Saint Vitus (venue) explained

Saint Vitus Bar
Capacity:250[1]
Type:Bar and music venue
Address:1120 Manhattan Ave
Location:Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York
Coordinates:40.7368°N -73.9552°W
Opened:April 11, 2011[2]
Closed:February 16, 2024

Saint Vitus was a bar and music venue located in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.

Opened in April 2011, the venue was known for its heavy metal atmosphere.[3] [4] The magazine Kerrang! described Saint Vitus as the "one of the most important locations to see loud music in the entire world." Pitchfork named it "The Best Metal Bar in New York City".[5]

In February 2024, the New York City Department of Buildings shut down Saint Vitus over multiple violations. In August 2024, Saint Vitus' owners announced that the venue was permanently closed.

History

Saint Vitus was opened in April 2011 by Arty Shepherd, Justin Scurti, and George Souleidis, along with two silent owners.[6] The space was formerly a plumbing school and before that a social club, and the owners hired Matthew Maddy to design the space, with the main intention to be a metal-themed bar that only occasionally held live shows.[7] The name was chosen because it was shared with the doom metal band Saint Vitus, a Bauhaus song, a Black Sabbath song and the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague.

The first show held there was Liturgy on May 6, 2011.[8] The band Saint Vitus played the venue on September 25, 2012.[9] In its early days, Pitchfork writer Brandon Stosuy booked bands such as Converge, Deafheaven and Iceage to play the venue because, in his words, "if you’re into loud music, and you live in New York, it’s where you want to go to see a show."

In 2013, Shepherd and David Castillo, Saint Vitus's talent buyer, started up a record label called Sacrament Recordings and Merchandise to release an album by the band Sannhet.[10]

On April 10, 2014, the surviving members of Nirvana played an invite-only show at Saint Vitus directly after their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Barclays Center. Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic were joined by guest vocalists Joan Jett, J Mascis, Annie Clark, John McCauley and Kim Gordon.[11]

In April 2016, Saint Vitus celebrated its five-year anniversary with five nights of shows featuring headlining sets from Pallbearer, Corrosion of Conformity, Royal Thunder, and 13th Chime.[12]

Saint Vitus hosted weekly metal yoga sessions run by Metal Yoga Bones.[13] In addition, visual artist Karlynn Holland periodically curated day-long art shows under the moniker Dreams Were Made For Mortals.[14]

The music video for St. Vincent's "Fast Slow Disco", released on June 21, 2018, was filmed at Saint Vitus and named the tenth-best music video of the year by Rolling Stone.[15]

On April 7, 2020, the venue launched a Kickstarter page to help the business stay afloat while it was forced to close during the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign's goal was set at $15,000, but wound up raising upwards of $125,000 in less than two months.[16]

In 2023, the venue announced a 346-page book, Saint Vitus Bar: The First 10 Years: An Oral and Visual History, featuring essays and interviews from figures including Dave Mustaine, Laura Jane Grace and Chuck Klosterman.[17] [18]

Closure

On February 16, 2024, Saint Vitus was indefinitely shut down by the New York City Department of Buildings for multiple violations, including the absence of maximum occupancy signs and improper certifications for assembly and drinking. The venue was raided in the middle of a performance by the band Balmora, opening for Mindforce.[19] The organizers continued to host shows in other venues across the city under the banner "Saint Vitus Presents" while promising a potential reopening, but on August 17, 2024, the venue confirmed that it was now permanently closed in an Instagram post reading: "1120 Manhattan Ave. 2011-2024. Saint Vitus Bar to be continued… Thank you to everyone who was a part of it. ???? Love and Hails, Arty, George, David."[20]

Several artists and bands who played at Saint Vitus, including Thursday, Chelsea Wolfe, Ethel Cain and Saetia, paid tribute to the venue on social media.[21]

