imported>Amakuru: Amakuru moved page The Axis Club to Mod Club: Requested by Cltjames at WP:RM/TR: The name of the nightclub in Toronto, Canada was reverted to its original name the Mod Club, therefore the article title should be reverted too

2025-06-06T09:30:35Z

Amakuru moved page The Axis Club to Mod Club: Requested by Cltjames at WP:RM/TR: The name of the nightclub in Toronto, Canada was reverted to its original name the Mod Club, therefore the article title should be reverted too

New page

{{Short description|Entertainment venue in Toronto, Ontario}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = The Mod Club Theatre
| image = [[File:Mod Club Theatre 2023.jpg|250px]]
| image_caption = {{small|The Axis Club in 2023}}
| former_names = The Axis Club
| coordinates = {{coord|43.6554|-79.4194|type:landmark_region:CA-ON|display=inline,title}}
| type = Music hall
| genre =
| built =
| opened = {{flatlist|
* 2002–2020
* 2025–present
}}
| renovated =
| expanded =
| demolished =
| owner = Bruno Sinopoli
| operator =
| seating_type = General admission (standing)
| seating_capacity = 618
| website = https://TheModClubTheatre.com/
}}

'''The''' ''' Mod Club Theatre''' is an entertainment venue situated at 722 College Street, in [[Toronto]]'s [[Little Italy, Toronto|Little Italy]] neighbourhood.
<ref name=NOW>{{cite news |last=Trapunski |first=Richard |title=The Mod Club is relaunching as the '''Axis Club''' in September |url=https://nowtoronto.com/music/mod-club-relaunching-as-the-axis-club-in-september/ |work=[[Now (newspaper)|Now]] |location=Toronto, Ontario |date=July 14, 2021 |access-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref><ref name=BLOGTO2>{{cite web |url=https://www.blogto.com/music/2012/11/a_brief_history_of_the_mod_club_theatre/ |title=A brief history of the Mod Club Theatre |last=Ship |first=Jesse |date=November 19, 2012 |website=BlogTO |publisher=[[ZoomerMedia]] |access-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref>

The Mod Club operated from 2002 until the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020.<ref name=BLOGTO>{{cite web |url=https://www.blogto.com/music/2020/11/mod-club-toronto-shut-down/ |title=The Mod Club becomes the latest live music venue in Toronto to permanently shut down |last=Ship |first=Jesse |date=November 7, 2020 |website=BlogTO |publisher=[[ZoomerMedia]] |access-date=May 26, 2022}}</ref> In late 2021, the venue reopened as '''The Axis Club''', before being rebranded back to The Mod Club in May 2025.

==Overview==
The Axis Club has a 600 person capacity and a stage that is 24 feet wide x 18 feet deep.<ref name=Billboard>{{cite news |last=Bliss |first=Karen |date=November 10, 2020 |title=Toronto's Mod Club Theatre, a Rite of Passage for Canadian Artists, Closes Its Doors |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/international/9481479/toronto-mod-club-theatre-closes |work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517220115/https://www.billboard.com/pro/toronto-mod-club-theatre-closes/ |archive-date=May 17, 2022 |access-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref><ref name=VENUE>{{cite web |url=http://themodclub.com/venue-specs/ |title=Venue Specs |website=TheModClub.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928124806/http://themodclub.com/venue-specs/ |archive-date=September 28, 2020 |access-date=May 26, 2022}}</ref>

While functioning as The Mod Club, the interior was accented with murals featuring images of 1960s [[Mod (subculture)|mod subculture]] and concert-goers could watch acts from the floor, the tables to the side of the room, or the second floor [[balcony]]<ref name=BLOGTO/><ref name=MCGWIRE>{{cite news |last=McGwire |first=Frank |date=August 9, 2012 |title=Canada's biggest band from 80's reunite |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/brandon-sun-aug-09-2012-p-47/ |work=[[The Brandon Sun]] |location=Brandon, Manitoba, Canada |page=4 |access-date=May 26, 2022 |via=NewspaperArchive.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref> It also featured two large video panels to give audience members views of the performers on stage.<ref name=VENUE/>

In transitioning to The Axis Club, some of these features were removed to increase capacity and the equipment was updated to facilitate live-streamed performances, including a multi-camera setup, as well as an [[LED]] wall.<ref name=NOW/><ref name=TORONTOLIFE>{{Cite web |last=Dingwall |first=Kate |date=April 5, 2022 |title=Inside the west end's newly refurbished premier concert venue |url=https://torontolife.com/culture/inside-the-west-ends-newly-refurbished-premier-concert-venue/ |access-date=June 9, 2024 |website=Toronto Life}}</ref> The interior also features music-themed murals from Toronto artist John Nobrega.<ref name=TORONTOLIFE/>

==History==
[[File:Nightclub artwork.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Jameson Irish Whiskey|Jameson whiskey]] artwork in The Mod Club Theatre during a 2018 [[The Oh Hellos]] concert.]]

