In this episode of Between 2 Palms, Derek Clark sits down with producer and host Mikey Muscatello to uncover decades of stories behind The Boardwalk. From its origins as a country-western bar to becoming the hard rock hub of Northern California.
Highlights include:
- How The Boardwalk went from “Williams Place” in 1955 to today’s multi-genre performance venue.
- Legendary acts that cut their teeth here — Green Day, Paramore, Cake, Tesla, Deftones, and more.
- Derek’s mission to keep the venue alive while giving back over $90,000 to local charities.
- The uphill battle of booking bands in the Live Nation era.
- Future plans for comedy nights, tribute shows, and major charity events.
The conversation is equal parts music nostalgia, business insight, and heartfelt commitment to keeping local stages alive.
Timestamps
- 0:00 – Intro & history of the property before it was The Boardwalk
- 5:33 – Bootleg booze, horses, and the early saloon days
- 9:53 – The Aquarius Club, Cowtown Saloon, and other past lives
- 12:02 – Big names that played The Boardwalk before they blew up
- 16:36 – Fighting to keep small venues alive
- 20:56 – Saving The Boardwalk after Mark’s passing
- 27:03 – Why giving back is part of the mission
- 31:07 – Diversifying into comedy, tribute bands & more
- 34:18 – The nostalgia factor: bringing back ’80s, ’90s & local favorites
- 42:10 – The case for secret shows & grassroots marketing
- 53:23 – Why The Boardwalk matters to the community
- 56:53 – What’s next for the venue
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