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Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Bars / Love / RIP Remembering King Cobra
Posted by Eric Grandy on Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 1:02 PM
In this comments thread, Emerald City Soul Club DJ Gene Balk shares his fond memories of King Cobra:
RIP King Cobra. We had a short run there with Talcum, but it couldn't have been more fun. The vibe was super friendly, our soul 45's sounded awesome, and the dance floor was the slipperiest in town (we would go through an industrial sized bottle of talcum powder in a night). I hope the club has yet another reincarnation.
So, what are yours? What was the best show you saw at King Cobra? What was your favorite thing about the club? What happened that one time when you got way too drunk there but it was still totally cool?
Please feel free to share your remembrances in the comments.
2
Dude, Talcum kicked ass! Emerald City at the Lo-Fi has gotten so crowded that it is hardly fun anymore for all the regulars. I hope it finds a new spot. King Cobra was PRIME!
3
It's too bad the club isn't keeping its doors open through Saturday. Talcum would have been a great way for it to go out.
4
Memories
Good
- The stage sound and room sound was pretty awesome. Plus, you got to say that "that guy who recorded SDRE" did your sound. Greg is top notch and the equipment they had for him to make use of helped to highlight this point.
- The lit-up booths made it like you were playing a show at a strip club, which was funny in a good way.
- There was a perfect amount of bathroom facilities.
Bad
- Having played live music for almost 10 years, the payout situation for bands was the worst I have ever encountered in the city, save for maybe the High Dive. This is/was a pretty common complaint among musicians who have played there. It is downright disrespectful when a band promotes and promotes a show, brings in a bunch of people, and then gets handed $4 at the end of the night. There is no love for such business practices.
- While helpful and friendly, this place had way too much staff, which directly played a role in the payout situation mentioned above.
- There were maybe 20 or so shows that were worth seeing, and then a couple of dance nights that were cool, but that was it. The booking was godawful in that it was just slightly better than Studio 7. Slightly.
Good
- The stage sound and room sound was pretty awesome. Plus, you got to say that "that guy who recorded SDRE" did your sound. Greg is top notch and the equipment they had for him to make use of helped to highlight this point.
- The lit-up booths made it like you were playing a show at a strip club, which was funny in a good way.
- There was a perfect amount of bathroom facilities.
Bad
- Having played live music for almost 10 years, the payout situation for bands was the worst I have ever encountered in the city, save for maybe the High Dive. This is/was a pretty common complaint among musicians who have played there. It is downright disrespectful when a band promotes and promotes a show, brings in a bunch of people, and then gets handed $4 at the end of the night. There is no love for such business practices.
- While helpful and friendly, this place had way too much staff, which directly played a role in the payout situation mentioned above.
- There were maybe 20 or so shows that were worth seeing, and then a couple of dance nights that were cool, but that was it. The booking was godawful in that it was just slightly better than Studio 7. Slightly.
5
One time I saw a show there that was completely sold out beyond capacity. I had to wait in line for 30 mins. for a beer but it was well worth it.
7
I only saw one show there: Champagne Champagne at last year's Block Party. It was good times. Seemed like a cool venue, but they just didn't book shows that I was interested.
Also, one time I ran into the dudes from Wild Orchid Children outside after they'd played a show I totally didn't know about there. That was fun too.
Also, one time I ran into the dudes from Wild Orchid Children outside after they'd played a show I totally didn't know about there. That was fun too.
10
It seems weird to be "remembering" a club that hasn't even closed yet.
On the other hand, it also seems a little late to be extolling its virtues.
On the other hand, it also seems a little late to be extolling its virtues.
11
I saw Brent Amaker & the Rodeo there, and Ra Ra Riot. Both were great. The venue was pretty cool. I like that upstairs bar and catwalk. It was rare for me to be interested in the bands they booked at KC though. Otherwise I'm sure I would have gone there more often. I'm certainly not disappointed that Ra Ra Riot is at Neumo's for tonight's show instead of back at KC. 'Twas bound to happen.
12
Akimbo's 10 year anniversary show with Helms Alee was great. So was ASVA/Trees/Iron Lung/Pig Heart Transplant. Saw a couple smaller metal shows there (Nachtmystium w/ Black Breath, and Black Breath with Burning Leather, Lebanon, and Detonize just the other night) that were fun, but definitely too small a draw for a club like that.
