Bring on the Blues

It's great news to get such a well-known concert venue in our neighborhood!

However, I worry about the effect of having a place owned by Clear Channel Communications on the 9:30 Club. With its relationship with record labels, Clear Channel could steer artists to House of Blues.

9:30 Club owner Seth Hurwitz told the Washington Post: "We will lose half our business, at least" due to the House Of Blues. That would be sad.

Posted By dl004d / At 12/1/06 9:23 AM

I'm sorry, but until the displaced clubs from SE are given the right to move to a new location, no other new clubs should be given the green light to build in our (or any other) neighborhood. Currently, all locations that they even think of moving into are immediately blocked by the ANC.

Posted By Rob / At 12/1/06 12:27 PM

I don't know enough about the music business to know what HOB's effect would be on the 9:30 club and the Post article had quotes predicting all options; good, bad and ok.

The HOB complex is more than just a club -- its a $120 million development. So, its an entirely different proposition than any of the SE clubs.

Posted By Sam Farmer / At 12/1/06 1:08 PM

A city on the brink of becoming a great city (as opposed to middle-of-the-road) should be able to support multiple venues. DC is on its way. Projects such as these are encouraging. Many people, even from Maryland and Virginia, are still afraid to come to the city. The label the city received in the late 90s ..as the murder capital still haunts people. People live in the city for its vibrancy&so lets let it be vibrant!

Posted By Scott / At 12/1/06 3:25 PM

HOB is the antithesis of vibrancy.....

Its a chain, no different than big box stores like Wal-Mart and Best Buy....

Why not have local investors open a venue similar in size to HOB,
that puts money back into the city instead of Clear Channel's pockets?

Clear Channel the epitome of vibrancy!!! HA!!!

Posted By tim / At 12/1/06 4:16 PM

I guess the Dixie Chicks won't be playing at the House of Clear Channel.

Posted By Charles / At 12/1/06 7:28 PM

Why so critical of the big box/chain stores? I guess Whole Foods has done nothing for Logan, Starbucks hasnt satisfied our coffee cravings, Jaleo should be ousted, Lucky Strike, Fado, CVS, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Clydes arent providing us the opportunity to eat drink and buy in the city & pumping money back into the neighborhood both directly and indirectly, by enabling smaller investors to also prosper. Home Rule, Go Mama Go, Matchbox, Zengo for example all benefit from the increased foot traffic. Logan Tavern has benefited so much they are opening another location in Columbia Heights (alongside Target). Should we stop West Elm from opening downtown too? Lets also remember the HOB development is more than just a concert venue. Mount Vernon Square is one of, if not the closest (maybe Dupont), neighborhoods to downtown. We should not be so frazzled when such large projects are announced; its all been part of the plan for years. Its also what helped our neighborhood grow & caused our property values to rise. I think we should look at this as an opportunity to enjoy more concerts and collect more MD & VA tax dollars to fund better services in our area.

Posted By Scott / At 12/1/06 8:56 PM

the 400 block of eye street and 5th st nw was supposed to be a nighclub zone back in 91. the brass rail relocated from 12th street and the rogue moved upstairs. to the south where the porn shop is was a gay after hours club called the exile.
the block got nasty when the brass rail closed and the pornshop opened. the male hookers arrived , the street tranny hookers got expelled from 10th and M and they moved to 4th and L. some lady got rich feeding the homeless at 5th and L.
and the 8 trailers jack evans and lydia fought so hard to get rid of are back.

During the 90's 5th and Eye was in our ANC which actually extend south to 4th and G. it wasnt until 2000 that we were pushed north into shaw.

HOB will be good for the neighborhood...

Posted By richard / At 12/1/06 9:02 PM