I think I legitimately love this venue! It's everything you love about small venues...the ability to be close to the performers, great sound and cool vibe. Went to a sold out show last night and there was NEVER more than a 2 minute wait at the bar. That is a testament to how well the bartenders do at getting you served and on to the next....and they were NICE too....you didn't leave having felt like they were just pushing you through to get to the next customer. There were 2 small problems that caused a 4 instead of 5 star review....no seating other than a wooden bench along one wall, While I anticipated this and wore sensible shoes I can imagine this isn't ideal for everyone. Secondly the bathroom, the only problem with small venues is small bathrooms. The bathroom line was longer than the bar line every time....because there'e only 2 stalls. read more

Bar is pretty average, made a good amaretto sour ..good sound system. Prices are decent. But they manage to pack WAY too many people into a very small space. You will be stepped on, ran into, just about wear someone else's drink, and stand the entire time you're there. I stand all day for work, so I didn't enjoy the place as much as some others may.. read more

Awesome bands and good servers. Be prepared to stand for whole concert though as there are only a couple of tables and one long bench against a wall. Overall great acoustics and fun place. read more

I love the Tractor! The only thing that could possibly make it better would be a photo booth! Regardless, this is a neighborhood gem.

I've been to the Tractor for numerous shows over the years and have never had a bad experience. The sound has been great and not too loud for the size of the venue. But, of course, the closer your are to the speakers the more ringing in your ears you can expect the next day. The crowds have always been pretty friendly and not aggressive. The Bar pours the drinks that are reasonable and don't seem watered down. But what really matters is that the stage is nicely raised and there good viewing lines throughout the venue. The only downside is that now that I'm over 50, I have a hard time standing for the entire time. I wish there was more seating. Have a great time. read more

You'll will probably go to this small, over-packed, sweaty venue if there is live music you want to hear but keep your head down low when entering bc the front door folks are shockingly mean. read more

I was very disappointed and frankly disturbed by my experience here. I went here with a group of friends for a 90's night that we were all really excited for. After dancing for an hour or so, my friend was kicked out for...not really sure of the reason? I saw a cluster of shoving going on between people but not much else. Definitely nothing that warranted what happened next. Next thing I know I'm outside witnessing my friend kneeling on the pavement with a huge gash on her elbow, screaming in pain because she had just been pepper-sprayed by the bouncer who kicked her out. Thank god for the two women who helped her by calling the fire department and requesting a saline for my friend's eyes. Just from hugging my friend, I got some on my arm and immediately got a painful rash myself, I've never been pepper sprayed but just from that exposure I can't imagine the pain my friend was in. The callous actions of the bouncer and door guy were totally uncalled-for. The music was great and the bartenders were nice but there are plenty of venues in Seattle I could say the same for and not fear for my safety. I will never come here again unless I can be assured that management takes the safety and respect of its patrons seriously. Shame on the Tractor Tavern. read more

Wow... seven years in Seattle and I haven't reviewed the Tractor? That's almost like saying I've never had a Paseo sandwich! Needless to say, I've been to the Tractor many, many times over the years. In fact, one of my fondest memories is of seeing the legend, Mrs. Wanda Jackson perform here! More than just a place to catch great live (and often local) acts, the Tractor is a fun, casual bar to hang out in. I definitely recommend it to people when they're looking for a fun place to hit up in Ballard. Especially live music fans. read more

The Tractor is the Showbox's little baby brother. Not that they have the same parents, but they have the same good genes - good floor space, hard working barkeeps with pleasing pours and some really great bands. Just take Showbox's size and ticket prices and shrink them down and you have the Tractor Tavern Cootchie-cootchie-coo, little TT, cootchie-cootchie-coo. read more

I am torn on my rating for The Tractor. Their line-up of performers is close to a 5, but their facility ranks at about 2. I think I'll go with 2 (wish I could have 2.5). The area to view the show is a step up (one big). This requires help. The bathroom is just not accessible. Other businesses along the street will usually happily let you use their restroom, but that means giving up your spot (where you might be able to see), getting help down the step, and through the crowd, etc. I recommend not drinking very much if you need a wheelchair accessible restroom! At the last 3 shows I've been to, they played really really really loud music during the breaks between music acts. I'm not sure why this is...I don't think it keeps the crowd "pumped up" or anything, and I know many would appreciate a break for their ear-drums. Sometimes the speakers sound really terrible during this time as well, horrible machine buzzing noises louder than the music itself (I don't know that much about sound - just whether it's enjoyable or not...). Another downside for serious music-lovers is that a lot of people seem to just end up here during performance nights, so during quieter acts you might have to strain to hear the musician over the loud loud talkers. I like that I can buy a big ol' can of cider and listen to some awesome bands, so The Tractor will continue to get my business. If they added a ramp to the raised portion of the room, and made their bathroom bigger, I'd even recommend it to my friends. read more

