I love the Croc. It's small enough to be able to enjoy a show, yet if you are not really feeling the music you are hearing, you can head over into the other part of the bar and chill out--- like... More

I love the Croc. It's small enough to be able to enjoy a show, yet if you are not really feeling the music you are hearing, you can head over into the other part of the bar and chill out--- like other reviewers have noted. The place used to be so smoky that it detracted from the experience. Now- I can not tell you how AWESOME it is to see a show, then go home without my clothing and hair smelling nasty. It does retain a certain dark and dirty to it, which is just fine by me.
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It was a clear summer night, with full moon shining brightly. I walked unsuspectingly into Crocodile Cafe and paid the $10 cover charge for the "Emo" rock bands Criteria and Appleseed Cast. As I... More

It was a clear summer night, with full moon shining brightly. I walked unsuspectingly into Crocodile Cafe and paid the $10 cover charge for the "Emo" rock bands Criteria and Appleseed Cast. As I entered the dimly lit show area, I noticed something sinister out of the corner of my eye... AAARGH!! SNAKES ON A CEILING!! After a few curses worthy of Samuel L., I realized they were quite dead. Once I got past the dead-reptiles-strung-from-the-rafters motif, the rest the evening was great. This was a Monday night, yet the show area was 80% full. Only 1/3 of the crowd was in the "over 21" area - not sure whether that speaks more to the band or the venue. Right away I liked the place because it felt intimate, I could feel the sound from the speakers and because Criteria put on a great set. The stage lighting is cool. Your basic high school lights with red and green and yellow filters. It reminded me of a Pearl Jam video, the one where Eddie Vedder crowd surfs. Anyway, great place to catch a live band, but I suspect weekends it is mobbed and/or sold out. There is also a cafe area where you can just chill (and don't have to pay cover).
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Croc. the bar is mellow and quiet. show room is small enough to be intimate, big enough to hold crowds for most shows. the stage is elevated so everyone can see what's going on. it's grungy and... More

Croc. the bar is mellow and quiet. show room is small enough to be intimate, big enough to hold crowds for most shows. the stage is elevated so everyone can see what's going on. it's grungy and dirty, but not scary like the old graceland. it always sounds great. they serve food. the beers are good - and pretty cheap. and they consistently book the best local talent -- any given night you're bound to like some or all of the lineup. For the record, Showbox is the worst venue in Seattle. always over-crowded, always sounds crappy, always full of drunken uw packs, always grumpy bouncers, horrible restroom locations, never able to see anything on the stage b/c the floor isn't angled enough. i have banned the showbox for life (except for the calexico show this summer, for which i was forced to make a single exception because i expect the crowd will all be courteous and over 25).
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