Bar and music venue in Brooklyn, New York
40°44′12″N 73°57′19″W / 40.736803°N 73.955201°W / 40.736803; -73.955201
Saint Vitus is a bar and music venue located in the
Greenpoint neighborhood of
Brooklyn , New York.
Opened in April 2011, the 2,500 square feet (230 m2 ) venue is 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."
[2]
Pitchfork named it "The Best Metal Bar in New York City".
[5]
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 .
[6]
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."
[5]
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 hosts weekly metal yoga sessions run by Metal Yoga Bones.
[13] In addition, visual artist Karlynn Holland periodically curates 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]
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.
[19]
Notable events
May 6, 2011:
Liturgy , venue's first show
[8]
November 3, 2011:
Black Sabbath 's
Tony Iommi book signing
[20]
April 23–28, 2012: One-Year Anniversary Celebration
[21]
September 8, 2012:
Descendents , after
Riot Fest Brooklyn was canceled early after a tornado warning
[22]
September 25, 2012:
Saint Vitus
[23]
September 25, 2013:
Carcass and
Immolation
[24]
October 11, 2013:
Judge
[25]
April 10, 2014:
Nirvana tribute show with
Dave Grohl ,
Krist Novoselic ,
Joan Jett ,
J Mascis , Annie Clark (
St. Vincent ), John McCauley of
Deer Tick , and
Kim Gordon formerly of
Sonic Youth
[26]
January 25–26, 2015:
Zola Jesus , including a performance outside in the snow
[27]
April 28, 2015:
John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten of the
Sex Pistols book signing
[28]
October 27, 2015:
Carrie Brownstein (of
Sleater-Kinney ) in conversation with
Questlove
[29]
February 22, 2016:
Lita Ford book reading
[30]
July 14, 2016:
Gojira , rare club show, on
Bastille Day and
Nice terrorist attack
[31]
August 20, 2016: The Obelisk All-Dayer, a one-day festival hosted by The Obelisk with
Mars Red Sky headlining
[32]
September 16–17, 2016:
Anthrax , benefit shows for
Gilda's Club cancer support group
[33]
December 12, 2016:
Megadeth , billed as Vic and the Rattleheads
[34]
May 16, 2019:
Killing Joke , 40th anniversary
[35]
September 19, 2019:
Blink-182 , warmup show days before
Barclays Center stop
[36]
October 27–28, 2023:
Gridlink , performing their final two shows
[37]
References
^ Mariela (July 1, 2014).
"Music venues: where to go from big to small" . Explore Brooklyn . Retrieved September 11, 2018 .
^
a
b
"Saint Vitus Bar: An Oral History Of Brooklyn's Metal Mecca" . Kerrang! . April 15, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^
"Saint Vitus - Greenpoint" .
New York . Retrieved July 8, 2013 .
^ Del Signore, John.
"Inside Saint Vitus, The Big New Place To Drink, Eat, Rock Out In Greenpoint" .
Gothamist . Archived from
the original on March 3, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2013 .
^
a
b Stosuy, Brandon (July 19, 2013).
"The Best Metal Bar in New York City" . Pitchfork . Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^
a
b Moore, Doug (October 2, 2012).
"Interview: Arty Shepherd of Saint Vitus Bar" .
Invisible Oranges .
Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2016 .
^ Sposato, Jesse (April 14, 2011).
"Greenpoint Does Rock and Roll With New Bar Saint Vitus" . Greenpoint News . Archived from
the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2016 .
^
a
b
"new bar/venue "Saint Vitus" opens in Brooklyn, Liturgy playing shows, Horseback collaborating w/ Locrian who play NY today" . BrooklynVegan . April 17, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Ratliff, Ben (September 26, 2012).
"Saint Vitus, the Band, at Saint Vitus, the Bar" .
The New York Times .
^ Leseman, Linda (January 8, 2013).
"Brooklyn Metal Bar Saint Vitus Just Launched A New Record Label Because HELL YEAH!" .
The Village Voice . Retrieved April 6, 2016 .
^ Pessaro, Fred (April 11, 2014).
"I Saw Nirvana Play to Two Hundred People, in 2014" . Vice . Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Lewis, Catherine P. (April 12, 2016).
