I.M.P. to exclusively book Rams Head Live
Bethesda-based promoter I.M.P., which currently books the 9:30 Club, has become the sole in-house promoter for Rams Head Live, officials announced yesterday.
That's a lot of industry speak, which actually means that new people are deciding which shows come to one of Baltimore's biggest clubs.
A few years ago, I.M.P. had a relationship with Sonar, and frequently booked concerts there. That was back when Lonnie Fisher ran the place. After Fisher left Sonar, so did I.M.P.
I.M.P. brings some of the best possible concerts to the 9:30 Club. And I think they'll beef up Rams Head's lineup.
But there's a little more to this than meets the eye ...
Back around the time I.M.P. (which is run by Seth Hurwitz) started working with Sonar, Hurwitz didn't get along so well with Rams Head Live -- at least professionally. In a 2005 piece written by Sun reporter Stephen Kiehl, Rams Head Live owner Bill Muehlhauser accused Hurwitz of using his influence to keep high profile shows out of Baltimore.
But in the years since then, Rams Head Live showed that Baltimore could sustain a top tier club. Sonar's success and a revitalized Pier Six Pavilion further proved that case. When I revisited the topic in an article last year, Hurwitz agreed that Baltimore's music scene was on the rise.
"There's no question that without the addition of these venues, people would either just come back to Washington or skip Baltimore," Hurwitz said. "It's definitely helped Baltimore's case."
I'm glad Muehlhauser and Hurwitz are teaming up. I think only good things can come of it.
(Photo of Rams Head Live by Christopher T. Assaf/Sun photographer)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
i'm glad we'll be getting bigger names to come to Ram's Head at the very least. it's been the kind of venue that Baltimore had so desperately needed for quite a while.
Posted by: Allan | December 11, 2008 3:15 PM
Good news (except for maybe the Tesla lovers). Thanks for passing along.
Posted by: jmw22 | December 11, 2008 6:11 PM
The problem with Ram's Head Live isn't so much a dearth of quality acts, but, rather, it's a [crappy] sounding venue. Getting better acts isn't going to make the place any better.
Posted by: Jeff Mewbourn | December 12, 2008 9:12 AM
It's going to be less big names not more. A lot of acts only play Baltimore or DC. I.M.P. is going to book 9:30 Club, which they own, before they book Ram's Head. Bad news.
Posted by: Punk Rock Geoff | December 15, 2008 10:09 PM
When will we know? When will the new booking folks make their mark, one way or the other?
Posted by: Calvert Street | December 17, 2008 2:10 PM
Seth and Rich certainly have the smarts to birng the best to Baltimore. More than I can saw about the folks at Ram's Head,,,,
Posted by: Susie Mudd | December 18, 2008 7:09 PM
Could this be Hurwitz' revenge for missing out on the Silver Spring performance space that will soon be a LiveNation (Fillmore) venue?
Posted by: Thunderbuck Ram | December 19, 2008 6:11 PM