Thanks to owners Tres Shannon and Benjamin Arthur Ellis, the X-Ray Cafe was a small music venue in Portland, Oregon, United States from 1990 to 1994. An all-ages and community-oriented club, the X-Ray played a "heavyweight role in shaping Portland's underground culture," fostering such musical acts as Elliott Smith, Team Dresch, and Quasi, and was described by Details as one of the best rock and r
oll clubs in the country. It was characterized by a surre...al environment and performers; owners Tres Shannon and Benjamin Arthur Ellis, who took over the U.F.O Cafe to establish the X-Ray, would often dress in clown costumes, and encouraged acts that featured instruments that aren't typically associated with rock music. As grunge and alternative music were emerging in Seattle under a national spotlight, the X-Ray served as an important stage for smaller acts in the genre, and along with nearby Satyricon nightclub, established Portland as an important regional performing destination for touring bands.