"Greenpoint Heavy: Five Years of Metal Worship at Saint Vitus" .
Village Voice . Retrieved May 6, 2016 .
^ Valente, Stephanie (July 28, 2015).
"Heavy Metal Yoga Changed My Life" . Greenpointers . Retrieved April 6, 2016 .
^
"The Heavy Lowdown: Dreams Were Made for Mortals, A389 Bash, Gnaw & Malignancy, ++ more" .
Brooklyn Vegan . January 17, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2016 .
^ Ducker, Eric (December 19, 2018).
"10 Best Music Videos of 2018" . Rolling Stone . Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Shaffer, Claire (June 5, 2020).
"Brooklyn Metal Club Saint Vitus Asked for $15,000 in COVID-19 Relief. They Raised Over $125,000" . Rolling Stone . Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (June 22, 2023).
"Brooklyn Metal Venue Saint Vitus Announces 10th Anniversary Book" . Pitchfork . Retrieved February 19, 2024 .
^ Davey, Emma (June 27, 2023).
"Saint Vitus Bar Celebrates Their First 10 Years with a New Book" . Greenpointers . Retrieved February 19, 2024 .
^
"Iconic Brooklyn Metal Club Saint Vitus Bar Closed Indefinitely by The New York City Department of Buildings" . Ghost Cult Magazine . February 18, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024 .
^
"Tony Iommi signed copies of his new book "Iron Man" at Saint Vitus in Greenpoint (pics)" .
BrooklynVegan . November 10, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2016 .
^ Leseman, Linda (May 7, 2012).
"Lasers, Inquisition, And A Cameo By The Wanted: The 10 Most Metal Moments Of Saint Vitus's One-Year Anniversary Week" .
The Village Voice . Retrieved April 6, 2016 .
^
"The 9 Most Epic Shows at Saint Vitus Bar in NYC" . Kerrang! . May 18, 2018. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Leseman, Linda (September 24, 2012).
"Saint Vitus the Band Talk About Playing Saint Vitus the Venue" .
The Village Voice . Retrieved April 6, 2016 .
^ Moore, Doug (September 30, 2013).
"Carcass and Immolation played St. Vitus and Gramercy Theatre (pics & video)" . BrooklynVegan . Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^
"Judge playing intimate Brooklyn show!" .
BrooklynVegan . September 25, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2016 .
^
" 'Nirvana' & guests played Saint Vitus after Barclays Center! (video, pics, setlist)" .
BrooklynVegan . April 11, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2016 .
^
"Zola Jesus performed in the snow outside Saint Vitus (watch)" .
BrooklynVegan . January 27, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2016 .
^
"John Lydon talked about his new memoir at Saint Vitus (pics), will do it again at The Strand on Thursday" .
BrooklynVegan . April 29, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2016 .
^ Kickham, Dylan (October 28, 2015).
"5 things we learned from Carrie Brownstein's conversation with Questlove" .
Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved April 6, 2016 .
^
"LITA FORD Discusses Her New Memoir At St. Vitus In Brooklyn, New York" .
Blabbermouth . February 24, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2016 .
^ Ramanand, Liz (July 15, 2016).
"Gojira Heat Up Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn, N.Y." Loudwire . Retrieved February 19, 2024 .
^
"THE OBELISK ALL-DAYER: Official Poster & Runtimes Revealed" . The Obelisk . June 30, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2020 .
^ Sacher, Andrew (September 17, 2016).
"Anthrax played an intimate cancer benefit at Saint Vitus (pics, review, setlist)" . BrooklynVegan . Retrieved February 19, 2024 .
^
"Video: MEGADETH Plays 'Secret' Show At Brooklyn's Saint Vitus Bar" . December 13, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2017 .
^
"Killing Joke at Saint Vitus: See Industrial-Rock Pioneers Play Intimate NYC Show" . Revolver . May 17, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2024 .
^ Sacher, Andrew (September 20, 2019).
"blink-182 just played Saint Vitus (full set video, setlist)" . BrooklynVegan . Retrieved February 19, 2024 .
^ Kennelty, Greg (November 8, 2022).
"GRIDLINK To Play Longhena In Full At Upcoming Show" . Metal Injection . Retrieved October 30, 2023 .
External links