The New Crocodile: Hot or Not?
April 24th, 2009
I was so excited for last Friday night. A party with full spread and open bar near Madison Park for the first half of the evening and then off to the CD release party for Telekinesis for the second half at the Crocodile. My friends and I figured that we would stay at the party until 10ish then head on downtown to catch Telekinesis at 10:45 as they were the third act. Sounds logical, right? Third act 10:45ish, fourth act on by midnight? Well to our dismay that was not the case. When we got there, at 10:50 – Telekinesis was breaking down their stuff and the next band Throw Me the Statue was setting up for their set. Talk about major disappointment. What the hell? Do we live in Florida or something, home of the early bird special? The next disappointment was the new Crocodile. The minimalist interior hit a sore spot that made me miss what brought me to Seattle in the first place.
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I very much consider myself an old school Seattle fan. The reason I moved here from the Midwest, away from family and friends mind you, was largely due to its character and quirkiness accompanied with the lush greenery and majestic beauty. 15 years later, where did all the character and quirkiness go? Well, I’ll tell you… down the toilet. So long to so many great places that oozed colorfulness, mind you dirty coloful, yet they had soul like the Frontier Room, the original Moe’s, Sit ‘n Spin pre-band room where beer wasn’t yet on tap, Eileen’s, and of course, the Crocodile. But this post isn’t supposed to be a big boohoo about missing the old Seattle. There are still things I love like being able to have a citified life while living in a house with a yard. But now, with the new Crocodile, just hammer a new nail in the proverbial quirkified coffin. Yes, there are new owners with new style. Sure, the dreaded blocking weight bearing beam is gone but so is the character too. And I’ll insert a nod to the musicphiles out there, who love the sound guy and the sound system however it’s just another drone-like sterile establishment on the beaten path of Belltown. Maybe I’m jaded b/c I’m just not a Belltown fan. And I like places to have soul to them however I felt like I was in a small warehouse with stage and bar and that’s about it. A room to see music with nothing else to stimulate the senses. I realize it’s all new and everything and I’ll give it the benefit of doubt–maybe the interior decorator hasn’t finished yet but I’m one who likes my music with more than just a dash of atmosphere. And that’s something the Crocodile lacks. Like I said, maybe they’re still working on it however first impressions mean a lot and I wasn’t impressed. Perhaps I’ll make it back again to see a band I LOVE, note the all caps, but as for a place where I’d like to hang out to go check out a new-to-me local band, I’ll just mosey on up to the Comet where I’ll get my music fix on with the good ol’ dingy ambiance of dollar bills stuck to the ceiling circa 1985. Or maybe Neumo’s . Or the Sunset. And I like the Showbox (ahem, “Market”) for what it’s worth.
April 25th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Jody Rodgers said:
First, let me say I am sorry that you were not able to see Telekinesis, who in mind have released the best pop album I have heard in awhile. But getting to a Settle venue at 10:50pm often assures that you will only see the headliner, and maybe not even their whole set. This occurs across this whole city, and it occurred at the old Crocodile as well. I want to go out at midnight and see two bands thank you!
As for the austere interior of the Crocodile I agree they may have gone a little extreme (except the wall of posters leading up to the balcony) but at the same time I was already thinking that all the stuffed snakes and whatnot hanging from the celling of the old place should of been sent out to pasture awhile ago. Overall I am grateful that the Crocodile has returned in any form and I am glad we have another venue in the city.
April 25th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Kadns said:
Hello,
I have yet to be to the “new” Crocodile. However, I hear what Jules is saying on the venues, or lack of them here in town. I never hung out at the old Crocodile, just went there for shows. Thought the sound was usually pretty good, but I wasn’t feeling the decor. I do miss going to “rock” clubs (now days, it’s just a club that hosts a number of different acts.) rolling in there around 11:00 or 11:30 and still being able to catch at least 2 bands.
