Been to the new Crocodile yet?

Been to the new Crocodile yet?

I caught the first hip-hop show at the new Crocodile Cafe last weekend, and "new" is certainly the right term. "Remodled" or "revamped" would be an understatement.

The occasion was the record release party for Dyme Def's new EP Panic, which has to be a leap along the road towards legitimate national attention for the energetic and talented locals. Despite some light contraversy surrounding the show, the vibe was good all night. The performers and the audience couldn't seem to get enough of each other, and I kept wondering how the next act would upstage the previous.

Among the openers was the Saturday Knights, who offered possibly my favorite party album ever, Mingle, as a free download last year. Onstage, the DJ bangs a cowbell and the MCs jump around the stage dressed like Fat Albert characters. OneBeLo and Spaceman threw down like they should've been headlining their own show, and the 206 shined.

I didn't have my camera, but here are some photos of the acts and local notables in the crowd.

But about the Crocodile....
It's waaaaaay different. I'm a little torn, becuase on the one hand it's a better place to watch music than before. On the other, they Belltowned the hell out of it. Vaulted ceilings, heavy doors, and an all-around eery resemblence to the rest of the restaurant/bars on that stretch.

I try to refrain from excessive neighborhood snobbery, because I realize I'm one of those kids that locals see in Ballard and mutter," who let all these 16-year-old scenesters in here?" But some of the chicks in the Croc were seriously dressed like this woman -- with half the cooch hanging out and everything. It was gross.

Another serious sign for concern is that Croc-owner/restauranteur Mike McConnell is using the venue as the Belltown location for his new pizza chain Via Tribunali. I went to the one in Georgetown and the pizza was pretty good - not Flying Squirrel good, but quality. The thing that got me is that these sons of bitches have the nerve to charge $6 for a freaking pint of Manny's when the brewery is right down the street! I nearly puked. I'm surprised he didn't burn the Croc and build condos on it's ashes.

And as a former minor, it blows that they built a bar right into the back of the room. Are all-ages shows even possible now?

But even I admit that the sound and visibility are both better in the new space. The deck is cool, the line-ups have been great so far, and I'd watch music there again... I'm just sayin' I'm worried.

What do you think?