ScholarWorks at University of Montana

Title

Robin Dent Interview, October 11, 2019

Interviewee

Robin Dent

Interviewer

Breanna McCabe

Files

Description

Robin Dent, a classically trained musician from Superior, Montana, discusses how she came to work as the manager and bartender for Jay’s Upstairs during the 1990s. She describes her relationship with owners Jay and Stephenie LaFlesch, and how she convinced them to let her start booking original, live music for the bar. She tells many stories about the Jay’s era such as the band Sasshole throwing raw chicken and kitty litter on the crowd during a set. Dent describes the family atmosphere of Jay’s, noting that when bands came to play, they were given free Pabst Blue Ribbon, and many times would crash with her or other Jay’s employees. She recalls how she suffered a significant accident while on the job that required her to re-learn to walk and ended her career at Jay’s. Dent talks about attending the University of Montana to become a sound therapist, and how her background as a musician has helped with that business as well as her time at Jay’s.

Document Type

Oral History

Subjects

Subjects: Music; Music—History and criticism; Music—Montana—Missoula; Punk rock music; Punk rock music—Montana; New wave music; Rock music—Montana; Counterculture—United States; Posters; Art; Concerts; Musical establishments; Battle of the Bands; Subculture; Do it yourself; Popular music -- United States -- History and criticism; Sound recordings; Compact discs; Bars (drinking establishments); Drinking; Drinking of alcoholic beverages; Central business districts—Montana—Missoula; Oblio Joes; Sasshole

Personal Names: Dent, Robin; LaFlesch, Jay; Stephenie, LaFlesch; Fleming, John

Corporate Names: Jay’s Upstairs; The Top Hat

Geographical Names: Missoula (Mont.); Superior (Mont.)

Occupations: Musicians—Montana; Businesspersons—Montana--Missoula

Original Date

10-11-2019

Time Period

Twentieth century; Twenty-first century

Geographic Coverage

Montana

Language

eng

Original Collection

Missoula Music History Oral History Project, OH 473

Holding Institution

University of Montana. Mansfield Library. Archives and Special Collections

Digital Publisher

University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Holder

Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections at the University of Montana, Mansfield Library.

Oral History Number

OH 473-015

Media Type

Sound; Text

Original Format

1 MP3 file (01:29:07): digital + 1 transcript (11 pp.: 28 cm.)

Digital Format

audio/mp3; application/pdf

Run Time

01:29:07 minutes

Local Filename

OH_473_015.mp3; OH_473_015.pdf

Citation

Dent, Robin, "Robin Dent Interview, October 11, 2019" (2019). Missoula Music History Oral History Project. 9.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/missoulamusic_oralhistory/9