The Regulars: Charles Hale of Driver 8 Records and Ajax Diner Book Club
Summary
We're diving deep into the world of independent music with Fort Collins, Colorado's very own Charles Hale, the mastermind behind Driver 8 Records and Ajax Diner Book Club. Charles is not just your average record store owner; he's a long-time community radio host and a passionate music advocate who believes that it’s all about taste, not trends. In our chat, we explore his journey from a curious high schooler raising his hand to get on the airwaves, to opening a boutique record store that fills a much-needed gap in his community. We reminisce about some legendary dive bars where the music flows as freely as the drinks, and Charles shares tales of unforgettable performances that remind us of the magic of live music. So grab your drink of choice, kick back, and let’s get to know the man behind the records and the radio waves, because this is all about the vibe, folks!
Bio
Show Notes
In this episode, we dive straight in with Charles Hale, the creative force behind Driver 8 Records and the Ajax Diner Book Club on KRFC radio. From spinning records on college radio to opening one of the city’s most beloved record stores, Charles shares the story of how passion, persistence, and community came together to build something truly special.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
- The origin story of Driver 8 Records: How Charles turned a community need into a thriving record store that opened its doors in July 2022.
- Behind the business plan: A year and a half of late nights, coffee-fueled brainstorming sessions, and the moment he knew it was time to take the leap.
- Curating with heart: Why Driver 8 isn’t just about selling vinyl; it’s about creating a space where music lovers can discover something meaningful.
- From radio to records: Charles’ journey from a volunteer college DJ to hosting a Friday afternoon radio show that celebrates his deep love for sound and storytelling.
- Doing the “unfun work”: The lessons learned along the way about persistence, preparation, and embracing every part of the creative grind.
- A tour through musical memories: Stories from dive bars and venues that shaped his appreciation for live music, like the Parish Baker Pub in Oxford, Mississippi, and Surfside 7 in Fort Collins.
- Community at the core: How local scenes, shared spaces, and a good setlist can bring people together in lasting ways.
Why You’ll Love This Episode:
It’s an honest, inspiring, and down-to-earth chat that reminds us why independent music, and the people who champion it, matter so much. Whether you’re a crate digger, a small business dreamer, or just someone who loves a good story about following your heart, this one’s for you.
Listen now to hear how Charles Hale built more than a record store; he built a community around the joy of music.
Links
- Get to know the rest of the Regulars
- You might also like our other podcasts, Sleep with Rock Stars or Country Fried Rock
- Toss a few coins in our Tip Jar!
Chapters
- 00:12 - Introducing Charles Hale: A Music Enthusiast
- 01:10 - Starting a Record Store: Charles Hale's Journey
- 02:49 - Journey into Radio and Writing
- 05:11 - Exploring Music Venues
- 06:01 - Music Venues Across America
- 06:59 - Introduction to Dive Bar Music Club
Takeaways
- Charles Hale's journey into music began with a simple act of raising his hand, showcasing how opportunities can arise from just a willingness to volunteer.
- At Driver 8 Records, we embrace a philosophy of taste over trends, ensuring that our selection resonates with true music aficionados.
- Community radio plays a vital role in nurturing local music scenes, providing a platform for emerging artists and fostering connections among fans.
- Dive bars like Surfside 7 in Colorado and Parish Baker Pub in Mississippi create intimate settings where unforgettable live music experiences thrive.
- The essence of a boutique record store lies in its unique curation, where each vinyl tells a story and connects listeners to the heart of music culture.
- Engaging with music on multiple fronts—from retail to radio—allows for a richer connection to the art form and strengthens community bonds.
Mentioned in this Episode
- Driver 8 Records
- Ajax Diner Book Club
- Nine Bullets blog
- KRFC radio
- Fort Collins, Colorado
- Oxford, Mississippi
indie music podcast, music nerd podcast, underground music podcast, music roundtable podcast, best new indie bands, independent music podcast, music discovery podcast, alternative music podcast, podcast for music lovers, dive bar music podcast, low key music podcast, deep cut music discussion, music tastemakers podcast, music festival discoveries, music zine culture, DIY music scene, touring musician stories, hidden gem bands, vinyl collector podcast, music conversations podcast,
, dive bar music, independent music podcast, Charles Hale interview, Fort Collins record store, Driver 8 Records, community radio, music fans, boutique record shop, music culture, vinyl records, music venues, live music experiences, music industry insights, radio show host, music recommendations, music community, emerging artists, music nerds, local music scene, record store ownerTranscript
Speaker A
Welcome to Dive Bar Music Club, the low key, high taste happy hour for music nerds. Each week we're joined by a rotating cast of true music fans, people who live and breathe independent music.
