House of Blues Wants D.C. Location

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THE HOUSE OF BLUES, the Los Angeles-based national chain of live-music venues, may be opening an oupost in the District — and that's not music to the ears of smaller and independent music promoters who fear they'll be run out of town. According to The Post's Cecilia Kang, the House of Blues has a non-binding agreement with the National Capital Revitalization Corp. to develop a site east of Mount Vernon Square at 5th and I streets NW, a few minutes walk from the Washington Convention Center, Chinatown, Gallery Place and all of the new condos going up in Mount Vernon Triangle.

Meanwhile, up at 815 V St. NW, Seth Hurwitz — who owns the 9:30 Club and MP Productions concert promotions — says this: "We will lose half of our business, at least." And Hurwitz's D.C. Council member, Ward 1's Jim Graham, wonders who the NCRC is really looking out for.

While the House of Blues' exact effect on local clubs, ticket prices and other promotions dynamics is hard to predict, in the past half year, a collection of new music venues and bars on H Street NE has opened to the music-loving public. If a House of Blues outpost opens in the nation's capital, it will be interesting to see if the District's ever-so-particular cadre of music hipsters would ever embrace the ever-so-corporate Clear Channel-owned venue. But perhaps we're looking too far ahead. Many music scenesters haven't warmed up to the emerging — and still somewhat inaccessible — H Street scene yet.

» "House Of Blues Seeks a D.C. Home" [WaPo]