the Other Place owner, Jeff Bechtel, behind the bar in his Live Music Venue

Recently, I had the chance to meet Jeff Bechtel, owner of the Other Place, in downtown Lansing.  From the outside, to the uninformed, with its rather unassuming exterior, the Other Place looks like your typical lazy tavern.  But upon entering the door you know you are have entered a music mecca.  This place in rockin with a capital “R”.   The entryway is plastered with a huge poster announcing the dates of the  upcoming season of live music.  One more step brings you into the full bar area, where you will be immersed with amplified jukebox tunes…. I was greeted with the sounds of Guns and Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle.”

When I asked to interview Jeff about his bar, his background and his emphasis on live music, he simply pointed to the sign behind the bar that reads, “It’s all about the music.” And for this bar owner and his guests, enough said – that is the simple truth. His personal listening favorites include Pink Floyd and the Beatles.  Bechtel says you will seldom see a country band at the affectionately named thee O.P. Most bands that play are rock and classic rock.

One of Bechtel’s favorite cover bands, The Olson Dunn Band,  is going to appear at thee O.P. on Sunday, April 25th at 3 p.m.  Why are these guys his favorites? “Because they play tunes I don’t hear other cover bands playing and they play covers better than anyone else who plays here.”

Be sure to follow the dishntunes.com food n fun calendar for upcoming live music gigs appearing the O.P.