The Crocodile

Last updated
The Crocodile
The Croc
Crocodile Cafe.jpg
Exterior of the club (c. 2007)
The Crocodile
Former namesCrocodile Cafe (1991-2007)
Address2505 1st Ave, Seattle, Washington, U.S. (2021-present)
2200 2nd Ave, Seattle (1991-2020)
Seattle
Location Belltown
Owner Marcus Charles
Susan Silver
Sean Kinney
Eric Howk
Peggy Curtis [1]
Capacity 1150 [2]
Construction
OpenedApril 30, 1991 (1991-04-30)
Renovated2008-09
Expanded2020-21
Website
Venue Website

The Crocodile (formerly the Crocodile Cafe, and sometimes called The Croc) is a music club at 2505 1st Avenue at Wall Street in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, United States. Opened by Stephanie Dorgan as the "Crocodile Cafe" on April 30, 1991, it quickly became a fixture of the city's music scene. The Crocodile Cafe closed in December 2007, [3] before being reopened as The Crocodile on March 19, 2009. [4] Since then, the club has been owned by Alice in Chains' drummer Sean Kinney, manager Susan Silver, Portugal. The Man guitarist Eric Howk, Peggy Curtis, and Capitol Hill Block Party co-founder Marcus Charles. The Crocodile relocated to a bigger building at 2505 1st Avenue, four blocks away from its original location (2200 2nd Avenue).

Contents

In 2013, Rolling Stone ranked The Crocodile as the seventh best club in the U.S., and The Guardian included the club in its list of the top 10 live music venues in Seattle. Artists such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Mad Season, R.E.M., Ann Wilson, Mudhoney, Cheap Trick, Yoko Ono, Social Distortion, Green Day, The Strokes, Beastie Boys, Porcupine Tree, Alice Merton, Billie Eilish [5] and Tom Morello [6] have performed at the club.

History

Originally a 550-capacity building named the Crocodile Cafe, it was located at the 2200 2nd Avenue on Blanchard Street in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle. [7] The venue's first show featured The Posies and Love Battery; [8] the last, Robin Pecknold, J. Tillman, and David Bazan. [9] During its initial 16-year run, the Croc hosted numerous well-known acts including Mudhoney, [9] Tad, [9] Nirvana, [9] Palomar, Pearl Jam, [9] Sunny Day Real Estate, [9] Everclear, [9] Mad Season, [9] Green Day, [9] The Strokes, [9] Joanna Newsom, [10] Cheap Trick, [9] Indigo Girls, [11] Robyn Hitchcock, [9] Porcupine Tree, [12] Glenn Tilbrook, [13] Rhonda Vincent, [14] Death Cab for Cutie, [9] Yoko Ono, [9] Ann Wilson, [11] Sleater-Kinney, [9] R.E.M., [9] Soft Boys, Built to Spill, [9] Neutral Milk Hotel, [15] Dinosaur Jr., [11] Beastie Boys, [9] Corinne Bailey Rae, [11] Rachael Yamagata, Kevn Kinney of Drivin N Cryin, Ventures, [11] Chris Knox, The Presidents of the United States of America, [9] and Harvey Danger, who chose the Cafe for their final performance. [16]

Mad Season played their first concert at the Crocodile Cafe on October 12, 1994 under the name The Gacy Bunch. [17]

In February 1996, Seattle's Popllama Records released the compilation album Bite Back: Live at the Crocodile Cafe, which featured bands such as The Walkabouts, Girl Trouble, Flop, and Gas Huffer. [9]

After opening the Crocodile Cafe, owner Stephanie Dorgan later married R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck, who became a partner in the Crocodile. Buck often played there with his other band, The Minus 5. Dorgan and Buck divorced in 2006 and the Croc closed unexpectedly on December 15, 2007. [3]