This week, we're featuring one of the regulars, Fort Collins, Colorado, record store owner Charles Hale of Driver 8 Records and Ajax Diner Book Club. Hale has spent years in community radio. In the retail end of a boutique record shop, we're not about trends. We're all about taste.
Part hang, part deep dive, part time machine. So grab a drink, slide into the booth, and get to know Charles Hale, one of our regulars on Dive Bar Music Club.
Speaker B
So, Charles Hale, I sure appreciate you being part of Dive Bar Music Club. What have you been up to in the world of music these days?
Speaker C
So it's every day I go to work, which is owning a record store. So every day I'm surrounded by music. And every week I host a radio show.
So I'm throughout the week thinking about what I want to play, how I want to put it together for my Friday afternoon radio show.
Speaker B
Tell me a little bit more about your record store.
Speaker C
So the record store opened in July of 2022. I decided about a year and a half before then that I wanted to open a record store.
I thought Fort Collins needed a better record store or a record store like I had in mind. And it took about a year and a half to write the business plan, figure everything out, most significantly, figure out how to pay for it.
So we specialize in new and used records. We're a small boutique store, but people seem to like us very nice.
Speaker B
So y' all should definitely check out the driver 8 records in Fort Collins, Colorado. So, Charles Hale, how on earth did you end up in the music business?
Speaker C
You know, it's a great question, and I think the simplest answer is that way back when I raised my hand, sometimes that's all it takes. I don't know how. I happened to learn while I was in high school that colleges had radio stations, that if you were a student, you could be a dj.
But once I learned that, that was my primary focus for going to college. So I just walked in to the campus radio station and said, hey, I want to do this. And went through the training, obviously, volunteer.
I did that for two years, dropped out, then went to another college. And a guy I moved in with was a deejay at that college station. And he said, hey, you should come down. So again, I raised my hand.
I go down there, I say I have some experience, and I get a midnight shift. Then years Later I'm reading the Nine Bullets blog and there happens to be a post that says, help wanted. We're looking for writers.
And so I fired off an email and said, hey, I've got a degree in creative writing. I know music, I'd love to write. So that happened.
Then a year or so after that, I was thinking about getting back in radio and looked at the community station in Fort Collins and I saw that the music director in his website bio read nine Bullets. And so I sent him an email, said, hey, I've done radio in the past. I write for Nine Bullets. I'd like to be involved.
So again, just sort of volunteering.
And then from that I also started helping put together a, like a mini roots festival by just saying after I attended the first year, saying, hey, I could help, if you need anything, let me know. So again, you just sort of raise your hand, you volunteer.
And then I think it's important to be willing to do the unfun work because everybody in music wants to do the fun work. And then with the record store, that's sort of me just raising my hand to myself of saying, here is something that I think my community needs.
I feel like this is something I might could be good at and let me see if I can figure out a way to make it happen. And then we're three and a half years in to the record store and people come by every day and buy records.
Speaker B
Definitely check out Driver 8 records and folks can contact you online if they have any, like, special orders and stuff, can't they?
Speaker C
Yes, we've got a website, we've got Facebook, we've got Instagram, and just recently we launched a Discogs page. So we sell some of our, our used inventory on Discogs.
Speaker B
Very cool. So, yeah, definitely Driver 8 Records, both online as well as in Fort Collins, Colorado for the boutique shop. But also Ajax Diner Book Club is.
Speaker C
The radio show which is also streaming, streaming online@krfcfm.org Fantastic.
Speaker B
Community radio, always part of any great arts community and vital these days to emerging music. Well, Charles, one of the things we all love are the different venues that make the music even more magical.
Are there any places in the past or in the present that you love to go see or hear music?
