Seattle's Club Scene: More Is Better -- Local Nightspots Keep Multiplying, With Something For Just About Everyone

The state of the club is good.

Seattle, for all the hiking, biking, boating and retractable roofs, is still an indoor town. Movie theaters are big business and nightclubs are right behind. With the coming of "new music" at the end of the '80s also came a proliferation of places to play. There are some 200 entertainment venues in the greater Seattle area and the number is growing.

Rock

Rock clubs dominate. Modern music venues like The Crocodile Cafe, Moe's Mo'Roc'N Cafe and RKCNDY have received international notice. The Croc is going on its fifth year with no sign of slacking. Owner Stephanie Dorgan says "things have never been better. We're ready for another five years. In fact, I just renewed the lease."

Over at Moe's, co-owner Jerry Everard calls the Seattle club scene "amazing. It can go in any direction, big or small, high-tech or otherwise." Moe's put its New Year's show with the Presidents of the United States of America on the Internet, and Everard says that by the end of February, all of Moe's shows will be on the Net with audio and video feeds. "The technology allows us all kinds of possibilities. And when you're going out to that many people, the size of the club becomes academic."

According to house booker Damon Maletta, RKCNDY will be razed in February with plans to build a three-story structure with a Class H (hard liquor) license, restaurant and 1,000 to 1,200 capacity. "We want it to be a true nightclub," says Maletta, "and the biggest."

Change is how clubs stay fresh. Last year the Fenix took over its troubled next-door neighbor The Celebrity and doubled in size. It now runs two showrooms. The venerable OK Hotel split its space. The New World in Greenwood changed hands and became the China Club, upgrading to include better local and national acts. The Off Ramp had cut back its schedule but has now resumed nightly bookings.

The Lake Union Pub delivered the most punk attitude in town, The Shark in Kirkland went from pool hall to rock house, and the Weathered Wall found new owners and became even more dance-oriented.

Blues

Pioneer Square remains the center for blues and R&B. Included in the old town's joint cover policy are The Central, Larry's, Doc Maynards, bohemian, the Old Timers Cafe and The New Orleans. But blues isn't limited to the Square.

The Scarlet Tree on Roosevelt has long been an outlet for blues and so has Chicago's by Seattle Center. The Tower Grill in The Smith Tower recently added weekend blues, as has Sparky's in Everett and The Forecaster in Woodinville. Nor are Square clubs strictly blues. The Colourbox is alternative and Club Kilimanjaro features African and reggae music.

Jazz

Jazz outlets have significantly increased. Jazz Alley is still the undisputed spot for national acts, but jazz regularly plays at The New Orleans, Tula's in Belltown, Queen Anne's Paragon, Serafina on Eastlake, Ponti's near Fremont, Belltown Billiards, Northwest Coffee Co., The Art Bar on Second, Cafe Simpatico in Wallingford, Latitude 47, Old Town Alehouse, Penny University, The Speakeasy and Zasu, which was the Swan before going through a much-needed face lift.

Unplugged

Unplugged or acoustic music was happening here well before MTV popularized the concept, but the quieter form has seen an increase of late. Although not exclusively acoustic, The Backstage in Ballard is still arguably the best room to hear variations on that theme, be they rock, folk, country, jazz or polka.

The Antique Sandwich Co. in Tacoma has been running folk for ages, The Still Life in Fremont is another eclectic venue, as is Belltown's Two Bells Tavern. In Wallingford it's The Roadrunner Coffeehouse, West Seattle has the Madison Cafe, The Laotian has long been a cozy folk outlet, and The Tractor Tavern brings to Ballard folk and country with a firm nod toward Celtic and Irish music.

Actually, there's a covey of clubs that feature green music including Murphy's, The Old Pequliar, Conor Byrne's, The Owl & Thistle, Fiddler's Inn and The Dubliner Pub.

Country

Country music is represented by The Riverside in Tukwila, The Little Red Hen in Greenwood, Gerry Andal's rib joints in Auburn and Everett and The Cascade Restaurant, also in Everett.

Dance

Recorded dance music has been a staple for years. And the types of music are as varied and numerous as the clubs themselves.

The Re-bar on Howell has long been one of the city's most popular dance spots. Aggressively multi-sexual and intolerant of intolerance, it changes its themes - and clothes - nightly. MC Queen Lucky and DJ Riz rule. The club also has live music.

The Vogue in Belltown has survived everything. Music styles change nightly and include reggae, gothic, industrial, new wave, alternative and, on Sunday, the ever popular fetish night. The Iguana Cantina is the new name for Pier 70, another forever-running spot. But while the name has changed, the game's the same: dancing and drinks for the chronically young. The Romper Room on lower Queen Anne has disco-ized everything from country to the Dead. Belltown's Downunder and 2218 clubs are tres slick. In the Square it's The Catwalk, Victor's and Metropolis, which also has live music. On Aurora, The Drift On Inn features recorded music and unbridled dancing from the '50s, '60s and '70s. In Bellevue the venue is Venue.

All-ages

Even the under-21s are finally getting their own, with Cafe Paradiso, DV8, SUP, Velvet Elvis, Puss Puss Cafe and the Pioneer Square Theater in Seattle, The Old Firehouse in Redmond, Ground Zero in Bellevue and The Java Jump in Fife.