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

🎶 Love live music? Subscribe to Between 2 Palms and follow The Boardwalk for upcoming shows, interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories.
📍 Visit rocktheboardwalk.com for tickets & events.
💖 Support our mission — come to a show, bring a friend, and keep Sacramento’s music scene alive.