Got on That Train,' which gave everyone in the band a good long solo. Nick just beamed. Obviously he liked our sound a lot."
Funny things happened all evening.
For instance, Nick asked us how The Flood got its name and the guys told the usual story. "Within five minutes, one of the listeners called," Charlie reported. "He was a doctor in Lexington who grew up in Huntington who called into to tell us how high the water got on his house when he was growing up. We also found out that Nick has a darn good listenership. He announced on the air that he would give away a copy of our CD 'to the ninth caller.' I thought to myself, shoot, we've been on shows that it would take an hour to get nine callers! He got them in less than 10 seconds!"
A footnote: The good Nick Lawrence — himself a musician who sang and played guitar and upright bass — died at 77 in April 2021 from complications of Parkinson's Disease, which he battled for more than 16 years. He hosted his beloved “Curtains @ 8” show for 24 years.
His friends and colleagues at the UK station produced this lovely video tribute to Nick.