House of Blues Eyeing DC

JonathanEH

Joined: May 02, 2005 at 05:01 AM UTC

Posts: 484

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 01, 2006 at 07:54 PM UTC #

Originally posted by sweetcell:

Originally posted by eros:

Originally posted by fatskippy:
hopefully they wont oversell shows the way the 9:30 club does
Which show are you bitter about not getting tickets to?
wait, i thought he was implying that the 930 sells too many tickets so the shows are too crowded - which i disagree with. yes, the club gets packed but never dangerously so. seeing a "big" band in a small club means that your personal space will be infringed upon, deal with it. i've never been to a show at the 930 where you couldn't get in to the main room or find a spot somewhere upstairs. just get there earlier if you want a certain spot.

I have not lived in this area very long (since August '05). I love the 9:30 and have been there a ton of times since moving here, but I definitely agree with the notion that the club oversells shows.

I have lived in many different parts of the country and seen big bands in small venues in a ton of different towns, and the 9:30 is the only place where the entire main floor can be consistently packed like sardines from corner to corner. Yes, the upstairs is less crowded, but usually not from anywhere that affords any view.

I'm not bitching, I deal with it, get there early, find a spot and stay glued to it, but I'm just pointing out that I do not things have to be that way.

I for one would be happy to pay a higher ticket price for a slightly reduced capacity. I know others would not agree with that, though. I know that a reduced capacity might mean getting shut out of things sometimes, which would suck, but I still think the experience would be better if capacity were reduced just a bit.

bags

Joined: October 30, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC

Posts: 8545

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 01, 2006 at 08:43 PM UTC #

Originally posted by Joe M.:
without the 3-step process that [Black Cat has] at the door.

If I have to waste another 3 seconds on those extra steps, I'm going to lose my mind. BOYCOTT.

Tom Servo

Joined: January 31, 2005 at 06:01 AM UTC

Posts: 345

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 01, 2006 at 09:20 PM UTC #

Originally posted by Bags:

Originally posted by Joe M.:
without the 3-step process that [Black Cat has] at the door.
If I have to waste another 3 seconds on those extra steps, I'm going to lose my mind. BOYCOTT.

It's not the extra steps that bothers me. It's the continued disappointment that the little ticket they give me isn't good for any raffle drawing. Or funnel cakes.

Sir HC

Joined: August 31, 2001 at 05:01 AM UTC

Posts: 4059

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 01, 2006 at 09:34 PM UTC #

Originally posted by Tom Servo:

Originally posted by Bags:

Originally posted by Joe M.:
without the 3-step process that [Black Cat has] at the door.
If I have to waste another 3 seconds on those extra steps, I'm going to lose my mind. BOYCOTT.
It's not the extra steps that bothers me. It's the continued disappointment that the little ticket they give me isn't good for any raffle drawing. Or funnel cakes.

I was always hoping they were drink tickets.

"First one on the house sir".

DeathFromAbove1979

Joined: November 29, 2006 at 06:01 AM UTC

Posts: 5038

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 01, 2006 at 09:53 PM UTC #

Is there any word on when it'll go up? i read that it says they're going to build it, but the deal isn't signed.. i've seen big bands do theatre's but they don't come through DC. My Chemical Romance is playing The Norva, down in Norfolk, sometime this month but they aren't coming to DC. not that i'd see them, but they're a pretyt big band and it seems like they don't want to play the 930 club, also The Raconteurs have done a string of shows down in Norfolk, Charlottesville, and at the Patriot Center [opening for dylan], but they still didn't hit 930. Maybe the House of Blues is a good thing for "bigger" acts. i think it would be a shame to see it steal acts from 930 and i LOVE 930 oh so much, i don't think this would end 930 but it would hurt it. i'd still go, but if The Raconteurs played the House…i'd go.

Rhett Miller

Joined: November 15, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC

Posts: 17762

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 01, 2006 at 10:06 PM UTC #

upcoming schedule for House of Blues (Atlantic City)….it should be calle House of Crap.