Re-opening

The closing of the Crocodile Cafe, a fixture of the local music scene, caused widespread speculation in regard to the future of the establishment. After months of speculation, a group of business people and musicians including Alice in Chains' drummer Sean Kinney, [18] [19] Alice in Chains manager Susan Silver, [18] [19] Peggy Curtis, [20] Portugal. The Man guitarist Eric Howk, and Capitol Hill Block Party co-founder Marcus Charles purchased the establishment. [20] The new owners renamed it "The Crocodile" and reopened it on March 19, 2009 after much-needed renovation. [20] [4] The venue was re-open to the public with two consecutive nights featuring all local bands. [4]

Soundgarden performed for the first time in over a decade at The Crocodile on March 24, 2009. Without singer Chris Cornell, the band featured original members Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron and Ben Shepherd and performed a 3-song set with Tad lead vocalist Tad Doyle on vocals as part of Tom Morello's Justice Tour. [21]

In March 2013, Rolling Stone named The Crocodile as one of the best clubs in America, ranked at No. 7. [22] The Guardian included the club in its list of the "Top 10 live music venues in Seattle". [23]

On October 9, 2013, R&B singer JoJo performed "Smells Like Teen Spirit" during the final stop of her West Coast promotional tour. [24] It was a little more than 21 years since Nirvana last performed at the club on October 4, 1992 billed as a "secret opening act" though they actually did not play "Teen Spirit" despite getting requests to do so, making this one of the few performances of the song at the Crocodile. [25]

On August 22, 2018, Alice in Chains sent fans on a scavenger hunt to access a secret gig that the band would be performing in Seattle on August 24. Ten signed copies of their latest album Rainier Fog were hidden around the city as a ticket into the show, and the band asked the fans to keep an eye on their Instagram story for details on these 10 hidden locations. Once all 10 albums were found, the band revealed that the secret gig would be at The Crocodile with limited tickets available with the purchase of their new album at a pop-up event at the same venue the next day. [26]

On August 23 and 24, 2018, The Crocodile hosted a pop-up shop and retrospective for Alice in Chains featuring rare photos, limited-edition merchandise, memorabilia and music gear that showcased the band's 30+ year career. The admission was free. [27]

Re-location

In November 2020, the owners announced that the venue would be moving from its original Belltown location a few blocks away to the former site of the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific lodge at 1st Avenue and Wall Street. [28] Adam Wakeling, a managing partner of The Crocodile, and his partners secured a 20-year lease on the 30,000 square-foot building. [2]

On December 1, 2021, The Crocodile re-opened in its new location at 2505 1st Ave with a party for people in the music industry and press. The first shows in the new venue were performances from the comedy group Mega64 in the main 750-capacity showroom, and rapper MBNel in Madame Lou's, the 300-capacity venue downstairs. The Crocodile's new building also includes a café, 2 restaurant bars, 17 hotel rooms upstairs, as well as the "Here-After", a 100-seat theater/comedy club. [2]

The Crocodile Cafe appears on Cameron Crowe's 1992 film Singles . [2]

The Crocodile Cafe is referenced by Canadian singer-songwriter Mae Moore in the song "Fine" from her 1995 Dragonfly LP.[ citation needed ]

Scenes from the 1995 film Georgia starring Jennifer Jason Leigh were shot at the venue. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice in Chains</span> American rock band

Alice in Chains is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1987 by guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney, who later recruited bassist Mike Starr and lead vocalist Layne Staley. Starr was replaced by Mike Inez in 1993. William DuVall joined the band in 2006 as co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, replacing Staley, who had died in 2002. The band took its name from Staley's previous group, the glam metal band Alice N' Chains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Layne Staley</span> American rock musician (1967–2002)

Layne Thomas Staley was an American singer and songwriter who was the original lead vocalist of Alice in Chains, which rose to international fame in the early 1990s as part of Seattle's grunge movement. He was known for his distinctive vocal style as well as his harmonizing with bandmate Jerry Cantrell. Prior to his success with Alice in Chains, Staley was also a member of the glam metal bands Sleze and Alice N' Chains. He was also a part of the supergroups Mad Season and Class of '99.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Cantrell</span> American guitarist, singer and songwriter