13
Does anyone know the name and phone number of the landlord? I know someone who might be interested in the space and might be able to take over the lease to save King Cobra some headaches. Post it if you know it, would love to help the KC out if I can.
14
@14 -- The place is going for cheap... or next to nothing. Seriously, offer $1.
contact:
conrad@vantageseattle.com
contact:
conrad@vantageseattle.com
15
Th best show at King Cobra EVER:
The Halloween Cabaret with the Urban Bombshells Burlesque Show
www.myspace.com/urbanbombshells
The Halloween Cabaret with the Urban Bombshells Burlesque Show
www.myspace.com/urbanbombshells
17
I cant believe this club lasted this long. The booking was so bad. You have local rock bands with terrible fan bases headlining weekend nights, going up against Nuemos, Chop, and Comet? Come on. I wont dog any particular bands out but there was about a 3 month window of the same bands playing up to 2x a month at Cobra. Are you kidding? If from the start the club would have catered to different styles of music then it could have worked. It's pretty obvious that straight forward rock music is not hitting in Seattle and to try to make this purely a rock club has failed. Not to say after time good acts of other genre's played here but all in all it was a vision that was doomed to fail. To be across from a powerhouse like Nuemos you better start off with a fat bankroll and prepare to eat shit for awhile. Good luck, who's next?
18
I remember the good 'ol days, before Eric Grandy destroyed the place.
It's like it was only yesterday.... he waved his magic wand, cursing the place forever. Before that, the management was making super intelligent decisions and running the place like clockwork.
Way to go, Grandy. You've done it again.
It's like it was only yesterday.... he waved his magic wand, cursing the place forever. Before that, the management was making super intelligent decisions and running the place like clockwork.
Way to go, Grandy. You've done it again.
19
The place was packed to the gills for the first four days of music. Everyone was optimistic. There was excitement in the air. We had found our new club, being major bummed about the closing of our old one, Kincora Pub, we hoped this would be a step up from that but with live music. With a major heavy focus on ROCK, PUNK, and METAL. Sadly, Seattle isn't a rock n roll town ANYMORE...
Plus, there was a restaurant there, that if the right cook (Danny) was working, the food would be great. But this never got any local press.
Yes, maybe, this was a huge leap from a bar like Kincora and maybe no one knew exactly what they were doing. BUT DID THEY GET ANY HELP??????????
And on nights when the stage was shut down and it was a bar you could find 5-10 locals (if you were luckY), while everyone else was drinking at other local bars, not giving a fuck that KING COBRA was struggling to make ends meet.
It was real sad to see everyone's hopes and dreams conquered by everyones pessimism. LUV to the KING COBRA forever.
Plus, there was a restaurant there, that if the right cook (Danny) was working, the food would be great. But this never got any local press.
Yes, maybe, this was a huge leap from a bar like Kincora and maybe no one knew exactly what they were doing. BUT DID THEY GET ANY HELP??????????
And on nights when the stage was shut down and it was a bar you could find 5-10 locals (if you were luckY), while everyone else was drinking at other local bars, not giving a fuck that KING COBRA was struggling to make ends meet.
It was real sad to see everyone's hopes and dreams conquered by everyones pessimism. LUV to the KING COBRA forever.
20
The Hanson Brothers show this past November, during T-day weekend, was the bomb. The sound was really great for a really loud rock club.
I admit I was hoping for more cross-over rock/punk shows a la El Corazon or Funhouse, because the sound & vibe in that place is really sweet, but that's just where my tastes lie. Oh well.
I admit I was hoping for more cross-over rock/punk shows a la El Corazon or Funhouse, because the sound & vibe in that place is really sweet, but that's just where my tastes lie. Oh well.
22
RIP King Cobra. Your slippierest dance floor covered in pure white talcum allowed plenty of room to get my dance on. Talcum, I expect you to rise from the ashes and provide another great dance night in the near future. I need my monthly fill of friendly, sexy DJ's and the people who love them.
23
Nils speaks truth
seattle is nothing but shallow scenester fucks
go to the cha cha any night for the doubters
seattle is nothing but shallow scenester fucks
go to the cha cha any night for the doubters
24
last couple times I've been to the Cha Cha, it's been mostly sketchy ex-con looking dudes doing key bumps at their booths who look like they want to fight anyone in the room, even girls. and then they do. oh yeah... Nils was there too.
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