It seems few things in Seattle music are disliked quite as much Showbox Sodo, the AEG-owned warehouse-turned-venue that’s just a block south of Safeco Field. My Twitter stream seemed to be particularly upset when Gotye’s April 20 show moved from the Neptune to Showbox Sodo, due to popular demand. I expect a similar response when word gets out about Of Monsters and Men making an identical move. While I don’t necessarily disagree with most of the criticisms – and have some of my own, like how the new ticketing system hasn’t made tickets noticeably less expensive since moving away from Ticketmaster last year - there are a few reasons why I enjoy going to shows there and am not sure all of the hyperbolic contempt for the space is warranted. I made a list of those reasons below.
1. It fills an important niche. By being the largest club in the Seattle, it fills an important void by offering a club setting for shows where a theater environment may not be appropriate, like with rock, hip hop and dance shows.
2. Booking. By being an 1,800 capacity venue, it can accomodate a lot of popular acts – and it gets them. I’ve seen quite a few great shows at Showbox Sodo, including The Dismemberment Plan, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Metric, Big Boi, Crystal Castles, Miike Snow, Justice, Lily Allen and countless others. I’m still disappointed that I missed the first proper Cars show in years and My Chemical Romance last year. The booking is diverse and brings in a lot of really great acts and by being a venue of its size, it can accomodate fans by usually giving them a chance to get tickets before they sell out in a few moments.
3. It’s relatively comfortable. The only venue I can think of in Seattle where I’d rather see a sold out show is the Triple Door. But sold out shows at Sodo never seem uncomfortably packed, as they can at other spaces. While sold out shows are never really comfortable, I’ve never felt confined or trapped and getting to restrooms, or bars, or exits can be much easier than it is in other venues.
4. It hosts a lot of all ages shows. Most clubs in town don’t bother hosting all ages shows because the restrictions are too onerous. With Showbox Sodo, they offer quite a few all ages shows (probably even a majority of shows on its calendar). With its size, its able to offer those shows while also having bars, where clubs make a lot of their money.
5. The layout. While a former warehouse has few charms aesthetically, I appreciate that there’s an adjacent bar with plenty of seats. If I’m not feeling a particular band, it’s easy to get away and not pay attention or have a conversation with someone.
6. The location. Sodo may not be the nicest, or coolest, neighborhood in Seattle, but Showbox Sodo is a short enough walk to the light rail station that it’s easy to navigate. When I owned a car, it was easier for me to find free parking on the street close to venue than it was for any other space in more popular neighborhoods.
7. The staff. I think most of the staff works at both the Showbox at the Market and Sodo and they are almost always professional and friendly and security is very efficient in those times when, as we sometimes say, shit gets real. A Seattle Weekly profile of one of the Showbox’s best bartenders noted that they all have at least five or six years of experience at the Showboxes, it shows.
{Photo from AEGWorldwide.com}
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Great article. Now you got me thinking about STG and how they book the Neptune. A lot of shows get moved from there. Like why did they ever book M83 there in the first place if they knew they had the Paramount available? He sold 1300 tickets at Neumos (2 sold-out shows) in Nov. and they book him inot the 900 capacity Neptune. Then they are surprised when it sells out in one day? I just wish ANY of these venues would offer you a refund when they move from one place to another. See ya.
I enjoyed this Chris, reading about someone else’s opinion on a venue is always great discussion.
I do like SoDo for the most part, except the concrete flooring. I know after standing 1-3 hours that my knees and feet will be sore (Chop Suey & Tractor too). I wish that they would put raised flooring that would give it some give, like Market has today.
#6 is key for me. As someone who drives up from Tacoma for shows, the SoDo is the easiest: always free parking and a decent bar right across the street. Super-easy egress to the freeway, too.
Also, you’re right it rarely feels cramped. I’ve been able to wander right up near the stage for sold out shows like Nick Cave and Mastodon.
An out-of-towner’s perspective: I love going to the Showbox. I’ve been to maybe a dozen decent shows there over the past 5 years or so. Not only is it one of my favorite venues in Seattle, it’s one of my favorites anywhere. I like The Tabernacle, Eddie’s Attic and The Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta very slightly better, and there are several other Atlanta spots that are probably tied in my mind, but whenever I visit the Seattle area I get excited because I know I’ll be able to see a great show or three at the Showbox. Any locals that run it down may not realize how good they have it.
Good and valid points Chris, but the two huge things missing from this list are 1) Sound Quality -especially for acoustic acts – and 2) Sight lines, or lack thereof.
I think Goyte will work, I would love to see Girl Talk there, but my bad experience seeing two of my favorite artists (Josh Ritter + Scott Hutchinson from Frightened Rabbit) soured me to anything else.