At first I just wished the Tractor would run over the top of me to put me out of my misery. The bartender didn't know what a sidecar was and the lemon drop I settled on was hardly passable, the crowd was sparse and there were cowboy boots and western paraphernalia everywhere. So shoot me, I'm a city girl. But once the bands started playing the time was quickly redeemed. Smokey Brights was the first band I saw. They were a fun, energetic blend that reminded me of Morrissey (the Smiths), The Doors and B52 with some country swing replete with harmonica toward the end. Staying true to the band's name, Kim's harmonies were dissonant and haunting, as were some of the lyrics. "The light from the crescent moon shines down on these devil's wings." My favorite song of the night had to be Beg, Borrow & Steal. I still can't shake it from my mind. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHZYZ2Tl9cc&feature=autoplay&list=ULF0msB92_w_A&lf=mfu_in_order&playnext=1 The second band was equally awesome and they seem to have gathered quite a following. The singer/song-writer's name is Kris Orlowski and I think he is Seattle's Ryan Gosling. Not to say he won't surpass that role, but it seems like a good place to start. He has the same strong spiritual essence, but it's not quite as dark. His vocals are deep, brooding and extremely vulnerable. His distinct vibrato borders on gurgling. With his blue's clue's haircut he would be positively nerdy, if he weren't so, I don't know, honest. sensitive. spiritual. He's capable of moving boundaries with his voice and intellect. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHZYZ2Tl9cc&feature=autoplay&list=ULF0msB92_w_A&lf=mfu_in_order&playnext=1 I was just completely blown away by the quality of the performers. I think I might have to start going every week... I'll just skip the drinks next time. read more

Holy damn, do I love the Tractor Tavern. I love the illuminated Jesus sitting precariously atop the PBR tallboy laden fridge. The worn/tattered leather boots hanging from the rafters. Even the strangely-epic painting of a stern horse in a sea of thunder and lightning. But what I most admire about the Tractor Tavern (The Double T, Hicktown Bar, OMGTHISPLACEISINCREDIBLE) is their ability to put on a consistently excellent show. Last night I bid farewell to one of my favorite bands, Flashes of Quincey, and I can think of a more suitable time to write this review. Of all the 15ish shows I've been to of Flashes, they have never sounded better than their time spent on this little stage in Ballard. They manage to make everything from hip-hop acts, folk bands, and rock groups sound amazing in that (somewhat) tiny space. You want food? Go to Hattie's Hat. Because the Tractor Tavern is too busy filling the place with a laid back vibe, good tunes, and fantastic beverages to even think about complicating things with such trivial things as a kitchen. The bartenders are bitchin' and the crowd never seems to be full of pop collared Guido douchebags sent out in the night to ruin life as it is. A refreshing change from some of the shows I've been to in Fremont, Capitol Hill and the like. With that said, if I had a can of PBR left over leftover from last night's debaucheries, I'd pour one out to you Tractor. Because you happen to be just that bad ass. (See ya soon.) read more

Id say a solid 3 1/2 stars here for the Tractor Tavern. It's a good little venue. The place is roomy with enough space to hold the folk-music to country to whatever-is-booked crowds that show up here. The sound was very nice as well-- no issues there. All the bands had no technical issues and theirs songs came across loud and clear. "Rustic" has been mentioned already for the decor -- and that is fitting. Brown is the main color. Wagon wheels , boots and spurs abound on the walls here, while the place is sort of dusky lit to enhance that, er...uh... western ambiance? The bar is decent -- with strong pours and friendly enough bar-tenders to make you feel welcome. They will give you plenty of water to boot too, so hydration is never an issue. Bathroom is teensy weensy. And a little tricky to get to when maneuvering through a crowd that seems to stand right in the damned doorway of the facilities. They lose the most points on seating though. 2 places to sit in the stage area proper, otherwise you are banished to the bar which works I suppose but maybe I want to be able SEE the band and shake my tuckus a little and then be able to sit down when my high heels start to kill me? Otherwise, a nice little joint up in Ballard. I have no qualms coming here again if a band so interests me. read more