Jerry Fulton Cantrell Jr. is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the founder, lead guitarist, co-lead vocalist, and main songwriter of the rock band Alice in Chains. The band rose to international fame in the early 1990s during Seattle's grunge movement and is known for its distinctive vocal style and the harmonized vocals between Cantrell and Layne Staley. Cantrell started to sing lead vocals on Alice in Chains' 1992 EP Sap. After Staley's death in 2002, Cantrell took the role of Alice in Chains' lead singer on most of the songs from the band's post-Staley albums, Black Gives Way to Blue (2009), The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (2013), and Rainier Fog (2018), with DuVall harmonizing with him in the new songs and singing Staley's vocals in the old songs in live concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Thayil</span> American guitarist and songwriter

Kim Anand Thayil is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of the Seattle-based rock band Soundgarden, which he co-founded with singer Chris Cornell and bassist Hiro Yamamoto in 1984. Cornell and Thayil remained as the original members of the band until Cornell's death in 2017, and the band's subsequent split in 2018. Thayil was named the 100th greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone in 2010, and the 67th greatest guitarist of all time by SPIN in 2012. Thayil has won two Grammy Awards as a member of Soundgarden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Minus 5</span> American pop rock band

The Minus 5 is an American pop rock band headed by musician Scott McCaughey of Young Fresh Fellows, often in partnership with R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Kinney</span> American drummer

Sean Howard Kinney is an American musician, best known as the drummer and co-founder of the rock band Alice in Chains. Kinney also founded the short-lived supergroup Spys4Darwin, and has collaborated with other artists such as Johnny Cash and Metallica. He played drums for his Alice in Chains bandmate, Jerry Cantrell's first solo album, Boggy Depot (1998). Since 2009, Kinney has been co-owner of the Crocodile club in Seattle. He was a guest drummer on NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers in September 2018. Kinney has earned nine Grammy Award nominations as a member of Alice in Chains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Starr (musician)</span> American bassist (1966–2011)

Michael Christopher Starr was an American musician best known as the original bassist for the rock band Alice in Chains, with which he played from the band's formation in 1987 until January 1993. He was also a member of Sato, Gypsy Rose, Sun Red Sun and Days of the New. In 2011, Starr died of a prescription drug overdose at the age of 44.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Excuses (Alice in Chains song)</span> 1994 single by Alice in Chains

"No Excuses" is the lead single from American rock band Alice in Chains' third EP, Jar of Flies (1994). Written by guitarist and co-lead vocalist Jerry Cantrell, the song was well received by music critics and was a charting success, becoming the first Alice in Chains song to reach No. 1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, spending a total of 26 weeks on the chart. It has gone on to become one of the band's most popular songs. The song was included on the compilation albums Nothing Safe: Best of the Box (1999), Music Bank (1999), Greatest Hits (2001), and The Essential Alice in Chains (2006). Alice In Chains performed an acoustic version of "No Excuses" for its appearance on MTV Unplugged in 1996, which marked the last time they performed the song with Layne Staley, and that version was included on the band's Unplugged live album and home video release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Studio X</span> Recording studio in Seattle, Washington

Studio X is a music and media recording studio on 4th Avenue in downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. Originally part of the Kaye-Smith Enterprises media conglomerate founded by Lester Smith and actor Danny Kaye, the studio was used to record commercials and musicians. The studio was re-launched as Steve Lawson Productions by Steve and Debbie Lawson in 1979. The sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson of the band Heart owned the studio from 1991 until 1997, and named it Bad Animals after their 1987 album of the same name. Artists such as Heart, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Queensrÿche, Mad Season, Foo Fighters, Audioslave, Aerosmith, The Beach Boys, Jerry Cantrell, Eddie Vedder, Duff McKagan, Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Radiohead, R.E.M., Deftones, Soulfly, Steve Vai, KMFDM, and Neil Young have recorded at the studio.

