Black Cat (Washington, D.C., nightclub)

2026年10月13日

The History and Character of the Black Cat

The Black Cat is a renowned nightclub located in the Shaw/U Street neighborhood of Washington, D.C., at 1811 14th Street NW. It was founded in 1993 by Dante Ferrando, the former drummer of the band Gray Matter, along with a group of investors that included Dave Grohl, the Nirvana drummer and future leader of Foo Fighters. The club quickly gained a reputation as a hub for independent music, particularly known for its support of indie rock. However, the Black Cat’s musical offerings are diverse, featuring metal, punk, and electronic acts, as well as hosting DJ/dance nights, stand-up comedy, and film screenings.

The club’s “Mainstage” is located on the second floor, boasting a 7,000 square-foot space with a capacity of 800. The first concert at the Black Cat was performed by the Washington, D.C. band 9353 on September 11, 1993. Ferrando named the venue after an establishment his great-grandfather operated in Greenwich Village during the 1920s. The original location had a capacity of 400 and was designed to complement the 9:30 Club and fill the void left by the closure of the independent music venue d.c. space.

In 2001, the Black Cat moved three doors south to its current location at 1811 14th Street NW. This site previously housed a dance club called the Cage and, before that, Mattos Paints. The new location opened on September 13, 2001, with a concert by the Omaha-based synth-punk band, the Faint. Until 2019, the Black Cat also featured a “Backstage” area on the first floor with a capacity of 200, a no-cover bar/lounge called the “Red Room,” and the “Food For Thought” café, which served primarily vegetarian food along with some meat and vegan options. The café was named after a Dupont Circle vegetarian restaurant owned by Ferrando’s father, Bobby Ferrando, which operated from 1973 to 1999.

In September 2018, the Black Cat announced plans to contract its space by the end of the year, moving the “Backstage” and “Red Room” areas to a smaller space upstairs adjoining the “Mainstage.” Ferrando cited declining patron interest as a reason for the changes, aiming to make room for retail tenants more suited to the evolving neighborhood landscape.

The Black Cat is conveniently located about three blocks from the U Street station on the Washington Metro. Over the years, it has hosted many successful musical artists, including Jeff Buckley, Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Bikini Kill, Fugazi, Death Cab for Cutie, The Cramps, The Killers, The Strokes, Elliott Smith, Molchat Doma, Bon Iver, Bad Religion, Fleet Foxes, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.