Great music venue! They consistently book good bands, local and touring. With an old-school cowboy vibe, yet versatile music, this Ballard gem rocks Seattle's scene. You can buy tickets in advance, which is most convenient, they have a coat check, and the bar staff is masterful at taking care of hundreds of people without queuing up long lines. The sound is great - much better than other places I've been to in town. Last night's show was expectedly 'awesome' and with the line-up in the coming weeks I will definitely be returning soon. Especially to cheer on my hometown heroes, Split Lip Rayfield. Clear the floor - there will be dancing. read more

I love peeing in a trough. Especially when it's filled with ice, and you can wave your wiener around and melt the ice, and laugh at yourself in a drunken stupor because you think you're a damn genius for how awesome it is that your beer piss melts ICE. Yes, I've been that drunk at this establishment. But they pass no judgement in Ballard on a Tuesday at 1:30 in the a.m. Not even if you're a shitfaced, large-breasted 30-something blonde woman from Bellevue whose friends are too embarassed to stop you from hugging the attractive 28 year-old men on the street and trying to bring them home. I passed no judgement on her, and neither does Ballard. And I thank Ballard kindly for that. The Tractor hosts a bevy of Alt-Country, Alterna-Folk and college rock type musical acts, and they do it with a panache without peer. The sound quality is always perfectly balanced, just loud enough to rock the fuck out and not have to shout at the person in front of you to let them know their ass is invading my personal bubble. No judgements. I have performed here as well, in my band Certain Inertia (plug-plug-plug) and our experience from the performance side was the BEST we've had so far. Tractor brings a small handful of its own crowd, who are an easy-going and appreciative group of individs who are vastly cooler than the scensters trying so hard to be cool. They give drink tix to bandmembers, they pay well, the soundguy made our monitor mix sound GLORIOUS (falsetto) and the stage size, height and je ne sais quoi made us FEEL (vibrato) like rock stars. We'll be playing a show there again soon, and we cannot wait to melt our fans' hearts... and the Tractor's ice... free of judgement. Thank you, Ballard, g'night!!!!!! (reverb fade) read more

The Tractor taps into an untapped market (from what I've seen so far) in Seattle... the Texans. I was delighted when I arrived here tonight to see that they carry Shiner Bock... not my fave Texan beer, but I haven't seen it anywhere else in town. Had to get a couple for nostalgic purposes. Mmmmm... Shiner. I miss Texas. It's a great venue, relatively spacious and the acoustics seem to carry well. We somehow managed to score positioning right in front of the stage, which was fabulous. We saw Austinite Bob Schneider, but I'm told that the Tractor features all types of music, every night of the week. If I didn't live so far away, I'd frequent this place... and learn more about the Seattle live music scene. read more

Ballard's Tractor Tavern is one of my favorite venues in Seattle, always offering a full calendar of local and touring acts in an intimate (sometimes too intimate--more on that in a minute) setting. I imagine that years, even decades ago, the location where The Tractor is today was two separate retail spaces. The space is divided into two storefronts with the separating wall knocked out. You enter on the left hand side, where the bar is, and the music is on the right hand side. During rare all-ages shows, thanks to our puritanical alcohol laws, the drinking area is roped off on the bar side. So stupid! The folks who work the full bar are friendly and efficient. The bar usually features a nice range of rotating beers, although with this crowd, they probably sell four times more PBR than any other beer. I do wish they had some limited food options to soak up the beer and alcohol throughout the course of the evening. The stage is toward the back and is maybe 20' x 15' and 2.5' off the floor. Quite intimate, especially when you get larger acts up there. The viewing area features very few chairs and tables, so if you want to sit, you better get there early and be prepared to have your view obscured. The entire room is flat, so if you're height challenged and toward the back, you might have a view limited to the person's head who is in front of you. The bathrooms are super small, especially for a place where people are throwing back one beer after another, and can get kind of gross. At last night's show the tiny sink had over-flowed, so the entire floor of the men's room was covered in water. Then some old-ish guy decided to go on an epic drunk rant and basically stood there in the middle of the bathroom with his johnson hanging out of his pants and because the restroom is so small it was impossible to get away from him. People were stuck on both sides of the room waiting for him to put it away, so they could either enter or, in my case exit. All this aside, what really matters in the music, and I think the booking agent for The Tractor does a great job. You could show up on almost any night and get a great evening of music at a very reasonable price. I definitely recommend subscribing to the mailing list to stay caught up on the calendar of shows. read more