Scott Olson is an American guitarist, bassist, music producer and recording engineer. He played guitar with Heart between 1995 and 1998 and between 2002 and 2003, and in 1996 he performed with Alice In Chains on their MTV Unplugged concert. Olson was a recording consultant for Cameron Crowe's 2000 film Almost Famous. He performed with Alice in Chains again on February 18, 2005, during a benefit concert in Seattle for the victims of the 2004 tsunami disaster, and joined the band one more time to perform the song "No Excuses" at their concert in Washington, D.C., on October 25, 2006.

Talk to Me is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Showbox</span> Music venue in Seattle, Washington

The Showbox is a music venue in Seattle, Washington, United States. It has been owned by AEG Live since 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackdiamondskye</span> 2010 concert tour by Alice in Chains, Deftones and Mastodon

Blackdiamondskye was a 2010 North American concert tour headlined by American rock band Alice in Chains featuring special guests Deftones and Mastodon. Blackdiamondskye is a portmanteau of the three band's then-most recent albums: Alice in Chains' Black Gives Way to Blue (2009), Deftones' Diamond Eyes (2010), and Mastodon's Crack the Skye (2009). The tour began on September 16, 2010 in Chicago and concluded on October 16, 2010 in Las Vegas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voices (Alice in Chains song)</span> 2013 single by Alice in Chains

"Voices" is a song by the American rock band Alice in Chains and the third single from their fifth studio album, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (2013). Guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell takes lead vocals on the song. The single premiered exclusively on USA Today website on July 26, 2013, and was released to radio stations on July 29, 2013. "Voices" peaked at No. 3 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks, and stayed on the chart for 20 weeks. It also peaked at No. 18 on the Rock Airplay chart.

"Black Gives Way to Blue" is a song by American rock band Alice in Chains, and the last track on their 2009 studio album of the same name. Written and sung by guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell, it features Elton John on piano. The song is a tribute to the band's late lead singer, Layne Staley, who died in 2002. Cantrell described the song as the band's goodbye to Staley. The first concert that Staley attended was Elton John's, and Cantrell's first album was Elton John Greatest Hits (1974). A piano mix of the song is a bonus track on iTunes. The lyrics to "Black Gives Way to Blue" are printed on the base plate of Jerry Cantrell's signature Cry Baby Wah-Wah pedal.

"Sunshine" is a song by the American rock band Alice in Chains and the eighth track on their debut album, Facelift (1990). The song was written by guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell as a tribute to his mother Gloria, who died in 1987.

"So Far Under" is a song by the American rock band Alice in Chains and the second single from the band's sixth studio album, Rainier Fog, released on August 24, 2018. The single was released via YouTube, streaming and digital download on June 27, 2018. The lyrics and music were written by Alice In Chains' co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist William DuVall, who also played the guitar solo in the song.

<i>Rainier Fog</i> 2018 studio album by Alice in Chains

Rainier Fog is the sixth studio album by American rock band Alice in Chains, released on August 24, 2018, through BMG, the band's first release on the label. The title was inspired by Mount Rainier, a volcano that overlooks the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area, and the title track is a tribute to the Seattle music scene. This is the band's third album with William DuVall sharing lead vocals with Jerry Cantrell, and the first Alice in Chains album in 22 years to be recorded in their hometown of Seattle. The album was partially recorded at Seattle's Studio X, the same studio where the band recorded their 1995 self-titled album. Rainier Fog is also Alice in Chains' third collaboration with producer Nick Raskulinecz, marking their first time recording three full-length albums with the same producer.

"Rainier Fog" is a song by the American rock band Alice in Chains. It is the fourth single and the title track to the band's sixth studio album, Rainier Fog (2018). Written by guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell, the song is a tribute to the Seattle music scene and the band's former members, Layne Staley and Mike Starr, and the title was inspired by Mount Rainier, a volcano that overlooks Seattle. The single peaked at No. 20 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart. Excerpts from the lyrics are featured upside down on the album cover. The full lyrics to "Rainier Fog" are inscribed on the bottom plate of Jerry Cantrell's signature Dunlop Cry Baby Wah pedal, released in April 2019.

