Paul Vivari, who spins classic soul records as Soul Call Paul, will be DJing the first night at the Black Cat’s 20th Anniversary Party this Friday. Photo courtesy of the artist.

A self-proclaimed vinyl purist, Paul Vivari, or “Soul Call Paul” as he’s known to anyone who likes to dance in D.C., got his start with The Soulfuck nights at the Black Cat. DCist caught up by email with a very busy Vivari, who just opened Bloomingdale’s Showtime: a thoughtful dive bar antidote to the sea of crudites-and-novelty-liquors establishments cropping up as of late. We talked about the early days of the Black Cat, why you’ll never catch him playing MP3s and why he considers nachos to be a sign of good luck.

Are you a D.C. native?

I was born in D.C. and grew up in Rockville. I’ve been living in the city for about ten years.

When did you first start DJing?

After I started working at the Black Cat, back in ’04 or ’05. They needed to fill an open weekend night in the Backstage room and I happened to be standing there. I think I was making nachos at the time, which I now consider a sign of good luck.

What’s your first memory of the Black Cat? When did you start playing there?

Seeing a show at the old Black Cat a few months before they moved down the street. Then I tried to go to a show after they moved and got confused and lost. My first gig was called The Soulfuck and I did it with my friend Sean (DJ Mad Squirrel) for a few years.

How is the crowd attending your shows at the Black Cat different than the ones at say, Dodge City?

Since Black Cat has been around for a long time, they have more of an established group of regulars that stay loyal to the club. There’s certain people I only ever see at Black Cat and they bring a vibe that’s different than a lot of other places that don’t have that kind of history. Dodge City is a great place but the weekends definitely bring more of the younger party crowd that’s flooding U Street right now.

How has your sound evolved since you started DJing?

I started doing more late ’60s/early ’70s soul and funk, but after a few years I began to spin more rhythm & blues and rock from the late ’50s/early ’60s, which I mostly do now. I was into that stuff when I was younger and I sort of circled back to it. It’s the best party music in the world and at this point I think it beats the shit out of everything else.

You’re a vinyl purist. Why do you remain committed to this format? Do you think you’ll continue to only use vinyl?

It’s always been the best format for listening to music. Higher highs, lower lows, fuller sound. MP3s sound like crap comparatively. I know they’re more convenient to take to a gig, but whatever. It’s not that hard. I’d probably only ever switch to using Serato if I decided I really want to start spinning fake records that don’t contain any music but make funny sounds when you touch them.

What inspired you to open Showtime?

I wish I had a more inspirational story, but it was a barbershop I’d been living above for 5 years that went out of business. I have the same landlady and was able to take over the lease without really knowing what I was going to do with it. Drinking is pretty cool, so I went with a bar.

It’s not a music venue, but the free jukebox is definitely a centerpiece. Was this part of the plan from the beginning?

I always figured if I ever opened a bar that I’d spend way too much time on the jukebox, in an obsessive, unhealthy way. And I did. But I’m pretty happy with how it turned out and the attention it’s gotten.

Showtime is directly beneath your apartment. Do you ever want to call in a noise complaint on your own establishment?

What’s a noise complaint?

Soul Call Paul DJs the Black Cat Anniversary Party on Friday. Doors for the Mainstage open at 8 p.m. Both nights are sold out. He plays Black Whiskey next Friday.