815 V Street, NW
From a press release:
“Since first opening its doors 45 years ago on May 30, 1980, the 9:30 Club has hosted more than 11,000 artists and nearly 8 million fans. That’s a lot of music, and a lot of memories. That’s more than 11,000 nights of irreplicable experiences; unique performances and interactions that each strike like lightning. And while you can’t bottle lightning, you can photograph it.
Jim Saah has been doing just that for almost as long as the 9:30 Club has been open, capturing his first show at the original 9:30 Club on October 17th, 1982. When people picture the original 9:30 Club, with all of its grit and grime and myth and music, one name is synonymous with those images, and that’s Jim.
“After sundown, ’80s D.C. belonged to the punks and outsiders,” said Saah. “The music and community were intoxicating, and the 9:30 Club was home base for it all. I must’ve photographed hundreds of shows there. I love experiencing the music while making visual art from it. I was more tuned into the whole scene through documenting it. It made me feel alive.”
Jim hasn’t stopped shooting since, so when The Atlantis, a near replica of the original 9:30 Club and a living, breathing tribute to the spirit and shape of his old stomping grounds was announced, he knew he had to see it. When he learned about The Atlantis’ historic inaugural 44-show run of massive underplays kicked off by Foo Fighters on May 30, 2023, he knew he had to capture it.
“Sometimes you see these exhibits with photos of music legends and can’t imagine how someone so talented happened to capture all that,” said Seth Hurwitz, chairman of I.M.P. and owner of the 9:30 Club. “Well, we have our very own version of that here in DC. Jim Saah is an amazing talent that has chronicled music here for decades…and is still doing it! The same guy that took pictures of these bands the first time around is the one that took them here, for their return.”
44x44x44 – A NEW BACKSTAGE PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION AT THE ATLANTIS
A sampling of Jim’s legendary work from back in the day lines The Atlantis’ backstage hallway that leads to the stage, while a newly unveiled exhibit in the backstage stairwell, 44x44x44, distills that grand opening series into a single shot per show. This exhibit honors those 44 years of 9:30 Club history through 44 incredible photographs.
“Witnessing those first shows at The Atlantis, from the intimacy of an acoustic set to the raucousness of a rock gig, showed that this ‘new’ club shines through it all,” said Saah. “It’s incredible to see the spirit of the old 9:30 alive and well here.”
Jim captured every one of those 44 shows, except three. Ben Eisendrath, D.C. photojournalist and one of I.M.P. ‘s house photographers, filled in for those.
Now, for a limited time, The Atlantis invites fans to go behind-the-scenes for a rare peek backstage with two public viewings of the 44x44x44 exhibit on June 26th and July 13th featuring an exclusive look at The Atlantis’ dressing rooms, access to limited-edition 45th anniversary merchandise, and the chance to enjoy a drink while being transported back to 9th & F St. NW circa 1980 via The Atlantis’ historic rooftop re-creation. Space is limited, and first-come, first-served RSVPs are available here.
Can’t wait that long? Sign up here for I.M.P.’s free loyalty program, Friends with Benefits, for an exclusive opportunity to RSVP for a special showing on June 18th. Plus, Friends with Benefits members receive free shipping for online merch orders, access to exclusive pre-sales, loyalty points that can be exchanged for tickets, venue merch, and refreshments, and a free 9:30 Cupcake for their birthday. For more information, visit https://www.930.com/friends-with-benefits/.
THE 9:30 CLUB BOOK REISSUED AND EXPANDED
In celebration of the 9:30 Club’s 45th Anniversary, the long sold-out coffee table book 9:30 – A Time and a Place will be available for purchase once again. This limited edition expanded reissue features more than 100 new pages, capturing the full-circle creation of The Atlantis along with exclusive photos and artist messages from its grand opening series of 44 shows. The updated edition also includes a complete chronological listing of every show ever played at the 9:30 Club — from the original F St. location to its current home at 815 V St. — something fans have been requesting since the release of the first edition. A heartfelt memorial page honors the late Shawn “Gus” Vitale, the 9:30 Club’s beloved lead sound engineer, with a tribute written by Ian MacKaye of Fugazi and Dischord Records.
Fans can head here to pre-order their copy today, browse special new vintage 9:30 Club 45th anniversary merch here, as well as in-person at The Atlantis’ public exhibition viewings on June 26th and July 13th. Space is limited, and first-come-first-served RSVPs are available here.”