Susan Jean Silver is an American music manager and businesswoman, best known for managing Seattle rock bands such as Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and Screaming Trees. Silver also owns the company Susan Silver Management, and co-owns the club The Crocodile in Seattle. Silver was named "the most powerful figure in local rock management" by The Seattle Times in 1991.

References

  1. ↑ "The Crocodile reopens Saturday with a Hot Buttered Rum show". The Seattle Times. March 20, 2009. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Stewart, Jade Yamazaki (December 2, 2021). "Peek inside The Crocodile's new space as the storied Seattle music venue reopens". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Tom Scanlon (December 17, 2007). "Crocodile Cafe abruptly closes its doors". The Seattle Times . Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Levin, Hannah (March 17, 2009). "The New Crocodile Opens on Thursday With Two Nights of Free Shows". Seattle Weekly. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  5. ↑ Hoffman, Ashley (April 17, 2019). "Alice Merton at The Crocodile". Lost In Concert. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  6. ↑ "The Crocodile Presents: TOM MORELLO: THE NIGHTWATCHMAN and Special Guests". The Stranger. October 18, 2018. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  7. ↑ "The Best Live Music Venues in Seattle". Seattle Magazine. September 2014. Archived from the original on August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  8. ↑ "The Croc's miracle mixer man Originally published". The Seattle Times. December 21, 2007. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Blecha, Peter (February 14, 2008). "Crocodile Cafe: Seattle's Icon of the Grunge Rock Era". HistoryLink.org. Archived from the original on July 9, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Joanna Newsom Concert Setlist at Crocodile Cafe, Seattle on June 5, 2004". Setlist.fm. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 John Marshall (December 18, 2007). "Seattle's Crocodile Cafe closes". Seattle Post-Intelligencer .
  12. ↑ "Porcupine Tree Concert Setlist at Crocodile Cafe, Seattle on June 4, 2005". Setlist.fm. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  13. ↑ Wilson, Kathleen (April 25, 2002). "It's My Party". The Stranger. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  14. ↑ "'Mandolin Mama' wows with stirring style of bluegrass". Seattle PI. June 16, 2005. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Neutral Milk Hotel Concert Setlist at Crocodile Cafe, Seattle on April 14, 1998". Setlist.fm. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Harvey Danger Play Final Show". SPIN. August 31, 2009. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  17. ↑ de Sola, David (August 4, 2015). Alice in Chains: The Untold Story. Thomas Dunne Books. p. 221. ISBN   978-1250048073.
  18. 1 2 "Legendary Crocodile, the cradle of grunge, rocks into its next stage". The Seattle Times. March 21, 2009. Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  19. 1 2 Gillian G. Gaar (February 2, 2010). "Alice in Chains' Homecoming". Seattle Weekly. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  20. 1 2 3 "The Return of The Crocodile". The Stranger. March 26, 2009. Archived from the original on March 29, 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  21. ↑ Thiessen, Brock (March 26, 2009). "Soundgarden Reunite For Gig Without Chris Cornell... But With Tad Doyle". exclaim!. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  22. ↑ "The Best Clubs in America / 7. The Crocodile in Seattle". Rolling Stone. March 28, 2013. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  23. ↑ Simmons, Abbey (May 25, 2013). "Top 10 live music venues in Seattle". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  24. ↑ "JoJo covers Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in Seattle". Rap-Up.com. October 10, 2013. Archived from the original on October 10, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Nirvana - Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA 1992". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  26. ↑ Banas, Erica (August 23, 2018). "Alice In Chains Sent Fans on a Scavenger Hunt to Access Secret Gig". ALT 92.9 Boston. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Alice in Chains Pop-up Museum Coming to the Croc". KISW. August 8, 2018. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  28. ↑ "The Crocodile - November 16, 2020, Facebook Page Post". Facebook . November 16, 2020. Archived from the original on May 29, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2020.

47°36′49″N122°20′40″W / 47.613488°N 122.344373°W / 47.613488; -122.344373

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.