Walkmen
Da Club
We’re all from DC, at least for me its still feels like home there. The 930 club is probably the club we’ve spent the most collective time in. I haven’t been in 10 years, but I think I still smell a little like it.
In some form or another we’ve played at the club probably 50 times, starting in around 1988. The F Street version was where I first saw real bands play. I saw the Mummies open for I think Mudhoney there. The guy would swing his console organ (not a euphemism) out over the crowd and it seemed incredibly dangerous. Not in that ‘rock and rock can be dangerous’ way but actually dangerous. Everyone was wishing he’d stop doing it. I saw the Jesus Lizard tear the place apart. As 13 year olds, the first version of our band opened for Lenny Kravitz there. And a lot of high school Billy Bragg concerts.
When I was 17 or so I didn’t want to go to college, I really wanted to be in a band. Or something. We got this show opening for the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, which was pretty big for us. We got to hang out with them backstage and everything. They were loud guys and they’d yell stuff like ‘where the FUCK is the pizza” at their tour manager and laugh and laugh. They talk about Boston and stuff…and all the great 3rd wave ska bands they loved. Anyway, when I got home I told my parents I’d changed my mind and I didn’t want to be in a band anymore. I guess what I’m saying is a lot of important stuff happens at the 930 club. And a lot of promises are reneged on. You wouldnt want to miss that would you? Join us for 1 last run please…
Announcement tomorrow.
xx Paul Maroon, The Walkmen