Notable events

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Music venues: where to go from big to small. Mariela. July 1, 2014. Explore Brooklyn. September 11, 2018.
  2. Web site: 2019-04-15 . Saint Vitus Bar: An Oral History Of Brooklyn's Metal Mecca . 2024-02-20 . Kerrang! . en.
  3. Web site: Saint Vitus - Greenpoint. New York. July 8, 2013.
  4. Web site: Del Signore. John. Inside Saint Vitus, The Big New Place To Drink, Eat, Rock Out In Greenpoint. Gothamist. July 8, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150303144700/http://gothamist.com/2011/04/08/inside_saint_vitus_the_big_new_plac_1.php#photo-1. March 3, 2015.
  5. Web site: Stosuy . Brandon . 2013-07-19 . The Best Metal Bar in New York City . 2024-02-20 . Pitchfork . en.
  6. Web site: Moore . Doug . October 2, 2012 . Interview: Arty Shepherd of Saint Vitus Bar . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160418151153/http://www.invisibleoranges.com/interview-arty-shephard-of-saint-vitus-bar/ . April 18, 2016 . April 6, 2016 . Invisible Oranges.
  7. Web site: Sposato. Jesse. April 14, 2011. Greenpoint Does Rock and Roll With New Bar Saint Vitus. Greenpoint News. April 6, 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170821141410/http://greenpointnews.com/2011/04/14/greenpoint-does-rock-and-roll-with-new-bar-saint-vitus/. August 21, 2017.
  8. Web site: April 17, 2011 . new bar/venue "Saint Vitus" opens in Brooklyn, Liturgy playing shows, Horseback collaborating w/ Locrian who play NY today . 2024-02-20 . BrooklynVegan . en-US.
  9. Web site: Ratliff . Ben . 2012-09-26 . Saint Vitus, the Band, at Saint Vitus, the Bar . The New York Times.
  10. Web site: Leseman . Linda . January 8, 2013 . Brooklyn Metal Bar Saint Vitus Just Launched A New Record Label Because HELL YEAH! . April 6, 2016 . The Village Voice.
  11. Web site: Pessaro . Fred . 2014-04-11 . I Saw Nirvana Play to Two Hundred People, in 2014 . 2024-02-20 . Vice . en.
  12. Web site: Greenpoint Heavy: Five Years of Metal Worship at Saint Vitus. Village Voice. Lewis. Catherine P.. April 12, 2016. May 6, 2016.
  13. Web site: Heavy Metal Yoga Changed My Life. Greenpointers. Valente. Stephanie. July 28, 2015. April 6, 2016.
  14. Web site: January 17, 2014. The Heavy Lowdown: Dreams Were Made for Mortals, A389 Bash, Gnaw & Malignancy, ++ more. Brooklyn Vegan. April 6, 2016.
  15. Web site: Ducker . Eric . 2018-12-19 . 10 Best Music Videos of 2018 . 2024-02-20 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  16. Web site: Shaffer . Claire . 2020-06-05 . Brooklyn Metal Club Saint Vitus Asked for $15,000 in COVID-19 Relief. They Raised Over $125,000 . 2024-02-20 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  17. Web site: Ruiz . Matthew Ismael . 2023-06-22 . Brooklyn Metal Venue Saint Vitus Announces 10th Anniversary Book . 2024-02-19 . Pitchfork . en-US.
  18. Web site: Davey . Emma . 2023-06-27 . Saint Vitus Bar Celebrates Their First 10 Years with a New Book . 2024-02-19 . Greenpointers . en-US.
  19. Web site: 2024-02-18 . Iconic Brooklyn Metal Club Saint Vitus Bar Closed Indefinitely by The New York City Department of Buildings . 2024-02-19 . Ghost Cult Magazine . en-US.
  20. Web site: Kennelty . Greg . 2024-08-17 . Saint Vitus Has Closed For Good . 2024-08-18 . Metal Injection . en-US.
  21. Web site: Hatfield . Amanda . 2024-08-19 . Thursday, Scowl, Saetia, Chelsea Wolfe, Walter Schreifels & more pay tribute to Saint Vitus Bar . BrooklynVegan . 2024-08-20.
  22. Web site: November 10, 2011. Tony Iommi signed copies of his new book "Iron Man" at Saint Vitus in Greenpoint (pics). BrooklynVegan. April 6, 2016.
  23. Web site: Lasers, Inquisition, And A Cameo By The Wanted: The 10 Most Metal Moments Of Saint Vitus's One-Year Anniversary Week. The Village Voice. Leseman. Linda. May 7, 2012. April 6, 2016.
  24. Web site: 2018-05-18 . The 9 Most Epic Shows at Saint Vitus Bar in NYC . 2024-02-20 . Kerrang! . en.
  25. Web site: Saint Vitus the Band Talk About Playing Saint Vitus the Venue. The Village Voice. Leseman. Linda. September 24, 2012. April 6, 2016.
  26. Web site: Moore . Doug . September 30, 2013 . Carcass and Immolation played St. Vitus and Gramercy Theatre (pics & video) . 2024-02-20 . BrooklynVegan . en-US.
  27. Web site: September 25, 2013. Judge playing intimate Brooklyn show!. BrooklynVegan. April 6, 2016.
  28. Web site: April 11, 2014. 'Nirvana' & guests played Saint Vitus after Barclays Center! (video, pics, setlist). BrooklynVegan. April 6, 2016.
  29. Web site: January 27, 2015. Zola Jesus performed in the snow outside Saint Vitus (watch). BrooklynVegan. April 6, 2016.
  30. Web site: April 29, 2015. John Lydon talked about his new memoir at Saint Vitus (pics), will do it again at The Strand on Thursday. BrooklynVegan. April 6, 2016.
  31. Kickham. Dylan. October 28, 2015. 5 things we learned from Carrie Brownstein's conversation with Questlove. Entertainment Weekly. April 6, 2016.
  32. Web site: LITA FORD Discusses Her New Memoir At St. Vitus In Brooklyn, New York. Blabbermouth. February 24, 2016. April 6, 2016.
  33. Web site: Ramanand . Liz . 2016-07-15 . Gojira Heat Up Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn, N.Y. . 2024-02-19 . Loudwire . en.
  34. Web site: June 30, 2016. THE OBELISK ALL-DAYER: Official Poster & Runtimes Revealed. September 5, 2020. The Obelisk.
  35. Web site: Sacher . Andrew . September 17, 2016 . Anthrax played an intimate cancer benefit at Saint Vitus (pics, review, setlist) . 2024-02-19 . BrooklynVegan . en-US.
  36. Web site: Video: MEGADETH Plays 'Secret' Show At Brooklyn's Saint Vitus Bar. December 13, 2016. August 31, 2017.
  37. Web site: 2019-03-22 . Thursday's Last Show Ever Is An Emotional Free-For-All . 2024-08-20 . Kerrang! . en.
  38. Web site: 2019-05-17 . Killing Joke at Saint Vitus: See Industrial-Rock Pioneers Play Intimate NYC Show . 2024-02-19 . Revolver . en.
  39. Web site: Sacher . Andrew . September 20, 2019 . blink-182 just played Saint Vitus (full set video, setlist) . 2024-02-19 . BrooklynVegan . en-US.
  40. Web site: 2022-11-27 . Saetia: ‘90s Screamo Icons Reunite for Benefit Show Weekend (PHOTOS x RECAP) Features . 2024-08-20 . www.noecho.net . en.
  41. Web site: Kennelty . Greg . 2022-11-08 . GRIDLINK To Play Longhena In Full At Upcoming Show . 2023-10-30 . Metal Injection . en-US.

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