Sat 12/02/06 Adele Givens
Sat 12/02/06 Tony Rock

Sat 12/09/06 Ciara

Sun 12/10/06 Ice Cube

Wed 12/13/06 GWAR
Wed 12/13/06 The Red Chord

Sat 12/16/06 Chris Porter
Sat 12/16/06 Josh Blue
Sat 12/16/06 Ty Barnett

Fri 12/22/06 Jah Works
Fri 12/22/06 Mystic Rebel

Sat 12/23/06 Twisted Sister

Wed 12/27/06 All Time Low
Wed 12/27/06 Bayside
Wed 12/27/06 Dave Melillo
Wed 12/27/06 The Early November

Thu 12/28/06 Sommore

Fri 12/29/06 Benevento - Russo Duo
Fri 12/29/06 School Of Rock All Stars
Fri 12/29/06 Sticks And Stones
Fri 12/29/06 The Bouncing Souls
Fri 12/29/06 Weston

Sat 12/30/06 Trey Anastasio

Sun 12/31/06 Trey Anastasio

Sat 01/06/07 The Wailers

Fri 01/12/07 War

Sat 01/13/07 The Machine

Fri 01/26/07 "For The Love Of It"
Fri 01/26/07 Beres Hammond
Fri 01/26/07 Marcia Griffiths

Sat 01/27/07 Craig Ferguson

Sat 02/17/07 Slayer
Sat 02/17/07 Unearth

Sat 02/24/07 B.B. King

Fri 03/02/07 Gary Allan

Sat 03/03/07 Eddie Money

Fri 03/16/07 Neil Giraldo
Fri 03/16/07 Pat Benatar

sonickteam2

Joined: Unknown

Posts: 0

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 01, 2006 at 10:12 PM UTC #

Originally posted by Steny Hoyer, Pubic Destroyer:

Fri 01/12/07 War

:) hahaha.

bjmoore

Joined: October 04, 2006 at 05:01 AM UTC

Posts: 17

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 01, 2006 at 10:13 PM UTC #

Originally posted by DeathFromAbove1979:
Is there any word on when it'll go up? i read that it says they're going to build it, but the deal isn't signed.. i've seen big bands do theatre's but they don't come through DC. My Chemical Romance is playing The Norva, down in Norfolk, sometime this month but they aren't coming to DC. not that i'd see them, but they're a pretyt big band and it seems like they don't want to play the 930 club, also The Raconteurs have done a string of shows down in Norfolk, Charlottesville, and at the Patriot Center [opening for dylan], but they still didn't hit 930. Maybe the House of Blues is a good thing for "bigger" acts. i think it would be a shame to see it steal acts from 930 and i LOVE 930 oh so much, i don't think this would end 930 but it would hurt it. i'd still go, but if The Raconteurs played the House…i'd go.

The MCR show in Norfolk is for a radio show there, they havent announced a full tour yet. DC badly needs a 2500-3500 seat theater, because I think it does detract bands and tours from hitting the DC area. Today I saw that Taste of Chaos is completely ignoring the south mid-atlantic (from philly to atlanta). I like the venues around DC, but the 930 club is still too small a venue compared to other major markets. Plus, as many have pointed out, if an HOB is built downtown, 930 can become a specialty venue and cater to up and coming bands and indie groups. Not to mention that because 930 is a pretty well-known venue nationally, there will be groups who'll play 930 over HOB because of past experience (example Conor Oberst wont play Clear Channel venues, HOB is now clear channel owned, so forget him playing HOB DC, he'll play 930). Also, if they put it at the Old Convention Center, there are 3 metro stops within 3 blocks, so as long as the city kept the metro open late, parking may not be as big an issue because people can metro in easily.
This may not be such a bad thing.

sonickteam2

Joined: Unknown

Posts: 0

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 01, 2006 at 10:14 PM UTC #

HOLY CRAP

look at the house of blues in Chicago:

Sun 12/31/06 Matisyahu
Sun 12/31/06 The Tragically Hip

i hope thats an early / show….cause thats just WEIRD.

edit: i checked, its not..same show and its $145!!!!!

helicon1

Joined: December 06, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC

Posts: 469

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 01, 2006 at 10:51 PM UTC #

Originally posted by Joe M.:
What we need is a venue that will compete with a venue the size of the Black Cat mainstage…possibly a venue with better sound system and without the 3-step process that they have at the door.

