The Goat, a New Orleans neighborhood Goth bar and music venue, has closed.
Owner Matthew Checki announced recently on social media that he had sold the bar at 1301 St. Bernard Avenue. Tuesday was its final night as the Goat
“For nearly a decade, I have had the privilege of owning and operating my own bar in New Orleans,” Checki wrote. “The experience was immense to say the least. Through every single moment of success and challenge alike I truly loved it. Now it is time for new adventures in life both professionally and personally.”
Checki opened The Goat in 2017. The studded chains, horned skull and bat painted on the Goat’s otherwise plain gray exterior only hinted at the venue’s dramatic interior décor. A tangle of cobwebs on the ceiling concealed an assortment of skeletons suspended above a chandelier. A pentagram decorated the stage floor.
The Goat featured punk, metal and other underground bands as well as deejays. For the recurring “Attrition” night, DJs such as Evil Rudy and Sneauxball cranked Goth, industrial and synth music. The Goat also hosted such recurring “rituals” as “Dark Electric,” “Splatterday Night” and “Sacrifice: The Fetish Party.”
“Eclectic in focus but united in darkness, our Rituals constitute a central component to the musical and aesthetic identity of The Goat,” said a post on The Goat’s web site. “Come worship.”
The cover photo of New Orleans surf/punk rock band the Unnaturals’ 2024 album “Sleazy Listening” was taken at the bar of the Goat.
Beyond the music, the Goat served as a gathering place and de facto clubhouse for the New Orleans Goth community.
“There are too many bands to list but thank you so much to all the incredible acts that rocked our stage,” Checki wrote. “Thank you so much to everyone who came over the years in support of our events.
“The accomplishments of the experience that was The Goat were gauged by the talent and clientele we shared our nights with. I think it’s safe to say that makes it a successful story…
“It was the experience of a lifetime.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nola.com ’