Came here for a concert so just to clarify, this is about the venue NOT the show. Pros: It's a really great intimate space for live performance and allows the audience to get right up close to the stage, and thus the artists can get really personal with their audience as they feel so inclined. There seemed to be enough separation between the bar-area and the main floor to allow for all-ages shows with minors in attendance, while keeping it open enough in the room that the bar-goers didn't seem totally closed-off. Cons: Not enough seating!!! And this was a BIG con for me. God forbid you actually get tired and need to sit and rest at any point during the show, because other than the stools at the bar and a handfull of benches along ONE wall, there is NOTHING. I'm sure that's handy for their square-dances, but otherwise, people better be willing to share or they'll be making friends with the floor. Oh and, I recommend bringing your concert earplugs because, although I def don't mind a loud concert, in a small space with acoustics like this, there's just not a lot of places for those sound waves to go other than crashing back over the audience. Jussayin, it can be a little jarring if you're not prepared. read more

Who knew I'd like a place I kept calling the Tractor Trailor?! Hehehe... This place isn't the type of place I'd usually go to, especially when I heard they have line-dancing or swing-dancing, or some sort of dancing I wouldn't do in a million years... but, as a concert venue, I was actually quite pleased. The stage here is small, but the sound is really good! The place itself is pretty divey, but I think that's what gives it charm. I especially enjoyed the half-crushed PBR cans shoved into random nooks and crannies through out the place or the cobwebs decorating the lighting fixtures on the ceiling. The beer selection leaves something to be desired, but then again, I was happy NOT to see gross mainstream beers like Budweiser, Coors, or Miller Lite on tap. The people who worked there were very friendly, from the person who greeted us at the door to the female bartender behind the bar. The one big issue I have with this place is the women's bathroom. It's definitely a sign on what gender owns the place, ahem ahem. Not only was the bathroom also divey (shudders), but the stall was SO small that you had to sit sideways on the toilet in order to close the stall door. I'd recommend bringing a friend in to guard the door and just leaving the stall door open! The parking for this place also sucks, since it's just street parking. But I wouldn't hold that against them as it sucks through out Ballard. If you're lucky enough to find a spot, KEEP IT, as typically you end up having to park blocks and blocks away from your destination. Welcome to Seattle though, right?!?! When it comes down to it, this place is alright. It's not the nicest venue I've been to, but it definitely works for small/intimate concerts! It reminds me a lot of the Belly Up in San Diego. Oh, I should mention this is a 21+ venue place since it's in a bar and they don't serve food. read more

Kind of a dive tavern that hosts great bands. Not enough seating. I am too old and too short to appreciate a show that requires standing. Sometimes they set up chairs for shows, but not often enough. Most shows are standing shows. I try to get therie early so I can get a chair. They let people smoke in the doorway and the door guy smokes there too. This causes the room to fill with smoke. I won't be able to take my asthmatic wife there again. I'll still go because some of the obscure bands I like don't play anywhere else within reasonable driving distance Adequate drink selections, not much food choice. They have warm nuts. read more

What sets Tractor Tavern apart from your standard bars: - Live Music - Nice Bartenders (seriously!!) - Even better bouncers - Fun crowd I was most impressed with the bouncers' reaction time to an incident where a man had spilled beer on my friend's leather jacket against the chair back, as he was making his attempt to sit in her seat while she was away. He was politely asked to leave, and that someone had that seat, and became very hostile. The bouncers came out from all sides to defuse the situation. We purchased our tickets online to avoid any potential lines, but throughout the Friday night, the line seemed pretty light. read more

Saw a show there and the sound system was terrible. You couldn't hear any of the vocals of the first band, reverb everywhere and between set changes they did a full sound check of one band that took over 45 minutes. The headliner who had their own sound tech was great however. It could be a great venue for intimate shows but until they get a decent sound tech and they didn't make the audience sit through a 45 minute sound check between bands. In addition the ladies room was a joke. One normal sized stall and one stall you literally have to turn sideways to get into. Ridiculous. read more

