July 18, 2006
The Last Dance: The End of Buzz, and Nation
Written by DCist contributor E.K. Eckert
The lights are just coming up in the main room at Nation Night Club, despite the sun having risen an hour earlier, and Scott Henry is spinning his final record, a remix of Donna Summer's "Last Dance." People all around us are crying. Lots of people, and lots of tears. This is, honestly and not in the cliché sense, the end of an era. Before Nation is to be razed to allow for development around the new baseball stadium, Buzzlife productions held its last party this past Friday, "The Closing Party." Buzzlife has held events at Nation on Friday nights since 1996, and has hosted all the top DJs in the world, including Sasha, Digweed, Paul Oakenfold, and of course, local greats Feelgood and Scott Henry. To the electronic dance music (EDM) community in the D.C. area, the loss of Nation is more than the loss of a night club, it's the loss of a second home.
Throughout these ten years, Buzzlife — with its weekly parties Sting, Buzz, and the latest incarnation Cubik — has created a community of likeminded individuals all communing for the love of a beat, the drop of a thick bass line, or the solid four to the floor rhythm these nights deliver. Dancers, DJs, and wallflowers alike came week after week to hear their favorite DJs. In the process, people fell in love not only with the music, but also with the venue and with one another. Buzz — and Nation — were key players in developing this prominent music scene in D.C.
Over and over throughout the night, we heard people starting stories with "when I started coming here seven years ago…", "I used to come here every Friday for four years starting in 1996", or, from more recent club-goers, laments of, "what am I going to do with myself on Friday nights?" While the music, and an all-star DJ lineup, brought some people in, the chance to reunite with old friends and say goodbye to the atmosphere of Nation and the party Buzzlife production throws, was the big draw for this sold out crowd.
On a personal note, I came to the Nation, after a three year hiatus, to pay homage to the club that offered me my first taste of independence, the “big city” and an accepting community. My first party was as an 18-year-old in 1999. The Buzz event and the friends I made there, allowed me to come out of my shell, let my hair down, and dance with abandon for the first time. Unlike other clubs in the area, Buzz has no particular dress code, said or unsaid, and the mentality that goes with that is astounding. The friends I met through Nation, as I’m sure others have, ran the gamut from Ph.D. students, to art students, to professional bartenders, to free-loving hippies, to post-rock hipsters. The atmosphere of acceptance was just as strong this past Friday as it was years ago; I saw people from all walks of life dancing together as if they had been known each other their entire lives.
DCist was particularly pleased to note that Buzzlife remained true to its roots and kept the show low-key and rather "normal" feeling. There were no pyrotechnics, no fire dancers or crazy lightshows, no real fanfare or extravaganza of any sort — other than the talent behind the decks and the energy being exerted by both the audience and the Buzzlife staff. Just the way people wanted it.
Nation, a rather dirty and dark affair, despite having been renovated in the past couple of years, has kept its gritty and industrial ambience, which was in full-effect on Friday night. The floor was a muddy mess under the feet of over 2,000 partygoers, the bathrooms crowded and in shambles, the walls and ceilings painted their usual black. Nation is like your favorite pair of shoes — worn, fraying at the edges, colors fading and not quite matching with anything you own, but more comfortable and far easier to dance in than any new additions.
The music at "The Closing Party" was amazing, the DJs were enthusiastic and fed off the crowd's energy throughout. With three rooms and over 30 DJs (full line up available here), including the well-known acts DJ Dan, Rabbit in the Moon, Scott Henry, Feelgood, DB, John B, and Utah Saints, we could only make it to hear so many perform across the many rooms and floors Nation has to offer. Our favorites included a fresh and innovative set from Drum and Bass pioneer DB, a fun and upbeat set from Feelgood, and a strong performance from Rabbit in the Moon. Known for their live shows, they delivered this DJ set with an unrivaled energy. We were surprised to hear Micro deliver a rather hard House set, and were particularly moved by Scott Henry's emotional set and speech at the end of the show. The end was no end for him, as he continued to play across the street at club EDGE until 3 p.m. the next day.
As Nation shuts its doors, DCist hopes that Buzzlife and the electronic dance music community in DC find a new, equally urban and industrial feeling home to call their own on Friday nights. On the official Buzzlife web site, Scott Henry is quoted as saying "While we are saddened to see our home of so many years close, this is a very exciting time for Buzzlife. Our time in DC is no where near its end and we have exciting things planned for 2006 and beyond." For the sake of all folks who made it out to Nation on Friday night, (and all those who wanted to, but couldn't), DCist is hopeful that those "exciting things" happen sooner, rather than later, and that they live up to the high standard set by the folks of Buzzlife over at Nation for the past ten years.
