Tractor Tavern

Last night? Who knows…I practically live at the Tractor. And I love it.

...the beer was still good and cheap and there were a ton of maniacs all over the place celebrating Christmas. This was in large part because of the maniacs on stage, namely the mighty mighty Squirrels—out once again to make the season their own.

Robbie Fulks is the greatest wit in country music. I got a sense of it half a decade ago when a friend pointed me to his expressive take on Seattle’s music scene after playing here with the Crust Brothers on New Years Eve, and I’m reminded of it vividly whenever he swings through town. Even when he’s playing a Monday night show on his way somewhere else, explicitly earning some gas money on the side, the man delivers.

I saw Eastmountainsouth’s March 2004 performance at the Tractor and was pleasantly surprised. I was alone but found a couple of people to chat with while we waited for the to start, and the smaller performance space meant a much more intimate ineraction with the main act and with the opener (Brian Webb). Reasonable drink prices and it wasn’t too crowded for that show; I also had no trouble finding a place to park in the perennially overcrowded Ballard streets.

Twang, alt.country, y’allternative, cowcore…call quality, country-influenced live music what you want, this bar is its home in Seattle, which has a pretty vibrant scene for Americana stuff. Dan the owner is a music enthusiast, the employees are cool, and you can always wait out a bad opening act at Hattie’s up the street.