I find using tax payers money for a major corporation to be a bit of bullshit. Though I'm not from MoCo, this deal smells a lot. While yes I am a fan of the 9:30 club and of the Black Cat, I am trying very hard to be unbiased here.
It's a shame that somebody can't start their own music venue the way Dante or Seth did. I find it sad that Silver Spring and Montgomery County didn't put out a bid to see if anyone independently or involved in the local music scene would want to do a new venue. Instead, they just point blankly turned to the Applebee's or McDonald's equivalent of concert companies.
I am all about fair and open bids and government. Had Live Nation got this deal the right way, I would probably have no issues with it. But since they obviously didn't, it bothers me alot. It says a lot about local government and how they seem to be okay with big chain companies. It also makes me sad that this place probably won't have anything unique or special to offer. The original Fillmore is something unique, historical and special. But having a Fillmore in the dc area to me is like having a Chili's or some other chain restaurant, and I don't know about everyone else, but I like going to localized restaurants because they sometimes tend to be better than chains and more passionate about food. I'd like my music venues to also scream something geographically special (there is only one 9:30 Club in this world and it's the pride and joy I think of many people in Maryland and DC). I also love places that are passionate about the music. I think part of the reason I couldn't stand Nation is that it always had this feeling that it was just there for the money and not also because of the music. Actually I think I can't stand Ramshead Live! much is because it feels like an applebee's.
I just get this sinking feeling that this venue in Silver Spring is going to be all about money and not really the music. Also, I get the feeling it's going to be like Ramshead Live! in the terms of being a polished music venue that lacks much character.
Final thing, I don't think the 930 club has much of a monopoly. Live Nation already books stuff in this area. AC/DC at the Verizon Center is obviously a live nation deal. I've learned that if something happens at DAR, George Mason or Verizon Center that isn't posted on here, most likely it's a Live Nation event. I fear that Live Nation having their own music club in the area will be an issue because like somebody said earlier, they can harass bands with playing on their venues, because they own most venues in smaller cities.
ps- Venue Sizes...
Correct me if I'm wrong but I remember reading somewhere that Nation could hold 2,000 people. 9:30 club can hold about 960 people. Black Cat's main concert room can hold I think almost 700 people. Reacher Theatre can hold close to 1,000. Sonar can hold about 1,000 and Ramshead Live! can hold about 1,600.
