Acoustic-Music Fans Singing The Blues At Madison's Cafe

There's no smoking in here, so why all the watery eyes in this West Seattle roadhouse?

Around midnight last Thursday at Madison's Cafe, singer Nancy Colton is trying out a new composition, "You Gave."

There's a loss in the air, tonight/Just breathe it in, don't fight . . .

This song about a relationship fast coming to a close hits hard with the patrons. It's not a sad good-bye to someone only Nancy knew, but a parting kiss - slow, quivering, pained - to Madison's itself.

After four years as owner/cook/booking agent, Bill Pritchard is moving on to create a new scene (see below). Pritchard and his wife, Kathy (who recently made a career change to real estate), took the tough, blue-collar Delridge Tavern and created a cozy little folk/acoustic sanctuary.

Madison's Cafe - arguably the best little nightclub in Seattle - is one part "Cheers," two parts "Austin City Limits," with a dash of Greenwich Village. This has been a haven for fans of acoustic music, and a nurturing ground for local singer-songwriters.

There is an official ban on smoking, and unofficial ones on cynicism and pretension. Check out elegant Willow, a few minutes after getting strong applause for her intimate set, helping bus a table as Colton sings.

There's a time for angels/and a time for ghosts . . .

Jill Cohn, who opened the night, recently returned to Seattle from Los Angeles. She notes that where club owners down there would give you the cold shoulder if you didn't draw a big crowd, Pritchard would always invite you back if he liked your voice, even after a slow night.

You gave our hearts a center stage . . .

The Pritchard era ends on Oct. 1, with a farewell show.

Pritchard expects to get two offers on the restaurant-club this week. "One would keep the music, the other I don't know about," Pritchard says, taking a break from making his legendary tomato soup. "I hope the new owners will carry on in the same spirit."

. . . a spotlight for our souls.

Pritchard turns to all-ages scene

-- Seattle's all-ages scene is changing faster than an adolescent's mood swings.

Pritchard is one of the key players in this suddenly dynamic field.

"The Paradox coming soon," says the marquee of the University Theater. It may sound like advance notice of a Keanu Reeves action movie, but this is actually an advertisement for a new all-ages club.

The Paradox will open Oct. 29, with a show by local band Willis. The 225-seat University District theater will feature other Seattle acts, as well as touring rock and acoustic acts. Pritchard, who is looking forward to leaving behind the stress of running a business, is booking the new club. He plans to use much of the talent he got to know at Madison's.

Last week, owners of a new club called Graceland - at the site of the old Off Ramp - said they hope to mix all-ages shows and over-21 concerts.

These two new clubs, and the recent addition of all-ages shows at the Fenix, take some sting out of the collapse of Seattle's teen music scene pillars: The Velvet Elvis checked into Heartbreak Hotel at the end of June, and RKCNDY will be gone after Halloween, just like real candy.

Who's playing

-- The British are coming - Tricky, Basement Jaxx, Manic Street Preachers.

Tricky, playing the Showbox on Tuesday (9 p.m., $20 advance), has a new collection of players behind him. For the characteristically intense album "Juxtapose," his army includes rappers Muggs (of Cypress Hill) and Mad Dog, sultry vocalist Kioka and DMX producer Grease.

Tricky's latest album lays down slow, easy guitar grooves - then slams spit-fire raps over a kicked-up beat.

Endlessly inventive, Tricky puts to shame most American MCs, still plodding away in the old tired ruts.

The rock band Manic Street Preachers - quite huge in the United Kingdom, haven't quite caught on here - play from "This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours" at ARO.space tonight (9 p.m., $15 advance).

House/drum-and-bass rising stars Basement Jaxx crank up ARO on Tuesday (9 p.m., $12 advance).

-- More than O.K.: Singer-songwriter Pete Droge and rockers Toadstool play the O.K. Hotel on Saturday (8 p.m., $12), a benefit for the Native American reservation in Pine Ridge, S.D. Traditionally one of the most destitute areas in the country, the area was hit with a tornado in June.

Tom Scanlon can be reached at 206-464-3891 or tscanlon@seattletimes.com.