Images by Nat Meo
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It's distressing that Nation couldn't be calculated into the new developments. It's just this sort of alternative use that that area is going to need to become vibrant. The sad thing is that they're going to be sitting there in five years or so scratching their heads trying to come up with nightlife options besides 81-days-a-year baseball.
It just seems like a take all the trees put up a tree museum situation.
Nation will be missed. I hope Buzzlife can find another venue of equal or greater size/quality. In the meantime there are other good events to check out, for example the bi monthly Summer Sessions parties at Gateway Park, Arlington, Silver Spring's Gallery has been bringing in world class House music acts as well, and of course Club 5 in DC is always host to some slammin' parties. My hope is that one of these places will offer up a night where I can hear Derrick Carter play an extended 5 hour set like the one at Nation in the month of September about 4 years ago.
I miss Nation nightclub already! I wish, someday, that a dance nightclub owner will not only own the club but also own the land underneath the club. This would bring some permanance to a venue as popular as Nation nightclub.
There are so many world-class dance nights out there whose operational lifetime has been so much greater than Nation nightclub.
Hell, maybe that should be a future endeavour (sp?) for me to be a part of! I want to see DC stay on the world map for international dance music culture!
Way to mention Alchemy or Velvet, the other two major events at Nation. Not like they're important. I guess only candy kids hepped up on E and meth are worth talking about.
Nation was arguably the best venue in this area and it's sad that the Navy Yard area has become the next victim of overdevelopment.
Nation is one of only 2 spots officially declared "off-limits" by the Pentagon for all military personnel in the DC region. The other is a stretch of the Potomac River near Great Falls.
One down...
What does that mean?
Nation is one of only 2 spots officially declared "off-limits" by the Pentagon for all military personnel in the DC region. The other is a stretch of the Potomac River near Great Falls.
One down...
--------------------------------------------------------
So what do you mean?
I was in the military for 9 years, and I resented the fact the U.S. government wanted to treat me like a little kid. I am a grown man. If I wanted a babysitter, I should not have been in the U.S. Army. People should be able to act like adults. If you are old enough to fight in a war, you are old enough to stay away from drugs.....and by your own decision.
If you are not looking for drugs and such, then you will not use them. People are more attracted to what is off-limits simply because of the fact that it is off-limits. If you are over 18 and in the military, you can and should make your own decisions. If you don't make good decisions, then you should face the consequences. In the end, it still should be the persons choice, not the babysitting Federal Government.
Nation was a great place to dance and enjoy electronic music.
Over and out.
Nice write-up.
I left the Nation scene in the past several years ago as I transitioned from closer-to-30 to closer-to-40. I'll never be as sad about the closing of Nation as I was about the closing of Tracks, but Nation will be missed.
After the closure of the original Buzz venue and the loss of Tracks, Nation was the only true big-black-box club for househeads into the MUSIC in DC. Now all that is left is the odd small venue experience which is fine (Blowoff is exceptional), but nothing replaces the BBB experience.
Now mostly what's left is the velvet-rope-bottle-service bullshit clubs that, well...yuck, ick, etc. "Psychic pollution".
FYI
Alchemy has already found a new venue in DC and will return on 8/3 at Club Eden -- formerly known to all as DC Tunnel off NY Ave in NE. Apparently the owners are working (i.e., investing lots of money) w/ the various event promoters (Buzz?!!!?) to make the space much much better. Also many of the current staff at Nation will move to the new spot. The party will continue... soon.
FWIW I never really took to Nation as a venue -- I always preferred Tracks. No doubt Club Eden and other as of yet unknown future hot spots will have their own loyal (fanatical!) following -- just like Nation does (or did) now.
Subject-verb agreement. Yeah I know about that.
Feh to Nation. Now Red, there's a club I miss.
I wasn't able to go the last show.
An old friend from my Wahoo (and club going) days and I went the friday after the 4th. We proceeded this by going through my box of rave and club flyers. I still have my very first Buzz flyer. When they were at a club on O Street SE. And several of the places they were at in between, before settling at Nation (nee Capitol City Ballroom). By 1996, the party had been going on for 3 years, actually.
To say I grew up there is not an understatement.
It's sad that no one came forward above some local ANCs to say, "Hey this is part of DC entertainment that is worth saving." Instead we can look forward to more packaged entertainment concepts like we have around the MCI center. I assume that someone is already planning for another Hooters or a Dave and Busters. The powers that be in this city will not be happy until every last corner of DC is "family-friendly" and totally and utterly plastic. It's a sad, sad state of affairs.
