DC Welcomes IMP's New Music Venue: The Atlantis

Main Photo by Gary Gearhart

The 930 Club and I go way back. I have seen and photographed countless shows in this beloved venue. However, I missed out on the original 930 Club venue. I was a bit too young for shows in the 80’s but I can only imagine many people loved and appreciated this space. I have often considered myself part of the IMP family and was so grateful to be a part of these first few exciting days of the new Atlantis venue, located just next door to the 930 Club! While I was not lucky enough to win the lottery for the Foo Fighers show, I was able to attend and photograph the first of two soft opening nights featuring DC local bands. On Sunday, May 28th, Trouble Funk, along with Venray, broke in the stage, lighting and sound equipment in The Atlantis. In addition, These Subtle Sounds was invited to attend the press conference and ribbon cutting ceremony on the morning of the OFFICIAL opening with Foo Fighters performing later that night. Our photographer and writer, Gary Gearhart, attended the press conference. Please enjoy the following press review and soft opening review, along with some great photos of both events!

The Atlantis Press Conference

by Gary Gearhart

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl was in Washington, D.C. Tuesday morning to help celebrate the opening of the city’s newest music venue. Located just around the corner from the venerable 9:30 Club, The Atlantis is a 450-capacity room designed to pay homage to the original 9:30 Club.

I.M.P. Chairman Seth Hurwitz and Mayor Muriel Bowser also were on hand to participate in the guitar string cutting to celebrate the grand opening. I.M.P. is the concert promotion and production company formed by Hurwitz while still in high school with one of his teachers, Rich Heinecke.

The 9:30 Club opened its doors on May 31st, 1980, in the back of the first floor of The Atlantic building at 930 F St after the former owners stopped paying bands and closed their doors. The owner of the building, the late Jon Bowers, looked to his wife Dodi to do something with the room that wasn’t well suited for a music venue. With her vision and guidance, Dodi molded the small, rat-infested room with view-obstructing columns and ever-present stench into a haven for musicians and fans and helped build the blossoming D.C. underground music scene.

It became a place for people who didn’t necessarily fit societal norms. A place where a self-described misfit could fit in. A place where a kid from Northern Virginia would beg Dodi to let him in the club. A place where Dave Grohl decided he wanted to be a musician.

“I got to witness hundreds of bands that inspired me to become a musician myself,” Grohl said. “It was all the misfits, all the kids from the suburbs, and all the kids from town that found a family together in places like the old 9:30 Club. And hopefully, that tradition will continue where you’ll have kids from all over the D.C. metropolitan area come in and see bands that will inspire them to become musicians as well.”

I.M.P. began booking and promoting shows at the 9:30 Club in 1981 with their first show being The Fleshtones. They then bought the club in 1986 and continued operating the 9:30 Club at its original location until they moved to the current location on V Street in 1996. In addition to the 9:30 Club and The Atlantis, I.M.P. owns The Anthem and Lincoln Theater and operates Merriweather Post Pavillion.

During the ceremony, Hurwitz presented Grohl with a sculpture commissioned by the French sculptor Bernard Pras. Constructed entirely from found objects -many sentimental pieces from the 9:30 Club. When viewed from the side, it looks like a collage. Only when you look at it straight on can you see Dave Grohl playing his guitar. The piece will have a permanent home at The Anthem.

Contrary to previous reports, The Atlantis isn’t a replica of the original venue. Hurwitz says, “We wanted to replicate the form, feel, and the idea that you come to see bands that are going to be big.”

The first run of shows isn’t for bands that will be big. It is bands that are already big. Hurwitz booked 44 shows to kick off the inaugural run to commemorate the 44-year history of the 9:30 Club. Foo Fighters opened the new club Tuesday night, and The Fleshtones play the 44th show on September 30th (9:30, if you will).

All photos courtesy of Gary Gearheart except for the original 930 Club photo which is courtesy of the Library of Congress.

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The Atlantis – Soft Opening on 5-28-23

by Shantel Mitchell Breen

While not the official opening night, Sunday, May 28th, Trouble Funk took to the stage at the new Atlantis in preparation for the big opening night on Tuesday, May 30th. The energy and moods were high among everyone in the club that night. While the venue was still working out some minor kinks and the signage was not yet mounted above the entrance, the doors opened welcoming a line of eager visitors ready to check out the new space.

Smiles were on the faces of those first through the doors and guests wandered about exploring the multiple levels of the venue. The space is small and that is what makes it perfect. There is not a bad spot in the venue. The balcony space quickly filled as did the front of the stage. Venray and Trouble Funk both performed excellent sets and the sound was great!

The hallway to the bathroom was lined with old show flyers which I thought was really cool! Merch was on sale and several people picked up t-shirts and posters of the first 44 shows. The nice part about this venue is the rooftop bar. It is definitely a great spot to go in order to get some air or chill out during a show. There are plenty of tables and space for people to relax and mingle.

Shout out to the IMP staff for not only opening on time but successfully! Everything about the night was perfect and the venue is ready for GRAND opening on May 30th with the Foo Fighters!