Thursday, March 19, 2009

The revival of the Crocodile!

The revival of the CROCODILE

It was just a little over a year ago that the Seattle music scene was hit with a huge blow. The Crocodile Cafe closed its doors. For months after there was a curious buzz in the Seattle air; who was going to take over? This couldn't be the end for The Croc, could it? The buzz seemed to die down and less people were waiting for the news that the Crocodile Cafe would be reopening. Lost hope, old news, move on. It wasn't long before the Crocodile Cafe was just a graffitied shell of what it once was.

I moved out of town and can't say how long everyone had known the Crocodile would be reopening. But I remember just where I was when I found out that it was on its way back. It was September and I was sitting in the green room at Chop Suey with Dan le Sac and Scroobius Pip after their show. Roy Atizado was doing payout for the band and then sat down and told me some of the best news I had heard in ages. And what's even better is that Eli Anderson is booking again, Roy moved from Chop Suey to the Crocodile and sound engineer Jim Anderson is also back.

The Crocodile Cafe was responsible for many great nights in my adult life. Nights filled with white russians and rock music. From when I saw Mute Math for the first time in May 06 to seeing great local bands like The Lonely Forest and The Divorce, there was never a night where I went to the Crocodile Cafe and didn't have a great time. There was a certain charm to the venue that made you overlook all the hideous things looming above your head, and the clashing retro decor of the cafe. What that charm was, was the history of it all. And that was enough to turn everyone blind long enough to enjoy the show.

For many many months everyone at the Crocodile has been working hard to remodel the space into something with real charm and beauty. I think its safe to say now that you won't have to worry about the lint on your clothes that's visible under black light, the bathrooms being semi functional caves, or being pissed that the huge pole in the middle of the room is blocking your view of the stage. Oh, and hopefully Satin has left the building!

I am thrilled that the Crocodile is opening its doors again tonight and is still catering to both promising local bands as well as favourable touring acts. There will be a free 'soundcheck' show tonight as well as tomorrow to welcome the new Crocodile.

3/19 Thursday The Crocodile & Via Tribunali Present
SOUNDCHECK with
Hypatia Lake
The Kindness Kind
The Quiet Ones
FREE!
8:30pm doors
21 & over

3/20 Friday The Crocodile and Via Tribunali Present
SOUNDCHECK with
Akimbo
Brothers of the Sonic Cloth
Patrol
FREE!
8:00pm doors
21 & over

Article by: Jacquee M. Sovereign
03.19.09

Photo credit:
Photo 1: Crocodile
Photo 2: TIG

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