The writing was on the walls when they took down Tracks. I should have seen it then, and stayed away. Unfortunately for me, I thought that was an anomaly.
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As for the Pentagon policy, that never seemed to affect all of the Navy boys that I knew that came up from Virginia Beach when they were on shore leave. They had tons of money, fly clothes, and were all great dancers.
Buck up DC1974, change isn't always bad. Near SE was long overdue for a makeover. In the not so distant future, a far more vibrant, mixed use neighborhood will exist where hardly anything worthwhile (save for one or two decent warehouse clubs) was before (check out the excellent jdland.com site for details). Most of the current promoters will move to newer and, in some cases, better venues around town. NY Ave is clearly evolving into DC's next warehouse club district (w/ Avenue, FUR, Dream -- the biggest club ever in DC, Club Eden, and some soon to open "Adult" spots nearby). What's more this area will hopefully blend nicely with the evolving H Street NE bar/club scene. The good news is that DC (unlike NYC these days) still has ample room to accomodate such change.
Any place that spun records instead of paying for live musicians should have been shut down for BAD TASTE instead of just urban renewal. I can't think of anything LAMER than listening to records. that's what an ipod is for.
D
Buzzlife featured many live electronic music acts, and many of these DJs play their own records. Know what you're discussing before you discuss. Not everybody wants to limit themselves to live bands and pay out the ass to see them. I do admit the Prince show earlier this year at Nation was sick though. Worth every penny.
Hmm. I don't believe it. I personally think those clubs and warehouses could have been the cornerstone of a wonderful mixed use neighborhood design district and lofts. Think South of Market and Potrero Hill neighborhoods in San Francisco -- home to such little operations as SEGA USA, the Gap, and the SF Museum of Modern Art -- all the while having fantastic restaurants and create clubs and bars. Trendy lofts and good old fashioned warehouses as live/work situations. And all within a stones throw of one of the best (if not THE best) ballpark in Major Leagues: AT&T Park.
I just think that the Southeast waterfront is going to be as corporate and bland -- Disneyland-esque -- and not at all reflective of the neighborhoods historic identity. Or DC itself.
I hope I AM surprised though, if I make in DC that long.
I had to laugh at the comment about 'overdevelopment' claiming the SE waterfront area. Maybe someday but hardly just yet.
From my first visit back in '99 until last Friday night, Buzz/Cubik/Sting has always been one of my favorite places to be on a Friday night in Washington, DC. In a town that exudes exclusivity, Nation on a Friday night was all about equality. It didn't matter what you wore, who you were with, or your dancing skills, it was about sharing the dance floor with thousands of strangers and dancing to the finest electronic music in the world.
As we were about to leave last Friday night, I asked my friends if I could take the long way out. For the last time, I slowly made my way around the club to take in the finality of Nation's closure: the friends I've made, the vivid memories, the best electronic dance music, the dancing- all of it! And as we walked outside, I said myself, "there will never been another place like this again."
Yet there is still fine electronic music to be found in Washington, DC and in venues without dress codes. This Wednesday night at Club 5 will be UpFront Industries' monthly drum & bass party with UK producers/djs Q-Project and Cyantific, and on Thursday night the beautiful DJ Flight from BBC Radio 1Xtra will be spinning some fresh tracks upstairs at Dragonfly. The beat does go on, but no longer at 1015 Half St. SE....
I too am surprised at the lack of a mention of Nation's other two weekly events. Nation was more than just Buzz/Cubik/etc. Granted that was an amazing event, the others were great too. At least it sounds like Cubik/Buzz will open up shop elsewhere. It sounds like Velvet is just dead which leaves a large hole in the gay dance scene in DC, and Alchemy hasn't decided if it'll re-open elsewhere yet which leaves a live punk/heavy rock hole as well, but atleast they have other options as to rather they'll open in another performance space. Velvet would need a new space that's a big-black-box as mentioned earlier.
"Any place that spun records instead of paying for live musicians should have been shut down for BAD TASTE instead of just urban renewal. I can't think of anything LAMER than listening to records. that's what an ipod is for."
At one point in time, Nation was one of my favorite venues to see to live bands in the DC area. I'm glad this article paid homage to that. I'm referencing Alchemy and Velvet of course...
Don't have any gay people write for DCist?
That was one of the longer DCist entries I've seen, and not one mention of the weekly Velvet event at Nation.
