If you like the 9:30 Club, you'll love this
As someone who has seen hundreds of live shows, I can tell you that the 9:30 Club is one of my all-time favorite places to see live music.
Most bands who've played the Washington club will say the same thing. It has an outstanding sound system, great sight lines and one of the widest-ranging concert lineups of any club you'll find.
This year, the 9:30 Club turned 30, and to commemorate the occasion, Washington Post writer (and former music critic) J. Freedom du Lac put together a fascinating multimedia package chronicling the club's 30-year history, from its inception to the move to its current digs ...
They spoke with club founder Dody DiSanto, current co-owner Seth Hurwitz (pictured), as well as a ton of local and national bands, from Fugazi front man Ian MacKaye to Dave Grohl.
Du Lac has all the dirty little details, including the rat infestation and general stank of the early club to the hot tub parlor around the corner where concertgoers would make waves with their hook ups. Instead of a traditional story, it's a collection of quotes and video clips, and is definitely worth a look.
(Baltimore Sun archive photo)
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
Loved this when I saw it. Josh has great screen presence.
He had I were once groomsmen together. Brother rocked a tux and a kilt in the same outfit.
Posted by: Patchen | April 20, 2010 2:53 PM
I just wrote last week about my favorite trivia game, named "Is there a band alive that could entice me into the 9:30 club?"
I could think of one.
Posted by: The Baltimore Chop | April 20, 2010 9:58 PM
Let us all bow to the awesomeness of "The Chop"
Give me a break! Like Sam said, they have one of the widest-ranging line-ups around. If you look at their schedule and can't find one band in a given year that you like then you must not like music.
Posted by: Dave the wave | April 21, 2010 11:26 AM
Immediately read the dead tree article on Sunday. Got all misty-eyed since I remember dodging the legendary, massive rats, while avoiding the begging winos / drug addicts near the original building. I would literally run, in high-heeled boots, to best avoid the rats. The smell WAS brutal, esp in August.
Through all of it, I knew I was hearing bands that would soon become bigger, much bigger. It was this region's CBGBs, and I am so glad to have fond memories from the original 930 F St. club.
Posted by: Courtney B. | April 21, 2010 1:11 PM
Busted. I hate music.
Posted by: The Baltimore Chop | April 21, 2010 2:26 PM
Smashing Pumpkins were the "official" first gig for the new 9:30 Club. But they had a limited engagement night for the media a few days earlier that Too Much Joy played. I had the pleasure of going to that one. At the start of that show they had a giant cardboard pillar in the crowd to simulate the one in the old club, then removed it partway through the show. Love that place.
Posted by: Rich B | April 21, 2010 3:04 PM
@Rich B: Too Much Joy/Smashing Pumpkins would have been 160-y.o.-Patchen's dream concert.
Posted by: Patchen | April 22, 2010 8:58 PM
i saw smashing pumpkins there when it was WUST music hall ('93?). dang i feel old.
Posted by: unbelievaboh | April 23, 2010 7:22 AM
@CHOP - That was just my way of saying you're so hip that all of your favorite bands are apparently too cool to play the 9:30 Club.
Posted by: Dave the wave | April 23, 2010 3:08 PM