CHS first ran this list of Capitol Hill’s shorter than expected list of grunge era landmarks a decade ago. Nice thing about history — things don’t change much. With KEXP in full nostalgia mode on its 50th anniversary and thanks to some inspiration from this poster for a 1987 show at the Canterbury unearthed by the PNW Music Archives, CHS is again counting it down.

Seattle may have birthed the hard crunch of rock and roll grunge but most of Capitol Hill’s stages we know weren’t born when it happened. The ones that were there have mostly faded away. There is no live music at today’s Canterbury — and the pounding of Soundgarden would most definitely not be welcomed by the apartment dwellers above. How they felt about it in 1987? Unclear. A decade ago, CHS described Capitol Hill’s role in grunge history as overstated thanks to Cameron Crowe. Grunge was, indeed, “born” around Belltown, the International District, and Pioneer Square. But the rockers did live and drink here. And, according to the histories, more played here than you might remember.

Here is a quick and dirty look at some points of interest from Capitol Hill’s place in Seattle’s grunge history. If you were here and know of a landmark or two we should consider, add a comment.

• Odd Fellows Hall: Before the growth of the Hill’s live music and nightlife scene, one of the most important performance venues on the Hill was the Odd Fellows Hall. It was also a much different place than the overhauled building we know now. The U-Men, possibly the first “true” grunge band, rocked the old rafters. Today, we’re betting a U-Man or two may have sampled a delicious Oddfellows brunch.
• Comet Tavern: Of course. Rock things happened there. But most references to it in the early grunge histories involve drinking, not laying down, sweet, thick layers of guitar fuzz.
• Chris Cornell’s living room: Somewhere on Capitol Hill. We don’t know where but you might. Soundgarden practiced there. Sorry neighbors. UPDATE: @linder_seattle says: “So Chris (and his brother before him) lived in I-5 Shores – a house on Melrose – around this time. Here is a photo of Soundgarden on Melrose right by the house.”

So Chris (and his brother before him) lived in I-5 Shores – a house on Melrose – around this time. Here is a photo of Soundgarden on Melrose right by the house. pic.twitter.com/AH07PhS48M

— Linda Corets (@linder_seattle) January 20, 2022

• The Rat House: Old house at 19th and Denny. A squat/commune/whatever that housed a tribe of Capitol Hill rockers.
• The Vogue: Nirvana played its first show at The Vogue — when it was in Belltown or whatever they called the place back in the old days. The Vogue later moved to 1516 11th Ave. Today, the place where Nirvana kind of played its first show but really didn’t is now Rain City Fit.
• Squid Row: In the space where the dearly departed Kincora once stood on E Pine was Squid Row. CHS commenter Timrrr wrote: “Squid Row however WAS a small and steady staple of the early grunge scene with many of the SubPop & K records kids playing there all the time. And yes, even Nirvana played there. (With Skin Yard too, if my aged memory serves…)

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