The doors of Via Tribunali at the back of the Crocodile Cafe closed last night, turning the pizzeria into a $350 cover VIP room starring the Seattle music industry and the people that love them. Mayoral candidate Mike McGinn held court in one of the high-backed booths. The theme of the night was music and nightlife and the local industry was throwing a pricey fundraiser at the Croc for McGinn, County Executive hopeful Dow Constantine and City Attorney challenger Pete Holmes. Musicians, hipsters, and The Stranger (see Mark Fefer’s previous exploration of their non-sponsorship, sponsorship) think that trio will best support the biz. The Presidents of the United States of American headlined the event (more on the music from Jonathan Cunningham). Given the lineup it only made sense to interrupt McGinn on the subject of his plan to try and convince Metro to ferry kids around in the middle of the night after concerts and ask for his favorite POTUSA song.”Oh this is terrible,” he grimaced. “I never really listened to them. Busted.”The Crocodile fundraiser featured local promoter Dave Meinert, Nirvana bassist (and SW columnist) Krist Novoselic, and a host of other local music scenesters. The advertised door price for the event was $200. Of course, the demographic that can afford such a steep ticket might not be the rockinest crowd. A couple weeks ago organizers dropped it to a sliding scale that started at $25 if you promised to support Referendum 71, explained McGinn volunteer Skye Schell (no relation to the former mayor.)And really, being pretty darn excited for the candidates would get you through the doors in a pinch. Stephanie Riedl said she came as a Vera Project volunteer who likes McGinn’s plan to give people more after-hours transit options (more on that from Fefer.) Riedl said she didn’t put up any cash to attend the event. “Unfortunately, I’m living paycheck to paycheck,” she said. “But I’m supporting with my being.” Her companions on the Crocodile floor hadn’t made a donation either. Around nine, Holmes took the stage to declare: “Three words: Operation Sobering Thought,” which earned the desired round of boos. Constantine then launched into competitor Susan Hutchison’s Republican reputation, to which a particularly vicious audience member shouted through a faux cough: “worthless hag.” “Nice,” Constantine responded. This wasn’t exactly a forum centered on the nuances of local government financial woes to say the least.As the Maldives warmed up on the stage, McGinn was still back in his booth, missing his fellow candidates’ speeches. As I walked past, he shouted, “Peaches!”