When I first moved out here it seemed like there were a number of venues to go to. Moe’s, Off Ramp, (now El Corazon) RCKNDY, (now a Marriott) The Pound Gallery, Colorbox, OK Hotel, The Comet, wasn’t hosting bands at that time, nor where they selling hard alcohol. Ernie Steels, aka Eileen’s, was always a good time. You’d see everyone from the Comet. >:)
I still go to shows when I can and when there is a band/group I want to see. Sadly, in my opinion only, not that many local acts I venture out to see anymore. I guess, cause I’m more of a hard rock, straight up Rock & Roll kind of guy. None of this emo, Death Cab, stuff. Sorry DCFC fans. Just not my thing. When I moved out here, Seattle crowds at shows used to rock!. They wouldn’t just stand there, as they do now. I have had this conversation with MisterLevitan, before over a few beers. Then, what happens, we go check out, Girl In A Coma, at El Corazon and who’s moshing? Two tweens, just having a damn good time. That’s what it used to be about. That’s what it was always about. Just having a good time, forgetting about, work, polititricks, all of it. Having fun, watching a good, semi good, or very good band. I think at times, Seattle, has forgotten to how to have fun, and is more concerned with how they are looking and who they are txting.
I may sound bitter, but I’m really not. I’m just more selective of the shows I take in. We all get older, and someone in 10 years, will probably be bitching about how, 10years ago, it was better, (in 2009)
The next show I’m going to is My Bloody Valentine, which will be interesting at the Wamu Theater. I never had the chance to see them before they broke up, but I’ve always liked them. Should be fun.
Not sure if I stayed on topic? But, theirs my 2cents, about understanding where Jules, is coming from. Though, I’ve yet to check out the new Crocodile. I get the whole, venue issue.
Cheers,
Kadns
April 25th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Chris Craig said:
Give it a decade and we’ll be complaining that the newly renovated Sunset or Comet doesn’t have the “feel” of The Crocodile. I wanna see shitloads of band stickers in those pristine bathrooms real bad though.
April 25th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
chris morales said:
That is one thing about Seattle I can never understand… when people go to shows here, they ‘Cherry Pick’ only the sets they want to see. When I would go to concerts back home in Chicago, we’d get there as early as possible, see new artists and find out about new music on a nightly basis.
This whole arriving at ‘curtain time’ is very elitist and socially retarded. If I had that mentality back at home, I would have never discovered bands like Alkaline Trio, Kill Hannah, The Sea and Cake, Garbage, Ani Defranco, and The Plain White T’s. Hell, If I would have used this ‘Seattle Set Time’ ideology, I would have missed, Nirvana and My bloody Valentine opening for Sonic Youth. I would have missed Smashing Pumpkins and Pearl Jam opened for The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Sure, these are all major acts now… but at the time…
I think that ‘Cherry Picking’ gigs is rude to the artists and to live music in general. I have learned that, in Seattle, people tend to micro manage their concerts like they select their coffee at Starbucks… and that is shameful.
As for the Crocodile being, ‘hot or not’? I have to agree with Chris Craig… One day, the comet will become a corporate parody of itself, as with the Sunset, the tractor… Hell, if they could fuck up a ‘total no brainer’ like, King Cobra, everything is possible.
Everything changes, especially when there is money to be made.
April 27th, 2009 at 8:04 am
Kevin leDoux said:
If you’re looking to get down with the kiddies that just head out to rock and see music, keep your eyes out for shows at Seattle’s ever expanding ring of DIY venues.
Healthy Times Fun Club, GRN House, Holy Mountain are just a couple.
If you want to get involved in binging some of these underground places to the surface, check out the collectives in town including our friends at Hollow Earth Radio, Beep Repaired and Seattle DIY
April 27th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
C-Leb said:
4 enclosed walls (alcohol optional) with sound emanating from one direction toward an area cleared for observers of musicality or other performing art. this is the recipe for venues in the city, nothing more, nothing less. they are built like condo’s, clean, new and emotionless. i challenge any of our venues to think outside the box and create an establishment where the end user and listener in mind. a truly empowering experience where even the most heavily jaded are forced to dance due the the awesome combination of perfected sound and ambiance. i have seen this vision, it does not exist anywhere that i can find… and Seattle is not ready for it… not yet.