I was never big on the Velvet Nation event, but at least I could recognize that Nation would have closed years ago without this event. It was probably more important to that venue than Buzz.
Certainly someone who wrote such a long entry on Nation would have known this and at least mentioned the Velvet event. That's just ignorance of laziness.
Don't have any gay people write for DCist?
You know when I first started reading DCist I thought the same thing about the lack of Black writers. DC is a majority Black city, so it would stand to reason that DCist would have more than one Black writer right? However once I realized that DCist is primarily comprised of volunteers, I was forced to conclude that if I wasn't willing to be part of the solution then I should probably keep my complaints to myself.
Just a thought.
I understand that DCist is comprised of volunteers, but if you're gonna write an article on the closing of a major DC venue, you need to research things a bit. I'm totally fine with the fact that the write up highlighted Buzz at Nation, but the opening paragraph should have touched upon some of the other events that Nation put on, including LIVE music. OK, I'll do the research for you guys. Heres an excerpt from the Nation website.
"NATION was a stunning live music/club venue with an atmosphere that is as powerful and moving as the music that fills its rooms. Its size alone exceeds any club in the DC area with three levels indoors and the multi level outdoor patio. Nation is now closed."
Why is the author obliged to mention anything in particular about Nation? Each writer is going to bring their own perspective to anything they write, and that means they may not mention everything about a given topic that someone else may feel is relevant.
All this whining about what the original poster didn't say about Nation is a bit silly IMHO. The repeated mentions of Velvet and live music in the comments are sufficient proof that everyone who cares, is well aware of those aspects of Nation.
Any place that spun records instead of paying for live musicians should have been shut down for BAD TASTE instead of just urban renewal.
Witness the mating call of the "djs are killing live music" whiner. If DC live music didn't consist of a half dozen navelgazing narcissists who confuse volume with talent, djs wouldn't exist.
Learn to play, and maybe your audience will consist of more than 6 of buds from school.
It's funny last time DCist posted about Nation closing everyone moaned about how much they hated the place.
I spent most of last night in the empty shell that Nation now is. The curtains are torn, the trash cans piled up and kicked over, grafitti on the walls, water f'ing everywhere and the smell, oh sweet lord what a horrible smell.
Clubs opening, closing, moving are what they are about. Transience is good it keeps the blood flowing, keeps new music and new people circulating.
Nation has been my home for the past 250+ consecutive Thursdays. And as much as I'm looking forward to Alchemy's new digs (which are amazing BTW) I'm going to miss Nation; very much.
As far as I'm concerned, Nation should always be referred to as Capital Ballroom. And should be remembered for shows with hardcore bands not corny ravers.
While Nation, formerly the Ballroom, used to feature live bands and djs, they really put a stomp on the live music part in the past 6-8 years. THey had some live shows again recently for their farewell harrah. While the club kids are sad to see it go, I say stop bitchin. There are about 40 other places to hear records spun in the city...and like the promoter said they'll be back.
For the schmuck who said they don't want to be ripped off to see live bands play...most shows around here (divas/divos aside) are $20 or less ($10 or less for locals/regionals) and that gets you 3-5 bands of varying style, usually comprising of 3-5 individuals pouring out something they've worked on. Much more bang for your buck than $30+ for 3 or 4 djs playing either their own or loops of others and waiting in long ass lines.
Am I a dancer? no...am I sad to see Nation go, yeah. It was an institution that pulled away from my roots but I can sympathize...anyone remember the Bayou?
But... But... DJs are killing live music!
And what's with all this talk of "navelgazing" indie rock lately? Most of the bands I see out on the scene are quite lively and play rather upbeat music. (At the same time let me add that there's something to be said for depressing music.) The Dischord disco days seem to be over.
I will always remember the time I went to Nation, scored some E, and got rubbed on by shirtless college guys afterwards. Ah, who will forget the late '90s? (I never went back.)
The Bayou in Georgetown was a great place as was Phantasmagoria in Wheaton. I'll be sad to see the Ballroom/Nation added to the list of defunct venues...
Who can forget the time where Mr Lifto swung the iron hanging from his cockring to and fro out over the crowd? Must have been one of the last times the Jim Rose freakshow was in town...probably '95 or '96. His snake was stretched thin like a long noodle - you could almost hear it groaning.
Nation will be trully missed. Everything is about change and I hope and wish Velvet and Buzzlife can find a new home in the very near future.
As years went by I went less and less frequently but still went from time to time - one of the last few places where you dont have to get dressed up like if your going work just to go out, just a place where if you wanted to listen to world-class dj's on weekly basis and dance all night.
