Guest contributer: Stephen Curtis
Have you ever had someone come into your life in a more gradual way? Maybe you
don’t even remember the first time you met because it was more like a fade in. The
subtle build of something like that can feel even stranger as that person becomes more
familiar to you.
I can’t remember the first time I was inside 9910. My earliest conscious memories of the
venue are from May 2017 when I threw an album release party there. I figure I must
have been there prior to that, but it’s possible I never was. Maybe I was there before for
a show, perhaps in a more inebriated state that limited my intake of real memories.
Maybe it was that, and I retained the vibe and feeling despite a lack of concrete
recollection. I know for certain I had been to The Common before then. I certainly had
fond feelings around that place, so it’s also conceivable that I gravitated towards 9910
out of sheer faith. Maybe I really had never been inside 9910 before. Maybe I just had
enough trust in the good vibes of The Common that I figured their events venue must be
more of the same.
A crowd at 9910 after a Schedule 1 set. Photography: Josalynn Lawrence Regardless, my affinity for 9910 has felt like a bond of natural thickening. The release
party turned out to be a glorious occasion, and since then I’ve been lucky enough to
host and attend many more shows at the venue. I’m a real sucker for any space with an
intimate feel, and 9910 certainly delivers on that. Even the way you enter the venue
makes it feel like you’re diving into a comfortable grotto. Plunge down the stairs, turn
right and around the corner, and then it all opens. Comfortable seating is spread
throughout, tucked into little nooks you can post up at. There’s low ethereal lighting, and
unique décor, and even a disco ball. I fucking love a good disco ball. The layout of the
venue also contributes heavily to the warmth. There are enough pockets of space in
there that you can easily engage in a private conversation, but more than enough room
for the energy to get hectic with the dancing. The stage is elevated, but only slightly.
Whenever I’m in there I always feel like I am close to the artists and close to the action,
regardless of where I may be on the floor.
Beyond the space itself and the memories I’ve now collected there, 9910 is special. Why? It has a lot to do with the people who work there. Clint and his staff are some of the most kind-
hearted and accommodating people I have had the chance to throw shows with in my
now 10 or so years doing so. They always go above and beyond to ensure that the
vibes are immaculate. With the holidays upon us, I am very happy to say I am getting to
throw yet another release party with them in the coming days. The venue has been
recently revamped with Edison lights, LEDs, and other fresh flourishes. There are
Christmas decorations everywhere. The disco ball is looking extra bright. The holidays
are a special time and I’m very grateful that part of my experience this season will be
getting to embrace the music with some wonderful people, at a space that has become
more and more familiar to me as the years have gone bye.
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