What can I say except square dancing is a freakin blast?! I came here last Monday for a friend's birthday and it was so fun! Never done it? Even better. They have a band and a live caller, and they teach you the basic steps of each dance. Great for couples looking for a night of dancing, but no pressure if you're single because you just pair up and still have a great time - the majority of the numbers are in groups of 8 anyway. The $6 cover was definitely worth it, especially since I originally thought I'd need some liquid courage but was glad I didn't buy any drinks because it was enough of a task to figure it out even without the added dimension of alcohol. Not sure what the Tractor has on tap for the other nights of the week, but the Monday night square dancing is a must-do! I'll definitely be back here! read more

So much sweet fun. For those of us who skulked in the corner during junior high dances or, even better, hung out in the computer room to avoid the pain of being partnerless, rest easy that this will not happen to you at The Tractor's squaredancing nights. You will be partnered up as often as you like with people who don't mind that you haven't squaredanced since rain days in junior high, who encourage you to throw elbows to have fun, and don't act in any way, even remotely, like this is a meatmarket. I swept in with a group of friends around 7:45, post drinks at Kings, for a $5 cover while the Tall Boys were settling into the stage. What an adorable group! Old timey clothes, big old grins, and a rockin set. The caller on my first night was confident, earnest, and totally ruled the dance floor. Within minutes, folks were settling into squares and he was walking them through the dance steps. Very easy - even for the uncoordinated - and rollicking fun. They play the first half and called simple dances, followed by a beautiful waltz before the break. The floor was crowded and people were laughing, laughing, laughing. During the break, folks flocked to the bar and the teensy restrooms. Everyone was polite and really approachable. During the second half, the floor filled up some more and the mood was raucous. The Tractor isn't fancy but it doesn't need to be. Its simple, happy times with dancing and authentic engagement. Go dance your ass off! It'll shake you out of the Seattle blues and into something much more true and fun. At least it did for me :) read more

I finally came here and I can't believe I've lived here so long and just now understand the power and awesomeness of Tractor Tavern. I came here to see a Johnny Cash tribute band for my birthday. Good drink selection but when I am in a place like Tractor Tavern, I just had to have a Rainier. I don't even like Rainier but it was calling me. I will be here again many times. Zipzap Zubidy Bop! read more

I love coming here for concerts! I've been to two shows in the past 2 months. It's so much fun to have dinner/happy hour drinks somewhere on Ballard Ave and then pop in here for the concert. The interior is tastefully decorated and relatively clean. (I really enjoyed the Halloween lights and decorations!) Bathrooms were not so bad for bar bathrooms. As other reviewers have mentioned, this place never seems uncomfortably crowded. We went to a sold-out show, but there was plenty of room to move around, the bar never got too crowded, and the will-call line was very manageable. The bar has a decent selection of drinks on tap, bottles, and your standard liquor options. Be advised that they charge $.50 per card swipe, so it might be a good idea to pay in cash if you're going to be stopping at the bar quite a few times. read more

The Tractor is my favorite venue in Seattle. It's intimate and the sound is consistently good. They book great shows-some of my favorite shows I've been to are here. The crowds are chill, no pushing or yelling stupid shit at the bands. I also like how they keep to the rockabilly/alt country/folk genres...I know exactly where to go when I want to hear that kind of music. Square Dance Mondays are so much fun! I was not convinced that squaredancing could be fun, but then I tried it. The Tallboys are high energy and everyone is having a good time while dancing to some really great old timey music. The bathroom sucks, especially on a busy night-it's the sort of place you can't put your bottom on the seat and there's no paper. It gets SO HOT in here also. Get some fans, seriously. I have to keep going outside so I don't faint. read more

I had never been here before until recently for one of the Mates of States shows. I had a great time and I really liked this place. Many venues in Seattle have lame service with pretentious jerks that are rude to every customer. It was nice to have good service and also get to see a great show. The opening band was called The Stepkids and they had a bunch of visual projector stuff to go along with their set and everything went seamlessly. I recommend seeing a show here. pros - good sound, nice crowd, lots of good spots to see the stage, reasonable prices and friendly staff cons - yucky bathroom (like if you're plus sized you would not fit in the stall because you have to sit sideways on the toilet to pee), not enough places to sit or set your beverage down. read more

