New in Town: Concert venue and karaoke bar opens in Lansing Mall

“OverDrive is a multigenre music venue. We want to bring in the different things that are out there.”

That’s the mission statement of Don Johnson, an artist manager, promoter and co-owner of OverDrive and Hit & Run Karaoke in the Lansing Mall. The newly opened live music venue and karaoke bar has taken over the vacancy left behind by Tequila Cowboy and is gunning to host a wider range of acts, and become more accessible than its predecessor by providing cheaper shows and cheaper drinks.

“Our well drinks start at $4. My 12-ounce beers are $3; the 16-ouncers are $4. That’s in line with the blue-collar class around here. I think our biggest menu item here is $15 or $16.”

The food available at OverDrive includes smoked turkey legs, brisket burgers and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, which put Gouda and bacon in the mix.

“Everything’s got to be fresh, because I hate frozen food,” Johnson said.

Unlike Tequila Cowboy, OverDrive doesn’t face the limitations of being an exclusive genre-themed bar.

“Instead of just country, which we’ll continue to do — we have line-dancing lessons Wednesdays and Saturdays before the country bands go on — Friday nights will have a mix of classic rock, hair bands, pop, just a little bit of everything. Eventually, on Thursdays, we’ll get jazz and blues in here too,” Johnson said.

Since opening in late-November, OverDrive has hosted a handful of bands, including Tyler Farr, Sadie Bass and StarFarm. Johnson said those shows sold 800 to 1,000 tickets each. Bigger names coming to OverDrive in the future include Sierra Shame, Dec. 13 and 14, Your Generation, Dec. 20, and Warrant, March 13.

In the meantime, guests can check out Hit and Run Karaoke, which is open seven days a week. Johnson has made the karaoke stage larger, and is considering eventually hosting open mic nights.

OverDrive is the third venue Johnson has been involved with. He worked with the Quincy line-dancing bar Stampede as a bartender and DJ through the ’90s, and eventually took over as owner from 2004 to 2006. From 2014 to 2016, Johnson helped operate Backroads Saloon in Marshall as co-owner, before selling his share to a business partner.

Johnson has no reservations about operating within the Lansing Mall, despite recent closures and relocations that saw the mall lose Houlihan’s and Chipotle.

“In fact, the location kind of helps me. The parking lot is so large that we’ll have a section where we’ll be able to hold outdoor shows,” Johnson said. “We’re close to I-69, we’re close to the hotels. There are restaurants around here that will benefit from it as well.”

OverDrive

Wednesday-Saturday, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Hit and Run Karaoke 

Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.

Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday-Saturday, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

5330 W. Saginaw Hwy., Lansing

(517) 499-6183, overdrivelansing.com