No more Red, no more Saturday nights at Andalu, no more Nation - how many more people need to be shot and stabbed before all these hip-hop places start to get bad press like EDM venues have?
FYI- Both Alchemy and Velvet were mentioned in the original draft of this article. Due to editing mistakes, (basically something to do with erasing everything that was in a parentheses), so the mention of the two events was erased.
That said, this is a review of the last show Buzzlife productions threw.
Erase the "so" in the above comment.
For the record, I have been to both Alchemy and Velvet. It wasn't ignorance on my part, just a focus on a different event. Thanks- EEckert
In reading it, it read like the article was about the closing of Nation, culminating in the last night of Buzz. Which is ironic, because Velvet Nation's last night was after Buzz's. Velvet and Alchemy were much more deserving of just a mention in parenthesis. I agree, poor journalism, poor writing.
I lived just a few blocks away when Steve Nation bought that vacant lot in 1973 and built the club that would bear his name. It transformed a neighborhood that had been deeply scarred by gang warfare and the infamous epidemic of '71. With the many clubs and restaurants that would follow in Steve's footsteps, Near Southeast became a vibrant community. It was truly a wonderful place to live in the 1970s. In those days, Nation was D.C.'s own little Studio 54. It was a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy decade for our beautiful city.
When he built his club, Steve was well aware that 35 years later, it would likely be demolished to make way for a new entertainment district that was already in its planning stages. But still he carried on, fulfilling his lifelong dream. Nothing could stand in his way.
Steve Nation passed away on September 3, 2003, and now his glimmering night club has joined him in heaven. It will be missed, but o, what a wonderful ride it's been!
E K Eckert summed up many of the same sentiments I had as I experienced the last Buzzlife event @ Nation and said goodbye to my 'second home.' It was always a place I could forget my troubles and have a great time with like minded dance and music enthusiasts. Such incredible music and even more so, the incredible dancing that has captivated and enthralled me over the years, I cannot thank Buzzlife enough for these memories; memories enough to last a lifetime.
A part of my heart and soul will always be a part of Buzzlife.
Thanks so much for writing, E K Eckert.
by the looks of some of the earlier posts today it looks like some of the gay clubs are trying to move ward 5, specifically the old DC tunnel club........uh oh........we better go see what the community thinks about this. Im sure they wont be thrilled.
I know a couple of you are definitely noticing that the only Buzz got a mention as part of the final Nation coverage. Although, yeah, obviously, this leaves out a huge swath of the city's dance scene, but it says a LOT that DCist brought us any coverage at all.
I, for one, am really thankful that this made it up. Nation, the SE clubbing district including The Edge, Wet, and Tracks, and the huge swath of the city's clubs (Red has been replaced by a bottle service club. AIEEEEEE!) have been Bedrocks for alternative culture in this city for years. We all know that it's been sort of an uphill battle to get acknowledgement so this is at least something, and something important.
For crissakes, there's a guy on the thread that still holds a candle for the "PLAYING RECORDS NO COUNT AS MUSIC! THEY DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT!
argument, which should have been settled at the turn of the century.
Thank you, DCist.
(and that said, I'm jacked for seeing how Club Envy looks. The old Tunnel, renovated, could make for an amazing venue. The earlier one-cavernous-room-straight-warehouse space was good for one-offs but didn't really do wonderfully as a venue for a weekly. Should be nice to see how this works now! :-) )
For those of you concerned, it has been announced that NATION bartender Jay (the gay bartender who'd been a regular feature of the club for at least a decade), will be working Thursday nights at CLUB ENVY (the old TUNNEL) for ALCHEMY/ALIAS (the combination Goth/Drum 'n Bass party that's always been a bit reminiscent of Thursday's at Tracks in the 90's).
I know some of were worried. I seriously almost cried when I thought I'd never see him again.
Now, if we can only get the giant disco ball to make the transition, we're fucking set.
Amanda,
A close friend of mine forwarded me your article “The Last Dance”. I was not able to attend the event (really broke my heart) but reading your article gave me a moment to reflect on the good times I had there when I was younger. Thank you.
I would like to personally invite you to a party this Saturday at the Gallery (located at Silver Spring) we showcase good lineup every Saturday for serious EDM lovers. This week we are bringing Roy Davis Jr. and Paul Johnson and on the 19th of August we have DJ Sneak and Jr. Sanchez and Derrick Carter in September.
Please let me know if you would be able to attend. I will be sure to list and your friends. I hope to see you Saturday.
Cheers!
OmniPresent Syndicate
info@omnipresentdc.com