New York nightlife is a volatile industry, always on the look out for the next thing. You can rave about a club one week, but it may not even exist the next. With this video, Vice releases its second video installment serializing different aspects on the NYC party scene. Here, we listen to David Byrne, Peter Gatien, Amy Sacco and other pillars of nightlife talk about their experiences and predictions on the future of nightlife. You can watch the first part of the series, here, which focuses on club design.
History is oft dictated by a few great men—great not always in character, but in their capacity to shape the world around them. As epicenter of the nightlife universe, NYC’s shadowy godfathers of the night are of particular interest. As the minds behind the most successful, exclusive, and profitable clubs of their respective eras, these pioneers have almost single-handedly revolutionized the game.
Spanning the debaucherous, gilded '20s of the Jazz Age, to the current EDM-fueled bacchanals, the men behind the curtain have conceptualized nightlife into the brand it currently is. By marketing exclusivity, affluence, popular music, and atmosphere, these 5 men elevated revelry into an art form—of which they are the maestros.
You peruse the kiosks, wondering through a maze of collared shirts, handbags and bad lingerie. Suddenly you gaze up in bewilderment. You think you were here once. A long time ago. The DJ booth was right …
While all the other clubs in the Meatpacking district require dress shoes and button downs, Cielo remains true to the freedom of the house music spirit. A small space, the dance floor is cozy under a classic disco ball. Strobe lights reverberate off the walls, which are cushioned in waves to create a very unique visual effect.
Check out our exclusive interview with New York's DJ Vitale. As an international nightlife sensation, Vitale has played some of the hottest rooms in the world. From The Limelight and Palladium in New York to Feria in Tokyo, DJ Vitale has become a worldwide label and spins the best sounds from city to city. DJ Vitale sat down with us to talk about where he came from and where he is now.
What is the best party you have every played?
The Dolce & Gabbana party in South Korea. I was DJing for people who had no idea what the music was in the store in Seoul.
What is the craziest thing a fan has ever asked you?
To play Shakira during a house set. Oh, and there was the time that two girls asked to make out in the DJ booth while I was spinning at The Limelight.