In 1991 Nirvana debuted their defining track at the tiny OK Hotel in Seattle’s Pioneer Square; now 35 years later the unlikely deodorant-inspired song and more music which changed the 90s return to an iconic Seattle hotel

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Harriet Scrumptious

 –  Staff Writer

 ·  October 29, 2026

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The title of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” came from an unlikely source: deodorant. After a night out with Kurt Cobain, Bikini Kill frontwoman Kathleen Hanna scrawled “Kurt smells like Teen Spirit” on his wall, referring to a brand of deodorant.

Cobain, who didn’t know the brand, mistook it for a comment on his revolutionary spirit. The phrase stuck, and the song went on to become one of the defining anthems of the 90s.

Before it became a generational anthem, however, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” had its first live outing in a small Seattle venue. On April 17, 1991, Nirvana played the song at the OK Hotel in Pioneer Square, months before Nevermind catapulted the band to international fame. The early gig marked a crucial moment in the story of a song that would help put Seattle grunge on the global map.

A 90s tribute concert in Seattle

Decades later, the music of the 90s continues to find new audiences, with songs that once shook Seattle’s grunge scene now being reimagined in unexpected ways. At the historic Arctic Club Hotel, Candlelight: 90s Unplugged brings the decade’s biggest hits to a more intimate setting, with a string quartet performing tracks like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by the glow of thousands of candles.

Featuring songs like The Cranberries’ “Zombie”, the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under the Bridge” and more nostalgic hits, this is a night of grunge that’s right at home in Seattle.

The concert takes place at the Arctic Club Hotel, one of downtown Seattle’s most distinctive historic buildings. Opened in 1917 as a private club for Arctic explorers and Klondike Gold Rush veterans, the Beaux-Arts landmark is known for its ornate terra-cotta façade and walrus-head sculptures.

There are two concert dates, one on November 27 and the second on December 27. There are multiple show times on each date, giving you the excuse to make an evening out of it in downtown Seattle. The concert runs for approximately an hour.