I'm seeing a lot of good reviews which makes me a little hesitant to start my rant.... but here goes... Showed up a bit early for a show my friend was singing in. Didn't pay for a cover or anything, just walked in and ordered a drink. My boyfriend was super hungry, so I asked the bartender if they served food. He told me they didn't, but that they had a microwave and if we wanted to pick something up at the corner store, HE WOULD MICROWAVE IT FOR US. I was like, yeah I think we'll pass on that, but thanks for the offer. The decor is nasty and dark, even thinking back to it I can't see anything. Are there even lights in that place? Here comes the worst part. As I was walking out to have a smoke a little later, I walked by the door guy and said, "Am I supposed to have a stamp or something?" He ran in front of me to block my way out and is like, "How did you get in here? Why don't you have a stamp? I need to see your ID." I was like, oh okay, well my purse is over- "NO you can't go in there without your ID!" But.... dude, my purse is like RIGHT over there.... He picked up his phone and said, "Can you call someone to have them bring your purse?" I'm like, uh no, I don't know anyone's phone numbers in here, plus it's so loud no one's going to hear their phone. So, pretty much, he thought I snuck in and wasn't 21. What an asshole. My purse was literally 20 feet away and he wouldn't let me get it. Finally, I had to go outside and ask my boyfriend to bring me my purse, and THEN I had to pay a cover!!! I couldn't believe it. That dude was such an asshole. 2 stars for the stage and the fact there was a cream cheese hotdog vendor outside. read more

Born and raised in Seattle, been to the Tractor a dozen times. Shows are never as good as they could be (sound wise) and the atmosphere is predictably dreary. Somehow, the venue continues to draw great artists and awesome local talent so I continue to watch the show schedule. I recently bought two tickets as a gift for a family member to see Missy Higgins (their favorite singer). It was his 50th birthday and a huge milestone, so I wanted to give him an experience instead of something material. Mind you - before I start this rant - this particular person HAD been to the Tractor before. The people at Will Call wouldn't let him in because he didn't have the credit card the tickets were purchased with. Understandable. And we were prepared... or so we thought. Now, we all know how this works. I typed a note with my signature at the bottom and a photocopy of my credit card (front and back). I also supplied a phone number so they could call me with any concerns (as I am now living out-of-state). Why the people at Will Call didn't allow a 50-year-old man to pick up tickets WITH A NOTE explaining that they were a GIFT from a person with the SAME LAST NAME is beyond me. Instead of a great experience, this person left feeling totally stupid. He managed to make it into the show (after an embarrassing 15-minutes of arguing) and then ended up leaving shortly thereafter. After all the trouble, he never even got to see Missy on stage. This is beyond a bad experience with a doorman or a bartender... I've been at shows were the power goes out or I get my wallet stolen. This takes the cake and provokes the inevitable question, "What is the world coming to?" Thanks Tractor. Think I'll pass on any shows in the future. And to the "little people" working the door - FUCK OFF. read more

I went here to see Matthew Good, a show that had originally been rescheduled from the now defunct Crocodile. A outspoken liberal Canadian rocker doing an acoustic show doesn't seem like Tractor's normal deal, so my experience may have been a bit different than most shows here. I'm not particularly tall, and even standing in the back (as we arrived as the opener finished and couldn't easily get closer with a group of 5) I could still see the show. It also was loud but not overly so like most of the shows I've seen at Neumo's. Tractor was full of activity with what I'd call an eclectic mix of people - frat boys next to indie types next to the circa-40 crowd. The common thread was that everyone seemed to be having a good time which is the aura this place exuded. I'd definitely come back here for another show. read more

I always enjoy myself at the Tractor. Last night I was there for a show and as always I enjoyed the reasonably priced beer and great location. Ballard is one of the few places besides Capitol Hill that I would live. I highly recommend this place for beer and some good music. Last night there were 2 bands playing who's names I don't know and an opener by the name of Zoe Muth. I've known this girl for almost 10 years. We lived on the same floor in A dorm at Evergreen our first year there and then lived together again with 4 others for our 2nd year there. She's a great girl. Nice, funny and fun to be around. And as it turns out she's also quite a singer. She just opens her mouth and out it comes. So effortless looking. And as she always has, she just makes people feel comfortable without even trying. You can check her out here: http://www.myspace.com/zoemuth I've always thought of her as one of the coolest girls I've met... boy am I smart. read more

