Documentary flashes back to D.C.’s Bayou nightclub

Neal Augenstein, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – The club’s been gone for 14 years, but the story about its history is nearing completion.

A documentary on the legendary Bayou nightclub in Georgetown is almost done. The local filmmakers, Metro Teleproductions has released a trailer for “The Bayou: DC’s Killer Joint” on their Kickstarter page.

Watch the trailer below:

The group is trying to raise $22,000 and had raised $3,075 by Monday afternoon. They have until March 31 to raise the needed funds, or they will forfeit any money raised.

Located at 3135 K Street NW, under the Whitehurst Freeway, The Bayou was often a launching point for up-and-coming bands. U2 played its first American show at The Bayou, as did Foreigner.

“We were playing with this band from Ireland, and they were opening for us. They were called U2,” recalls Slickee Boys singer Mark Noone in the documentary. “I thought they were really good.”

“Then we got to hang out with them backstage, and I’ll tell you, I couldn’t understand a word these guys were saying,” Noone remembers.

Producers Dave Lilling and Bill Scanlan began shooting video for the documentary in the closing weeks of the club in November 1998. They shot many of the interviews before the club closed it doors on Dec. 31, 1998.

The filmmakers have used their Facebook page “The Bayou in Georgetown” to gather photos and memorabilia.

They have also used the documentary’s website to ask for the public’s help in gathering supporting materials, such as photos of jazz artists from the 1950s, Georgetown students from 1969 and photos of other bands that have played at The Bayou.

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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

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