Archive for category: The Club

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stage diving

I played at the Drumstick in the late 80’s with a band called the Untouchables and I recall the stage was made up of 3’x4′ boxes that were about 18″ high. One night our Bass player, Craig Johnson, was straddling a seam when the boxes started sliding apart. Craig rode it out as long as he could, doing the splits in the process. Finally he had to try to jump up/off and ended up on the floor. Craig didn’t miss a beat, but he did break the mirror pickguard he had made for his guitar at his day job at Lincoln Glass Co.
I also remember seeing Wendy “O” Williams crack a guy in the head with her microphone that was trying to grab at her from in front of the stage. She hit him so hard it broke the windscreen off the mic and gashed his head. The guy stayed and danced at the front of the stage with blood, sweat and beer running down his face the rest of the show.
I saw a lot of great bands there. Some nights, as Diane recalls, there were only a few people in the bar. A lot of these bands where just travelling through and needed a week night gig for gas and beer money.

Shared by: Dane Squires

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Charlie Pickett-Florida to Lincoln

I think we played The Drumstick twice. Each time, it was Winter and a stupid time for a Florida band to be touring the upper Midwest. The first time, we were dismayed to discover that we were playing a “chicken joint.” Then night fell, and the place lit up. Good audience, good sound, etc. We opened for Charlie Burton and the Cut-Outs and played ok, But then he came on and blew our doors in! We came back about a year later (again in Winter), and drove through an awful snow/ice storm. The roads eventually became deserted and we were down to 10-15 miles per hour. Again, we opened for Burton, and again(!) he blew us away.

We liked the club and people though. Lincoln and Omaha, too.

Shared by: Charlie Pickett aka Charlie Pickett and the Eggs

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New Year’s Eve at the Drumstick

I worked behind the big horseshoe bar during the very early days of the Drumstick booking bands. The holidays were especially wild. I remember the first New Year’s Eve party. It was a busy, wild night. People came with hats and streamers. We planned to pour some Andre at midnight. One fellow was really getting out of hand at a table of four near the front. Now, the Drumstick was an all night restaurant for years before we started booking bands. So we knew late night people acted up. I don’t remember what this particular guy was doing, but it had to be BAD for him to be on Tim’s radar. I watched as Tim told the guy he had to go. Then the guy started walking out with Tim following. I watched and realized someone else needed to be leading the parade. Our entry way had glass everywhere. I took off for the front door but couldn’t get through the crowd fast enough. You can guess what happened. As soon as the guy got to the door he hauled off and put his fist through it. Mother of God what a mess! Glass everywhere, the guy was bleeding. It was pandemonium. I think we wrapped up his hand in one of our bar towels and his friends put him in the car and they left. Someone got some plywood, patched the door, and the band played on…! Never a dull moment at a Drumstick New Year’s Eve.

Shared by: Catherine M Lohmeier

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