I didn't expect to dance or get picked up by an older gentleman in his 60's, but I was curious as how awkward the situation would be so I danced, and as danced, I realized that square dancing is the perfect dance for people that lack coordination. As I was getting promenaded and spun around and getting dizzy, I imagined how in olden times when the liquor was low... how young men must have tried to stretch their buck on booze by spinning their partners as hard as they could to heighten the effect of drunkeness so they could hit the hay with some lucky gal. ps my virginity is still intact, and i had a delightful time with my dance partner for one dance. oh yeh, it was fun. read more

Swing your partner round and round, let's go to Tractor Tavern for a ho-down! A friend and I went to Tractor Tavern for some square dancin'. Yee-haw! They have it twice a month on Monday and wow what a turn out. My friend and I got there and we were the only ones ready to kick our heels up but it quickly got packed. I never knew so many people were into square dancing. I walked into Tavern feeling as if I walked into a barn out in the country. Its rustic and looked like its had a few walks of shame in its day. It has the coolest nicknacks as decorations. There are boots hanging from the ceiling and I'm almost certain the huge horse painting is a velvet painting. The beer is averaged priced so no complaint from me there. Go square dancing and if you have no rhythm you'll feel right at home. read more

Not what I expected, but very good. The stage is small, but at least they have an actual stage, unlike the Sunset. But what really scored points with me was the bar being within a reasonable distance from the stage, unlike the Crocodile and El Corazon. It's not a big place, but for most of the shows there, you won't feel cramped. I also liked how you can actually hear the band, unlike Neumos where things are being blasted out the ridiculously large speakers hanging from the ceiling (and blocking your view). The only thing keeping it from a 5 star review was the weak beer selection (that and it came in plastic cups) read more

It's loud, it's frantic, and it's fun! Parking is a pain in the butt, but you have to expect that. Eldridge Gravy and the Court Supreme barely fit on the stage, all 14 or 15 of them, but they were a riot. I'm glad we drove over from the Eastside! Beverages were far away through the big crowd but there was a cool breeze from the open back door. Didn't avail myself of the facilities but I don't remember them being spectacularly good or bad last time I was there. It's a loud bar, come on, you know what to expect. Love the band, buy a beer, and chill about the minor irritants. read more

This place is FANTASTIC! Where else can you get a PBR tall boy and listen to probley the best rockabilly around??!! It can get a bit crowded but never in a bad way, the people are all so friendly and the service is super quick. read more

The Tractor Tavern is a small-town Western delight in a big ole city. Tallboys of PBR will give fuel to your dancin' boots, the sound quality will encourage that hip-shakin' madness you are waiting to unleash, and you can have a cool cup of water to refresh yourself whenever you'd like-- they keep water coolers out on the side bar to self-serve the masses! Truly, with the large handful of shows I've seen here I've always been impressed. Lineup is awesome. The drinks aren't exactly cheap, not expensive either, and the bathroom wait can be a while.... and yeah it's a smidge dirty. But this lady loves a little dive in her life and the Tractor does it right. Ride your bike because parking is a b*tch. read more

Went to see The Dead South last weekend. Show was awesome....the drama behind getting tickets was a mess. We purchased tickets as soon as they were available, for the 9pm show. A couple months later, I get an email that they are adding a second show, so our tickets are now 11pm, while the new show is 7pm. The email said I could 'exchange' my tickets, so I called to do that. I was told "you can't exchange, your only option is to get a refund and repurchase" So, those of us that were on top of things got screwed....luckily, I was able to buy new tickets. Money grubbing, bad business model.... probably won't be back read more

It's not the prettiest venue in the world but they book awesome bands, and we were thrilled to see The Dusty 45's there on New Year's Eve. Yeah, it would have been nice to have big cushy booths considering we were there for 4 hours, but it's not like we didn't know what we were getting into. They had plenty of bartenders for the New Year's Eve crowd, and service was great. Sound was good and the show wasn't crazy packed. I had calf cramps all night from standing on the floor for hours, but it was small price to pay for such a great show. Great way to ring in the New Year! read more