I would agree with that process if you had to walk down a hall or something. But you get your circus ticket and then turn 90 degrees and present it to the usher who is standing right next to the person who gave you the circus ticket.

HoyaSaxa03

Joined: March 22, 2004 at 06:01 AM UTC

Posts: 7053

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 01, 2006 at 10:54 PM UTC #

Originally posted by bjmoore:

Originally posted by DeathFromAbove1979:
[qb]Also, if they put it at the Old Convention Center, there are 3 metro stops within 3 blocks, so as long as the city kept the metro open late, parking may not be as big an issue because people can metro in easily.
This may not be such a bad thing.
"uh yeah, hi, this is joe blow at house of blues … ummm, we're expecting a couple of thousand people to come to our club, and we were wondering if you could just go ahead and run metro for a few more hours every night now"

:roll:

Rhett Miller

Joined: November 15, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC

Posts: 17762

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 01, 2006 at 10:54 PM UTC #

See what happens when you let House of Blues take over?

Originally posted by le sonick:

edit: i checked, its not..same show and its $145!!!!!

sweetcell

Joined: July 18, 2006 at 05:01 AM UTC

Posts: 22608

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 01, 2006 at 11:49 PM UTC #

part of this inflated price is due to the fact this is a new year's eve show… all venues do this. even the 930 club is in on the take: the Greyboy Allstars are playing both dec 30 and 31, yet the shows cost $35 vs $55 (i suspect this is fueled in part by greater demand for entertainment that night so one can charge more, and bands and staff wanting more to work that night)

Doctor Doom

Joined: April 23, 2001 at 05:01 AM UTC

Posts: 3745

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 01, 2006 at 11:58 PM UTC #

ANCs may be a pain in the ass, but they represent community power at its most basic. May they royally fuck up House of Blues ever coming to the District.

Some of you guys keep saying "competition is good" like it's some kind of mantra, without any idea of what you are talking about. What huge national chains do is come into a new market and pulverize the local businesses with the help of their infinitely deeper pockets. In effect they then create a partial or total monopoly, which enables them to jack up prices. Monopoly is bad.

twangirl

Joined: October 24, 2001 at 05:01 AM UTC

Posts: 704

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 02, 2006 at 12:09 AM UTC #

Originally posted by They call me Doctor Doom.:
What huge national chains do is come into a new market and pulverize the local businesses with the help of their infinitely deeper pockets.

My theory on our already-decimated Chinatown is that within 5 years it'll be nothing but that arch, and a P.F. Chang's. Oh and Hooters will still say Hooters in Chinese on the front.

vansmack

Joined: October 04, 2001 at 05:01 AM UTC

Posts: 19725

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 02, 2006 at 12:17 AM UTC #

Originally posted by They call me Doctor Doom.:
Some of you guys keep saying "competition is good" like it's some kind of mantra, without any idea of what you are talking about. What huge national chains do is come into a new market and pulverize the local businesses with the help of their infinitely deeper pockets. In effect they then create a partial or total monopoly, which enables them to jack up prices. Monopoly is bad.

Well put. This isn't the Black Cat moving to a bigger space or Snailhook working the rounds with small shows in the area building up a nest egg to compete with the 9:30 for 2500 person shows. That's competition.

If you liked what Clear Channel did to the radio stations from 1996 on, you're gone love what Live Nation does to the DC concert scene….

MindCage

Joined: May 14, 2001 at 05:01 AM UTC

Posts: 1282

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 02, 2006 at 12:29 AM UTC #

Originally posted by twangirl:

Originally posted by They call me Doctor Doom.:
What huge national chains do is come into a new market and pulverize the local businesses with the help of their infinitely deeper pockets.
My theory on our already-decimated Chinatown is that within 5 years it'll be nothing but that arch, and a P.F. Chang's. Oh and Hooters will still say Hooters in Chinese on the front.