Speaker C
No. Sticking with the dive bar theme, there are two, two dive bars in my past that are worth mentioning. One was when I was living in Oxford, Mississippi.
There was a small bar called the Parish Baker Pub. They had music there fairly regularly, but there was never a cover charge.
So sort of on their way up at Parish's Bar, I saw J. Roddy Walson in the business. I saw Cedric Burnside, I saw American Aquarium and I saw Pokey La Farge. Never paid a dollar for any of them.
And then the other one is out here in Colorado. It's called Surfside 7. There, there was, you know, a five or ten dollar cover charge. But over the years I've gotten to see people like Charlie Parr.
I saw John Morland play to 11 people there. Arlis, Nancy, and of course our hometown heroes Drag the River have played there a bunch.
So Surfside 7 in Colorado and Parrish Baker Pub in Oxford, Mississippi.
Speaker A
Wow.
Speaker B
Absolutely fantastic. And for me it's fun to learn about places that are the space for.
Speaker A
Different parts of the country.
Speaker B
So thank you so much. I appreciate it.
Speaker C
Absolutely awesome.
Speaker B
Well Charles, where would you like people to be able to find you?
Speaker C
Instagram. The Instagram is driver the number 8 Rex R E C s easy to find.
Speaker B
Y' all should definitely stop by. I know that. And of course from one of my all time favorite bands. As folks who listen to this new show, Dive Bar Music Club will definitely.
Speaker A
Find out that's last call at Dive Bar Music Club. If you like the hang, follow the show, leave a review and tell your algorithm, gosh darn it, we're worth it.
Better yet, share your favorite episode with a friend who actually stayed for the whole set. See y' all next time for the low key, high taste happy hour for music nerds.
Transcript
Welcome to Dive Bar Music Club, the low key, high taste happy hour for music nerds.
Speaker A:Each week we're joined by a rotating cast of true music fans, people who live and breathe independent music.
Speaker A:This week, we're featuring one of the regulars, Fort Collins, Colorado, record store owner Charles Hale of Driver 8 Records and Ajax Diner Book Club.
Speaker A:Hale has spent years in community radio.
Speaker A:In the retail end of a boutique record shop, we're not about trends.
Speaker A:We're all about taste.
Speaker A:Part hang, part deep dive, part time machine.
Speaker A:So grab a drink, slide into the booth, and get to know Charles Hale, one of our regulars on Dive Bar Music Club.
Speaker B:So, Charles Hale, I sure appreciate you being part of Dive Bar Music Club.
Speaker B:What have you been up to in the world of music these days?
Speaker C:So it's every day I go to work, which is owning a record store.
Speaker C:So every day I'm surrounded by music.
Speaker C:And every week I host a radio show.
Speaker C:So I'm throughout the week thinking about what I want to play, how I want to put it together for my Friday afternoon radio show.
Speaker B:Tell me a little bit more about your record store.
Speaker C: ecord store opened in July of: Speaker C:I decided about a year and a half before then that I wanted to open a record store.
Speaker C:I thought Fort Collins needed a better record store or a record store like I had in mind.
Speaker C:And it took about a year and a half to write the business plan, figure everything out, most significantly, figure out how to pay for it.
Speaker C:So we specialize in new and used records.
Speaker C:We're a small boutique store, but people seem to like us very nice.
Speaker B:So y' all should definitely check out the driver 8 records in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Speaker B:So, Charles Hale, how on earth did you end up in the music business?
Speaker C:You know, it's a great question, and I think the simplest answer is that way back when I raised my hand, sometimes that's all it takes.
Speaker C:I don't know how.
Speaker C:I happened to learn while I was in high school that colleges had radio stations, that if you were a student, you could be a dj.
Speaker C:But once I learned that, that was my primary focus for going to college.
Speaker C:So I just walked in to the campus radio station and said, hey, I want to do this.
Speaker C:And went through the training, obviously, volunteer.
Speaker C:I did that for two years, dropped out, then went to another college.
Speaker C:And a guy I moved in with was a deejay at that college station.
Speaker C:And he said, hey, you should come down.
Speaker C:So again, I raised my hand.
Speaker C:I go down there, I say I have some experience, and I get a midnight shift.
