Local boutique label Latent Print Records specializes in reissuing albums by local artists that are often overlooked when it comes to the discourse of Northwest rock music. The label has released albums by Goodness, Loudermilk, Black Happy, Hammerbox and many other local gems you may not have thought about for a few decades.
The label’s latest release breaks from the reissue pattern but still focuses on spotlighting the greatness of some of the lesser-known local bands that helped shape the Seattle music scene during the 2000s. We’re talking bands like United State of Electronica, The Divorce, Visqueen, Dolour and many others that were the meat of the local club scene during the aughts.
The album, Live at The Crocodile: Back to Belltown, is the perfect time capsule of an era of Seattle music that paved the way for the diverse and robust local music scene we have today. It is a sequel album of sorts to the 1996 compilation “Bite Back: Live at the Crocodile.” And following in the footsteps of its predecessor, proceeds from the album will benefit Planned Parenthood and Transplant House, similar to how the 1996 compilation benefitted Planned Parenthood and the Northwest AIDS Foundation.
The album features 18 songs, each by a different artist, recorded during performances at the fabled Crocodile Cafe between 2004-2007. The artists featured are a good representation of what the local rock scene was like during that era. It’s a mix of bands that made it big (Harvey Danger), bands that sort of made it big (The Long Winters), scene stalwarts (The Minus Five, Kinski), holdovers from the ’90s (Sweet Water Goodness) and lesser-known but fondly remebered artists (Aqueduct, Dear John Letters).
The record looks to be a great way to get nostalgic for the Seattle scene that was, and if you didn’t live through this particular period of local music it will be an excellent way to discover some of the best, under-appreciated bands in Seattle music history.
The record is available for purcahse through Latent Print Records’ Indiegogo campaign. The campaign is active through Oct. 9 and includes several perks for various levels of contributions.
“Live at the Crocodile: Back to Belltown” will be available digitally and on colored vinyl as a double LP on Jan. 13. An album release party featuring several of the bands on the compilation will happen the same night at The Crocodile.
