The 9:30 Club was back up and running Thursday night, reopening its doors for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic with a special guest in the Foo Fighters headlining its first show.
The surprise concert sold out immediately after the music venue’s confirmed the rock band’s appearance.
I was one of the lucky few that scored a place at the concert — with the help of a complimentary ticket to cover the show — and figured I’d take my Twitter followers along for the ride, especially since this was my first visit to the “new 930,” which opened in 1996.
I.M.P., the venue operator, required all guests to be fully vaccinated or to provide a negative COVID-19 test to be allowed to attend the show. Along with a vaccination card or test results, concertgoers were required to wear a mask at all times, except while drinking.
One audience member, Jennifer Johnson, said she didn’t mind the mandate. After the last 18 months of being “locked up” due to the pandemic, it was time to live her life while being smart.
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“I’d say it’d be even better if everybody had to be vaccinated,” Johnson said. “Forget the negative test, show your vaccine card to get in here.”
Her husband David thought the restrictions provided comfort knowing that the person next to him in line was also vaccinated. While there is still a risk, knowing that everyone needed to be vaccinated to come in brought his anxiety level down “precipitously.”
“Is there risk? Sure. But I think it’s a lot lower, and I can actually enjoy myself,” David Johnson said. “Which, in a crowd like this, when was the last time we thought we could do this?”