I've already been saying this for the last 2 years. Ever since the movie theater and all the other stores took over. The only thing that's Chinatown is the arch and maybe the express NYC bus ;) It's going to be a sad day when Chinatown Express Restaurant goes bye-bye, but thankfully not when that CVS goes. That has to be the worst one ever!

I will admit, that theater is nice and convenient compared to that old dinosaur at Union Station. I can do without Clyde's and Strike.

MindCage
Mindless Faith
Deep6 Productions

Doctor Doom

Joined: April 23, 2001 at 05:01 AM UTC

Posts: 3745

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 02, 2006 at 01:08 AM UTC #

Chinatown's always been a blink-and-miss-it kinda place, but I do remember back in the 1980s you'd be leaving the 9:30 club around 3 or 4 am (on a two band night both the opener and the headliner often played two sets, into the early morning). You'd pop uptown to Big Wong or somesuch place up on H Street, and it would not only still be open, but totally packed with Chinese families who did shiftwork, eating their middle-of the night lunch. A little green tea and an incredibly good, cheap Chinese meal were often just the ticket after a long night of sweat and loud music.

DeathFromAbove1979

Joined: November 29, 2006 at 06:01 AM UTC

Posts: 5038

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 02, 2006 at 01:50 AM UTC #

Originally posted by bjmoore:

Originally posted by DeathFromAbove1979:
Is there any word on when it'll go up? i read that it says they're going to build it, but the deal isn't signed.. i've seen big bands do theatre's but they don't come through DC. My Chemical Romance is playing The Norva, down in Norfolk, sometime this month but they aren't coming to DC. not that i'd see them, but they're a pretyt big band and it seems like they don't want to play the 930 club, also The Raconteurs have done a string of shows down in Norfolk, Charlottesville, and at the Patriot Center [opening for dylan], but they still didn't hit 930. Maybe the House of Blues is a good thing for "bigger" acts. i think it would be a shame to see it steal acts from 930 and i LOVE 930 oh so much, i don't think this would end 930 but it would hurt it. i'd still go, but if The Raconteurs played the House…i'd go.
The MCR show in Norfolk is for a radio show there, they havent announced a full tour yet. DC badly needs a 2500-3500 seat theater, because I think it does detract bands and tours from hitting the DC area. Today I saw that Taste of Chaos is completely ignoring the south mid-atlantic (from philly to atlanta). I like the venues around DC, but the 930 club is still too small a venue compared to other major markets. Plus, as many have pointed out, if an HOB is built downtown, 930 can become a specialty venue and cater to up and coming bands and indie groups. Not to mention that because 930 is a pretty well-known venue nationally, there will be groups who'll play 930 over HOB because of past experience (example Conor Oberst wont play Clear Channel venues, HOB is now clear channel owned, so forget him playing HOB DC, he'll play 930). Also, if they put it at the Old Convention Center, there are 3 metro stops within 3 blocks, so as long as the city kept the metro open late, parking may not be as big an issue because people can metro in easily.
This may not be such a bad thing.

i dont think it will be a terrible thing for 930, it might take a few shows away, but i think it will still get a decent chunk and im positive it wont turn 930 Club into the new Black Cat, and it might not take ANY business away from the Black Cat, unless HOB makes extra long freedom fries.

PigIron

Joined: November 16, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC

Posts: 496

Re: House of Blues Eyeing DC December 02, 2006 at 04:41 AM UTC #

I don't care if they come. The HOB is just another place for shows. I love the 9:30 and always hope the bands I want to see end up going there, but I've been to HOB and as far as I'm concerned, a good club show is a good club show no matter where it is. Yea, its cheesy-looking, but who cares once the band comes on. If the beer prices are OK, the view of the stage is clear, and the sound is good, I'll go to a show anywhere. A DC HOB would likely be similar to the 9:30 (I'm guessing - HOB are different sizes from city to city) except with a flashy interior and a not-as-cool staff. But that wouldn't stop me from seeing a great band there.