Many cheered after Anthrax asked the crowd at Saint Vitus on Saturday night how many people have been with them since the beginning. The beginning was 1981, and the band, 35 years into their career, were asking this around 2am on Saturday night after playing another show earlier in the day, their first EVER time playing two shows in one day (as far as frontman Joey Belladona and guitarist Scott Ian can remember). Needless to say, it was a room full of people up after their bed time, but also people that weren’t going to let a little sleep get in the way of seeing a member of “The Big Four” play in a venue as small as Saint Vitus. It was all well worth it.
Like the show Anthrax played on the same stage Friday night, it was a $50-a-ticket benefit for Gilda’s Club and one of the smallest shows the thrash pioneers have played since the 80s (especially in NYC where they’re from). Unlike Friday night, they played and opened with 1987 single “I Am The Law”, a proper way to get things started with everybody immediately singing along. “Caught in a Mosh” was 5th on the setlist and like the night before, this got the moshing started with a pit opening that this time remained for the rest of 11 song set. Like the night before, they closed with hits and crowd pleasers “I’m The Man” (video below) and “Indians”. The band ended with a bow, and Joey expressing how great it felt to play to a room full of true Anthrax fans.
Read much more about the similar Friday show HERE, and at the NY Times. Check out photos from Friday in the gallery above. Saturday setlist, video and more below…
photos by Gretchen Robinette