Schools That Rock

Venues: The Crocodile Cafe has long been a cornerstone of the Northwest music scene. The venue's popularity stems from a mix of indie-friendly bookings and its relative proximity to popular dive bars dotting Second Avenue. One of Seattle's larger midsize venues, the Showbox puts on general-admission shows by the likes of PJ Harvey. And the bi-level Neumo's Crystal Ball Reading Room brings in cult favorites from Iron and Wine to the Locust. If you're under twenty-one in Seattle, you'll quickly become familiar with the Vera Project, an all-ages nonsmoking, alcohol-free space.

Record Stores: When your parents' credit card is burning a hole in your pocket, head to one of the city's three main music shops. Bop Street stocks half a million vinyl LPs and 100,000 7-inch singles and offers trade if you're worried about breaking the bank. There's also the three-store indie chain Sonic Boom, which has frequent in-store appearances. And, even in a town where DIY is the norm, Singles Going Steady is one of the best local resources for indie musicians.

Radio: KEXP is the best station Seattle -- and really the entire Northwest -- has to offer. Commercial station the End, meanwhile, broadcasts "classic alternative."

Best Fests: The End also sponsors and throws a number of concerts, including the summer's Endfest and the holiday Deck the Hall Ball. But the best rock festival in Seattle is Bumbershoot, held annually over Labor Day weekend. It has featured everyone from Nas to the Pixies. Earlier in the summer, there's the more indie-rockcentric,weekend-long Sas-quatch! Music Festival at the Gorge Amphitheatre.

(Posted July 28, 2005)

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