Dj Hubba Hubba's Spin On The Local Rockabilly Scene

By day, Darren John Floughton is a mild-mannered tattoo artist at Seattle's Tattoo Emporium. Bring on the night and the 31-year-old transforms into the deep-voiced DJ Hubba Hubba, fat boy extraordinaire and disc spinner for Jet City's greasers.

For the past two years, Hubba (as friends know him) has hosted weekly rockabilly, country and swing nights at local clubs, the most successful being his ongoing "Pomade Rockabilly/Swing Revue" Wednesday nights at the Showbox. We asked the avowed burger-and-fries fan for his observations on the local rockabilly scene.

Q: How would you describe "Pomade"?

A: We always have a band ranging from local to national acts and I sculpt what I play depending on the band. For Southern Culture, I'll play hick country kind of stuff. It's fun because there's a wide range of music for me to play. One night I'll play more country, other nights it's more swing. The Pomade is also a social club. You show up, you have your hair done, you smoke cigars and you see people you know on a weekly basis. The scene is pretty good right now. There's a flow of regulars who never miss a show.

Q: How did you get started doing this?

A: I've been listening to rockabilly all my life. My father was a greaser and I love old cars and I guess I get it from him. When I first started DJ-ing in Seattle, clubs were doing dance nights from disco to rave and techno stuff, but there wasn't any rockabilly. My friends and I just wanted to shine up our cars and go hear the music, but there was nowhere to go. So we started doing it ourselves. It's a fun hobby for me and it turned into something good. You can't beat hanging out with your friends and getting paid for it.

Q: Why are rockabilly shows so popular here?

A: The atmosphere. There are no fights and people have a great time. You go to some of the bigger clubs and you usually see a fight or a scuffle, but we really don't have that. Everyone gets along and is polite and the bars love it because they sell a lot of Budweiser and Miller.

Q: Where does the Pomade crowd hang out in Seattle?

A: Besides the Showbox, the Crocodile also has rockabilly shows and the Tractor Tavern has "Rockabilly Hell Night." The OK (Hotel) is also doing shows. But generally rockabilly people just hang out at divey bars and drink their bourbon.

Q: How big is your collection these days?

A: Probably between 3-4,000 CDs. When I DJ, I usually bring around 300 with me. And I try to mix things up a lot so people don't get bored.

Q: Favorite Elvis song?

A: Probably "Hound Dog." I like the older stuff when he was thin and full of piss and vinegar.

Q: Last question: Dick's or Burgermaster?

A: Oooh. I have to say Dick's where taste is the difference and the price is right. Burgermaster's good but it's a little bit more expensive. I'm a fat boy and you want to get the cheap eats.