The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club was a punk rock venue based out of Newport, Kentucky. Founded in 1982 and active until 1988 when the building would be partially demolished, The Jockey Club would serve as a significant venue for touring bands in the Cincinnati and Kentucky scene. Prior to it's opening in 1982, the building was originally a place called The Flamingo Club. Two brothers, Hallman, “Shorty” Mincey and Hayne “Tiny” Mincey purchased the building. During its heyday The Flamingo Club was part of Newport’s notorious nightlife gambling scene. After Newport outlawed gambling in the early 80’s, the building needed to be used for something else.
Around this time Shorty was approached with the idea of opening the venue up as a place for local bands to perform. Soon after, the place became a home for underground rock as The Jockey Club started to attract some national attention with bands that were huge in the punk scene at the time. On one occasion Metallica showed up at the venue. After their gig at Annie’s in 1986, they headed across the river to check out The Ramones show that was going on that same evening.
After closing its doors in 1988, the original building was sadly demolished. When The Wooden Cask Brewing Company opened its doors a few years ago, they uncovered and restored The Jockey Club’s original Italian Terrazzo tile floors. A book on the venue was made by Aurore Press entitled “Stories for Shorty. A Collection of Recollections from The Jockey Club 1982-1988".
Selected List of Performers
Louisville Bands
Regional / Touring Bands
- Black Flag
- Circle Jerks
- Corrosion of Conformity
- Dead Kennedys
- Die Kreuzen
- Discharge
- The Fall
- Flipper
- Husker Du
- Killdozer
- Minor Threat
- Naked Raygun
- Necros
- Samhain
- Scratch Acid
- Scream
- Sluggo
- Suicidal Tendencies