Speaker C:Then years Later I'm reading the Nine Bullets blog and there happens to be a post that says, help wanted.
Speaker C:We're looking for writers.
Speaker C:And so I fired off an email and said, hey, I've got a degree in creative writing.
Speaker C:I know music, I'd love to write.
Speaker C:So that happened.
Speaker C:Then a year or so after that, I was thinking about getting back in radio and looked at the community station in Fort Collins and I saw that the music director in his website bio read nine Bullets.
Speaker C:And so I sent him an email, said, hey, I've done radio in the past.
Speaker C:I write for Nine Bullets.
Speaker C:I'd like to be involved.
Speaker C:So again, just sort of volunteering.
Speaker C:And then from that I also started helping put together a, like a mini roots festival by just saying after I attended the first year, saying, hey, I could help, if you need anything, let me know.
Speaker C:So again, you just sort of raise your hand, you volunteer.
Speaker C:And then I think it's important to be willing to do the unfun work because everybody in music wants to do the fun work.
Speaker C:And then with the record store, that's sort of me just raising my hand to myself of saying, here is something that I think my community needs.
Speaker C:I feel like this is something I might could be good at and let me see if I can figure out a way to make it happen.
Speaker C:And then we're three and a half years in to the record store and people come by every day and buy records.
Speaker B:Definitely check out Driver 8 records and folks can contact you online if they have any, like, special orders and stuff, can't they?
Speaker C:Yes, we've got a website, we've got Facebook, we've got Instagram, and just recently we launched a Discogs page.
Speaker C:So we sell some of our, our used inventory on Discogs.
Speaker B:Very cool.
Speaker B:So, yeah, definitely Driver 8 Records, both online as well as in Fort Collins, Colorado for the boutique shop.
Speaker B:But also Ajax Diner Book Club is.
Speaker C:The radio show which is also streaming, streaming online@krfcfm.org Fantastic.
Speaker B:Community radio, always part of any great arts community and vital these days to emerging music.
Speaker B:Well, Charles, one of the things we all love are the different venues that make the music even more magical.
Speaker B:Are there any places in the past or in the present that you love to go see or hear music?
Speaker C:No.
Speaker C:Sticking with the dive bar theme, there are two, two dive bars in my past that are worth mentioning.
Speaker C:One was when I was living in Oxford, Mississippi.
Speaker C:There was a small bar called the Parish Baker Pub.
Speaker C:They had music there fairly regularly, but there was never a cover charge.
Speaker C:So sort of on their way up at Parish's Bar, I saw J. Roddy Walson in the business.
Speaker C:I saw Cedric Burnside, I saw American Aquarium and I saw Pokey La Farge.
Speaker C:Never paid a dollar for any of them.
Speaker C:And then the other one is out here in Colorado.
Speaker C:It's called Surfside 7.
Speaker C:There, there was, you know, a five or ten dollar cover charge.
Speaker C:But over the years I've gotten to see people like Charlie Parr.
Speaker C:I saw John Morland play to 11 people there.
Speaker C:Arlis, Nancy, and of course our hometown heroes Drag the River have played there a bunch.
Speaker C:So Surfside 7 in Colorado and Parrish Baker Pub in Oxford, Mississippi.
Speaker A:Wow.
Speaker B:Absolutely fantastic.
Speaker B:And for me it's fun to learn about places that are the space for.
Speaker A:Different parts of the country.
Speaker B:So thank you so much.
Speaker B:I appreciate it.
Speaker C:Absolutely awesome.
Speaker B:Well Charles, where would you like people to be able to find you?
Speaker C:Instagram.
Speaker C:The Instagram is driver the number 8 Rex R E C s easy to find.
Speaker B:Y' all should definitely stop by.
Speaker B:I know that.
Speaker B:And of course from one of my all time favorite bands.
Speaker B:As folks who listen to this new show, Dive Bar Music Club will definitely.
Speaker A:Find out that's last call at Dive Bar Music Club.
Speaker A:If you like the hang, follow the show, leave a review and tell your algorithm, gosh darn it, we're worth it.
Speaker A:Better yet, share your favorite episode with a friend who actually stayed for the whole set.
Speaker A:See y' all next time for the low key, high taste happy hour for music nerds.
