Friday Question of the Day – What was the Best Concert You Ever Attended at the 9:30 Club?

Last month we spoke about concerts we wish we had seen but today let’s talk about one’s we actually have. In honor of the 9:30 Club’s 35th anniversary and 20 years at the current location – what was the greatest show you’ve seen at either spot? I’ll narrow it down to three – Wilco (when it snowed) I think Jan. of 2004 or something like that – was spectacular. Drive By Trucker July 2005 epic. And the first time I saw Thievery Corporation Live my mind was blown (blown to the extent I have no idea what year it was.) So many favorites, really hard to narrow down – anyway try! What was your number 1 or top 3 favorite shows you’ve seen there?

Side note: Anyone get tickets to the “9:30 WORLD’S FAIR” EXHIBITION?

From a press release:

“The 9:30 World’s Fair exhibition runs through January 9 (All tickets are gone). The World’s Fair will be an all-encompassing funhouse including a re-creation of the old 9:30 Club, a tour of the backstage area, a mosh pit re-enactment, rare archival photos and videos and a multimedia cube that simulates a live concert experience. In addition, a tattoo artist will be on-site offering free 9:30 logo tattoos and attendees can get custom-screened T-shirts featuring old show posters.

The Official Hall Of Records—a massive library featuring in chronological order a record or CD for each show, in the order in which the act played the Club since it opened in 1980—will debut tonight at the 9:30 World’s Fair and will continue as a permanent installation. The vast majority of the albums in the Hall of Records are real, though there are some with the 9:30 logo that the Club is still looking to acquire. If fans have the actual album that the library is missing, the 9:30 Club will trade them for free tickets. Each night, the library will grow with the albums of that night’s headliner.

The 9:30 Club’s oral and pictorial history book—celebrating the Club’s 35th anniversary and 20 years in the current location—is now available. The book will feature never-before-seen photos, stories and firsthand accounts of experiences during the Club’s tenure from legends including Ian MacKaye (Minor Threat, Fugazi, Dischord Records), Dave Grohl, Ted Leo, Thurston Moore, HR Hudson, Chuck D of Public Enemy, the Club’s current co-owners Seth Hurwitz and Rich Heinecke and scores more. Fans can buy the limited first edition with 3D hardcover book at www.930book.com.

Founded by Dody DiSanto and Jon Bowers, the 9:30 Club originally opened in 1980 in downtown Washington, D.C. The Club’s name was derived from its street address, 930 F St NW. In 1996, co-owners Rich Heinecke and Seth Hurwitz moved the Club to its current location at the eastern end of the U Street Corridor. Gracing its stage have been legends Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Al Green, Nirvana, and James Brown; recently-discovered acts like Hozier, Kacey Musgraves, Leon Bridges, Twenty One Pilots, and Halsey; and arena acts looking for an intimate club play such as Justin Timberlake, Jack White, Pink, the Smashing Pumpkins and Foo Fighters. It is the most attended club of its size in the world. The Club has received the highest accolades from some of the most notable names in music—Rolling Stone, Billboard and Pollstar have all named 9:30 Nightclub of the Year.”