The Crocodile Cafe has shut down.

I admit that the Croc wasn’t my favorite place to see a show in Seattle (that honor probably goes to the Tractor Tavern, or maybe the Graceland when it wasn’t too full), but I recognize its place in Seattle music history. And I did see some good shows there–in fact, my first time out to a show as a Seattle resident was there (Kristin Hersh!). I can still picture my late night drives back and forth between Beacon Hill (later Ballard) and 2nd and Blanchard.

And the last show I saw in Seattle (OK, after I’d already moved away) was a Robert Pollard solo show at the Croc. This was a few years after a GBV show there after which there was so much broken glass to clean up they shifted their next stop in town to the Showbox (with plastic beer bottles).

In between, I also saw–and walked out on–the White Stripes at the Croc. And Peter Buck playing guitar like four feet away from me. And the Breeders. And Camper Van Beethoven. (And one time I shared a table with Sarah Shannon!)

Unfortunately the Crocodile Cafe didn’t advertise many shows with custom flyers, so it’s not well-represented here. However, I do have a few to share.