I'm a big fan of catching shows (I assume the question was for music and not plays) at the Showbox. There is enough space to not feel too crushed by crowds if you don't want to, and I don't, but... More

I'm a big fan of catching shows (I assume the question was for music and not plays) at the Showbox. There is enough space to not feel too crushed by crowds if you don't want to, and I don't, but it's a smaller venue than a big arena so it's hard to not get a good view of the show. The other good thing is that there are 2 large bars so it's easier to get drinks before and during the show. Most people adhere to good behavior too so there isn't a lot of cutting or shoving around while waiting to buy a beverage. On the downside I wish they had more bathroom space - it would be great if they could put bathrooms on both sides of the building so there wasn't as much traffic milling about during the shows. The other bathroom issue is that it doesn't seem to be monitored during the shows very much and it can get pretty filthy very quickly if the people attending the show aren't very good about picking up after themselves - a bad human habit that is a little too common at our local bars and show venues.
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Who hasn't played at the Showbox? This northwest favorite has been packing in the crowds for as long as I can remember to hear just about any band that matters. Famous,infamous, and unknown... More

Who hasn't played at the Showbox? This northwest favorite has been packing in the crowds for as long as I can remember to hear just about any band that matters. Famous,infamous, and unknown Showbox invites everyone in for a party every night of the week. While the main genre you can listen to here is rock they have been known to have other types of music available at this club. Ticket prices are all over the place depending on the show. There is a bar here that sometimes serves snack food.
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The Showbox is a good place to see a show because it has space for all types of showgoers - the drinkers, the moshers or dancers, the stand-arounders, etc. I saw The Faint and Bright Eyes here last... More

The Showbox is a good place to see a show because it has space for all types of showgoers - the drinkers, the moshers or dancers, the stand-arounders, etc. I saw The Faint and Bright Eyes here last year, a sold-out show, if I remember correctly. The place was pretty packed; the bathrooms were in the back corner and required quite a bit of manuevering to get to. I did really appreciate having some space near the back to sit down for a while later on - even if it was on the floor. The Showbox is host to a variety of music, so it behooves everyone to check out its listings.
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The Showbox is a quality live music venue with some of the biggest names on the bills. There is a lot to be happy with about the Showbox. It is very open and large, there are multiple bars and... More

The Showbox is a quality live music venue with some of the biggest names on the bills. There is a lot to be happy with about the Showbox. It is very open and large, there are multiple bars and the security is USUALLY very helpful and unobtrusive. There are also a couple of OKAY things about the Showbox, as mentioned before it is a large room, so unless there is a good number of people filling the floor the acoustics tend to be less than desirable. They have a massive 44,000 watt system that had problems with empty rooms. So if you intend to see a show here it will sound best if you choose to go to a show that is sold out or close to sold out. For the bands, the Showbox has a strong lighting system, solid sound system all the way around and is easy to load into and out of. They have great hospitality areas in the back by the Men's room with a private men's and women's bathrooms, two private green rooms and even a private lounge area. There are also multiple exits and entrances so you can slip out away from waiting crowds to your bus. Overall the Showbox is one of the best venues in Seattle, it is also one of the biggest. This is a great place to catch a national act with a large crowd. If you want to catch a local act try the Crocodile, The Central or El Corazon.
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The showbox will never be as good as the Metro in Chicago, but then again, we aren't in Chicago...and this is about as close as you will get (barring the fact that I haven't been to the new premier... More

The showbox will never be as good as the Metro in Chicago, but then again, we aren't in Chicago...and this is about as close as you will get (barring the fact that I haven't been to the new premier yet...anyone have a review on that place?) I like it because its relatively intimate, but still large enough to attract an eclectic mix of great artists. Also, the bar is separated from the all ages area, but unlike El Corazon, you can still watch the show while having a beer...unfortunately, this area is typically VERY crowded though, so it doesn't always make for the most comfortable experience...I typically find myself drinking a beer relatively quickly and heading back out to the general crowd for the majority of the show. Overall, a pretty good place to see a live music act.
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This place has great shows from time to time for an average price. I think I always end up getting what I pay for- visibility is always as issue for me too, but I end up having a great time, for the... More

This place has great shows from time to time for an average price. I think I always end up getting what I pay for- visibility is always as issue for me too, but I end up having a great time, for the most part. One complaint is that they never have enough chairs to go with the tables that are set up or enough bar staff. All in all it is a good place to check out some music.
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The Showbox is the middle class stage for Seattle and many large acts pass through on a regular basis. They bring in rock, hip-hop, punk, and various other shows, some of which are obscure even in... More

The Showbox is the middle class stage for Seattle and many large acts pass through on a regular basis. They bring in rock, hip-hop, punk, and various other shows, some of which are obscure even in genre. It has a decent sized floor (larger than El Corazon) and has a nice bar area you can go to drink and still watch the show (or it can just be used for better viewing). Basically, the only problem with the Showbox is for shows that are super crowded or not on the stage (mostly just breakdancing competitions, but other nights this can be a problem too) visibility is difficult. This is the problem with any concert venue, however, and most of the time the simple answer is just to show up early. The prices are pretty average for the shows put on, and the music you haven't heard of is also usually worth checking out.
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The Showbox is my favorite venue to see shows in Seattle (though I hear good things about the Firehouse). The place is a lot less smoky than El Corozone (or whatever they are calling it these days) ... More

The Showbox is my favorite venue to see shows in Seattle (though I hear good things about the Firehouse). The place is a lot less smoky than El Corozone (or whatever they are calling it these days) and they have some pretty decent bands there, including the most rocking Mighty Mighty Bosstones show on the coast. Check it out.
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The Showbox is by far the classiest live music establishment in the Seattle area. It has an elevated bar with seating that provides an excellent view of the stage. The ambiance is that of an Art... More

The Showbox is by far the classiest live music establishment in the Seattle area. It has an elevated bar with seating that provides an excellent view of the stage. The ambiance is that of an Art Deco-era nightclub, but the performances offer the very best that today’s music scene has to offer. Whether you go to see a nationally-celebrated artist or a fresh-from-the garage local band, The Showbox will make you feel like you’ve got the best seat (or standing room) in the house.
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Since I never go to arena-type huge shows, The Showbox is about the upper limit in terms of crowd size of places I go to see concerts. It's great for bands at the level of Sonic Youth - much better... More

Since I never go to arena-type huge shows, The Showbox is about the upper limit in terms of crowd size of places I go to see concerts. It's great for bands at the level of Sonic Youth - much better than huge arena shows, although it's not my favorite for bands that sound better if you can catch them in smaller venues. For really loud shows I recommend standing back where you're not bombarded by the speakers so you can hear a little more clearly.
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