In 1998 the legendary Bayou Nightclub closed after 45 years of operation. It featured the 1st club show in the United States of U-2. The Dave Matthews Band played the club many times in their early days, and Hootie and the BlowFish regularly was featured at the club. Foreigners 1st club date was also at the Bayou. The club also showcased a rare small venue date by KISS
In 2013, Metro Teleproductions Inc produced a film called “The Bayou, DC’s Killer Joint” which first aired on Maryland Public Television, then on WETA, WHUT as well as 90 PBs affiliates. The 87 minute documentary which was Produced and Written by Bill Scanlan, Vinnie Perrone and Dave Nuttycombe, graphics by Dick Bangham of Rip Bang Productions, edited by Bill Parks of Dominion Post was seen by over 100,000 viewers across the country. It was nominated for a local Emmy Award and won a documentary award from the Kingston Film Festival in New York. MTI provided all of the video production on the film, camera crew video crew etc
Mark Opasnick has just written “ROCK THE POTOMAC”, a comprehensive history of popular music in the the Washington DC area from Colonial times to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. ROCK THE POTOMAC has a chapter on the Bayou .
Metro Teleproductions Inc, started production on the film 2 months before the closing of the club. We shot many acts making there final appearance at the venue which was located at 3135 K St NW in Washington DC. Author Stephen King’s Rock Bottom Remainders, which featured Amy Tan Dave Barry, Simpsons creator Matt Groening. The final performance on December 31st 1998 the headliner was the group “Everything” which had a hit single “Hooch” which was featured in the Adam Sandler movie “Waterboy”. The single cracked Billboards Top 10
MTI documented the final days of the club and spent years interviewing artists such as Dave Mason, Meatloaf, Paul Kantner. It was truly a labor of love.
