Satyricon (nightclub)

Satyricon

Satyricon in 2007
Former names	Marlena's Tavern
Address	125 N.W. Sixth Avenue Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Coordinates	45°31′27″N 122°40′36″W / 45.524209°N 122.676773°W / 45.524209; -122.676773
Genre(s)	Hardcore punk, alternative rock
Capacity	400 [1]
Construction
Opened	1983
Demolished	2011
Years active	1983-2003; 2006-2010

Satyricon was a nightclub in the Old Town neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, United States. Opening in 1983, the Satyricon became best known as a venue for local and touring punk and alternative rock bands. Operating from 1983 to 2010, it was the longest-running punk venue in the western United States, and has been referred to as the "CBGB of the West Coast."^[2][3] The building was demolished in 2011.

History

Early years

The Satyricon, located at 125 N.W. Sixth Avenue, was formerly Marlena's Tavern, "a dark, narrow barroom on a seedy stretch."^[4] Prior to its establishment as a bar and restaurant, the building had served as a horse stable in the early 20th century before being converted into a tavern.^[5]

At the time of the Satyricon's opening in 1983, the surrounding Old Town neighborhood had a seedy and dangerous reputation.^[6] The club attracted a wide array of musical groups, mostly indie and punk rock bands performing.^[7] The club was named by its founder George Touhouliotis after Federico Fellini's film of that name, and expanded in the nineties to include a restaurant called Fellini.^[2] Satyricon's souvlaki window was the place for early morning sustenance after the music venues shut down.

The Satyricon was known for being the one venue in Portland "where everyone who was or would be anyone in Northwest rock played over the course of two decades,"^[2] earning the nightclub a national reputation. The club became a popular hangout for rock fans and musicians, and was a regular venue for local punk bands the Wipers and Poison Idea.^[4] Open mic nights, poetry readings, and performance art also took place at the club.^[8] The interior of the building was described by journalists as such:

As you step up to the long, obsidian-black bar, you may notice the Buddha that presides from behind the bar, the sensual art above, and stars on the ceiling. Explore a bit more and you'll find graffiti on the tables, an open-staged DJ booth, black & white checkered floors, and the infamous Round-table, in a corner, with a pentagram etched into it. Now, it's time that we enter the inner sanctum, the stage area. Plastered with hundreds of band stickers, that would take someone days to take in. Like a museum of modern art, you see the history dating back to its unveiling in 1983. The stage itself is comfortable, like an old basement rehearsal space with a high ceiling.^[9]

The bar was frequented by local residents including poet Walt Curtis, and a young Courtney Love, who met friend and bandmate Kat Bjelland there in 1983.^[8][10] The club is also notable for being the place where Love first crossed paths with her future husband, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain; according to Love, she met Cobain there in 1988 at a Dharma Bums concert,^[11] although other accounts state that the two met in January 1989 or 1990^[12] when Nirvana was playing at the club,^[13] and that they playfully wrestled in front of a jukebox that night.

Other notable events at the club included Chuck Paugh's first rave party there in 1985, as well as a scene from Gus Van Sant's Mala Noche (1985) being filmed in the bar.^[8] Dave Grohl played his first show with his post-Nirvana outfit Foo Fighters after Cobain's suicide.^[14][15] Pearl Jam also played the club on September 28, 1991.^[16][17] Other events, besides notable concerts, include a number of incidents involving notable people (including Courtney Love passing out) and a police riot in 1990.^[5]

In 1990 a benefit LP record was put out for the club called "Satyricon...the Album". In included tracks from bands such as Poison Idea, Dharma Bums and Napalm Beach.^[18]

Renovation and closing

The club closed in 2003 and was slated to be taken over by the owners of another (former) club in town, Moody's.^[7] It reopened as an all-ages club in August 2006 under the management of the owners of the Loveland, an all-ages venue in Portland.^[19] It officially closed in October 2010.^[7][20] Demolition began in July 2011.^[21] The location is now home to the nonprofit MacDonald Center service center and studio apartments to serve low-income residents.^[22]

In October, 2010, Ben Munat, the Satyricon's booking agent, organized thirteen "Farewell Satyricon Shows" for that month. Bands included Big Daddy Meat Straw, The Dandy Warhols (with original drummer Eric Hedford, playing songs from first two albums with some original guitars), Pond, Poison Idea and Napalm Beach.^[22]

Notable bands

The following are documented bands that notably performed at Satyricon:^{[7][8][14][16][23]}

News headlines

The news headlines arising from Satyricon include:^[5]

• Satyricon License Threatened By Drug Bust
• "Riot" At Satyricon
• Audience Dances Naked At Satyricon
• Courtney Love Passes Out At Satyricon
• Midnight Madness
• Satyricon's Dirty Dozen
• Police Sue Six Men Over Scuffle
• Whose Riot Was That, Anyway?

See also

• X-Ray Cafe
• La Luna
• Music of Oregon

References

Coordinates: 45°31′27″N 122°40′36″W / 45.524209°N 122.676773°W / 45.524209; -122.676773