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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 21, 2000)
Arts&Entertainment tutt - f-r— — ■— ^ Local bar is place to be 06 on football Saturdays _k j£jrL,C\ Editor s note: Today is the 12th in a series of 13 stories exploring the history of the O Street bars. The strip - which begins at Nth and O streets and runs down to Ninth and O streets - has served as a major gathering place for University of Nebraska-Lincoln students for the past 70 years. By Josh Nichols Staff writer Everyone knows Lincoln changes a little on football weekends. The town goes crazy. And there are certain things that go hand in hand with Husker football. This includes the Husker fight song, tailgat ing, football parties and the colors red and white. All businesses in town, including bars, stores and restaurants, thrive on the craziness. But there is one place in particular that really goes crazy and goes hand in hand with Husker football. It is a place where people will stand in line for hours on a cold Friday night in November. They’ll also line up out front at 5 the next morning waiting for the doors to open at 8. Then, as soon as the game is over, they’ll be standing in line again. it you naven t ngurea it out yet, the establish ment being described is The Sidetrack tavern, die Studio 54 of Lincoln on football weekends. Once you get inside, you won’t see famous stars dancing to blaring disco music, but you will see a group of people, young and old, dressed in red and white. They’ll be slamming back beers and singing along to the tunes of the group Husker fans can’t help but love, The Sidetrack Band. “There is No Place Like Nebraska” is the song you’re almost sure to hear at some point in die bar. But that is by no means the group’s limit. Songs praising current players, such as Eric Crouch and Dominic Raiola, can be heard along with songs about former players Tommy Frazier and Ahman Green. The group has come up with music poking fun at everyone from ESPN announcer Lee Corso to the Colorado Buffaloes and Texas Longhorns. For 16 years, the group has been doing its thing in the Sidetrack Tavern, 935 O St For eight years before that, the bar was located in the Haymarket where Jabrjsco restaurant now stands. cTr jg “I’m getting ready for my 25% season in tifir ” I know some people might think ‘Why be so happy over a football game? ’ but I think it s symbolic." Joyce Durand owner of The Sidetrack bar,” said owner Joyce Durand, who is also the lead singer of The Sidetrack Band Durand a former liberal arts major who went to law school for a year, has been a bureaucrat and a director of budget and research at the pub lic affairs commission, worked for the Legislature and taught school. She decided to try her hand at running a bar 25 years ago when she opened The Sidetrack. She said she gave it its name because of its origi nal location close to the railroad tracks. Despite her other experiences and qualifica tions, she said she decided to open a bar because she thought it would be an enjoyable experience. “I thought I’d try doing this bar thing for a while until I found something I liked to do bet ter,” she said. “I never did find anything I like bet ter.” At least Durand said she thinks that’s the rea son. “Either thatdr I’m lazy,” she said. “I’m not sure what the real stocy is.” , = When someone owns a bar for 25 years, one might think they’d be able to identify some spe cific changes they have seen since the beginning, but not Durand. The only changes she’s seen are in the legal drinking age from the time she started and the fact that people today are more responsible drinkers than they were 25 years ago. “One thing that has not changed is the kids,” she said. “The kids are pretty much the same. “I think when you spend all of those decades behind a piano taking requests, then you get a bird’s eye view of society that is different from anyone else. “I’ve gone through short hair and long hair and tight clolhes and baggy clothes, but that’s just superficial stuff. I don’t think the people have changed.” Duratid said die bar has hag many notable people in it She recalled numerous Husker football play ers, a former boxing champion whose name she did not remember, the governor of Kansas and possibly the most memorable for her, former Nebraska Football Coach Bob Devaney, who was in die bar numerous times throughout the years. One particular time stjjtck out in Durand’s mind. Deian Lonowski/DN “He was in here just before he became bed fast,” she said. “We had just defeated Kansas. I saw him come iff; and I got down off the piano. He was feeble. “I asked him if he would like to come on the stage. H.e did, so we helped him on stage and put W ' f' Please see SIDETRACK on 10 World-renowned musician comes to Lincoln By Jason Hardy Staff writer When it comes to rhythm, people either have it or they don’t. Hearing people who don’t have rhythm play the drums is one of the most painful experiences ears can be put through. But hearing people who were born with rhythm perform can be some thing very magical. Today, Lincoln residents have the opportuni ty to hear one of the world’s most renowned and respected percussionists. Raag, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln organization for the promotion of Indian classi cal music and culture, is presenting a perform ance by Zakir Hussain, one of India’s top musi cians of the last century. This definitely falls under the category of “something very magical.” “This is a very big deal,” said Piyush Srivastav, an officer with the Raag organization. “Lincoln is very, very fortunate to have an event like this here. We’re really glad to bring such a big event.” Tonight’s performance, “Masters of Percussion 2000,” represents a lifetime of rhyth mic studying and training on the part of Hussain, who specializes in the 500-year-old instrument, Masters of Percussion 2000 with Zakir Hussain j WHERE: Lied Center for Performing Arts, 12th and P streets WHEN: tonight 7:30 p.m. COST: $15, $25 THE SKINNY: World re nowned, acclaimed percus sionist to perform in Lincoln. the tabla. It is said that Hussain’s father played the tabla for Hussain when he was only two days old. Hussain lived a life of rigorous musical train ing throughout much of his childhood. His daily routine started at 2 a.m. to practice before school. Practice continued after school, then homework and then sleep. By the age of 12, Hussain was already tour ing. By age 17, he had toured the world exten sively. Srivastav said tonight’s performance was a dream come true for him and the other members ofRaag. Please see HUSSAIN on 10