===The Mod Club Theatre===

The Mod Club Theatre opened in 2002, taking over a location that previously functioned as a pool hall known as The Corner Pocket that was owned and operated by Toronto entrepreneur, Bruno Sinopoli.<ref name=THENANDNOW>{{cite web |url=http://thenandnowtoronto.com/2014/10/then-now-mod-club-2/ |title=Then & Now: Mod Club |last=Benson |first=Denise |date=November 16, 2012 |website=Then & Now Toronto Nightlife History |access-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref>

The nightclub's theme was inspired by club nights held at other venues in the city that were run by former [[Platinum Blonde (band)|Platinum Blonde]] frontman [[Mark Holmes (musician)|Mark Holmes]] and partner, Bobbi Guy, a fellow British-[[Expatriate|expat]] who managed the Toronto record store [[Sam the Record Man]].<ref name=SHINN/>

In 1996, during a hiatus from Platinum Blonde, Holmes, along with former Platinum Blonde drummer Sascha Tukatsch and musician Dave Barrett, formed a band called Vertigo, which later became known as No. 9.<ref name=SPEROUNES>{{cite news |last=Sperounes |first=Sandra |date=August 18, 1999 |title=Surprise! Surprise!: Platinum Blonde, ... er No. 9, is back Get set for a trip down memory lane |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/252722903 |work=[[Edmonton Journal]] |location=Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |page=C1 |access-date=May 26, 2022 |id={{ProQuest|252722903}} |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The band's sound was inspired by the music of the late 1960–early 1970 [[London]] rock scene and was unable to find any labels to take them on, so in 1996 Holmes began to organize once-monthly club events, called "Orange Alert".<ref name=OCONNOR>{{cite news |last=O'Connor |first=C.J. |date=August 21, 1997 |title=Retro DayGlo: Glam, bam, thank you, man |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/437706871 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada |page=G3 |access-date=May 20, 2022 |id={{ProQuest|437706871}} |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The "Orange Alert" events were inspired by [[happenings]] of the 1960s and got their name from the alert that sounded whenever [[penal colonists]] attempted an escape during the 1960s, British TV series, ''[[The Prisoner]]''.<ref name=OCONNOR/>

In 1999 these happenings were rebranded as "Mod Club" nights, which were held Thursdays at the Toronto nightclub, Lava Lounge.<ref name=MURRAY>{{cite news |last=Murray |first=Christine |date=October 7, 2000 |title=Modus operandi: Toronto's mod scene has spawned an elite group of fashion-savvy people who've shrugged off raver trends in exchange for slim pants and scooters |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/329782082/77204D4183342BBPQ/ |work=[[National Post]] |location=Don Mills, Ontario, Canada |page=W10 |access-date=May 26, 2022 |via=[[ProQuest]]|url-access=subscription}}</ref> As the popularity of these shows increased, Mod Club shows were featured on Saturdays at the nightclub Revival, which was situated in a former [[Baptist]] church.<ref name=SHINN>{{cite news |last=Shinn |first=Eric |date=August 25, 2001 |title=The mod spirit is in Revival in Little Italy |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/438322819/652BEBBEB8AF425CPQ/ |work=[[Toronto Star]] |location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada |page=J16 |access-date=May 26, 2022 |via=[[ProQuest]]|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Attendees of these club nights dressed in [[Mod (subculture)|mod]]-inspired fashions.<ref name=MURRAY/> Mod Club nights incorporated [[R&B]], [[funk]] and [[soul music]] from the 1960s, music from the [[mod revival]] scenes of the 1970s and 1980s as well as 1990s [[Britpop]].<ref name=MURRAY/><ref name=ELLIS>{{cite news |last=Ellis |first=Don |date=December 27, 2003 |title=British invasion lands on College |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/330002970/652BEBBEB8AF425CPQ/ |work=[[National Post]] |location=Don Mills, Ontario, Canada |page=TO13 |access-date=May 26, 2022 |via=[[ProQuest]]|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Looking for a larger venue, Mark Holmes approached Bruno Sinopoli about coming on board and converting The Corner Pocket into a nightclub venue together.<ref name=BLOGTO/> The Mod Club featured theme nights such as [[ska]] nights, and [[Velvet Goldmine (song)|Velvet Goldmine]] nights featuring [[Glam rock|glam]] music.<ref name=ELLIS/> Holmes also [[Disc jockey#Club DJs|deejayed]] at the club under the name DJ MRK, and from 2003 to 2007 his Thursday night shows were broadcast live from [[CFNY-FM|102.1 The Edge]].<ref name=BLOGTO/>

The venue opened with a focus on British musical artists and hosted live performances by artists such as [[Amy Winehouse]], [[Muse (band)|Muse]], [[New Order (band)|New Order]] and [[Keane (band)|Keane]].<ref name=BLOGTO/> Other performers that played at the club included [[The Killers]], [[Metric (band)|Metric]], [[Calvin Harris]], [[The Lumineers]], [[Sia]], [[John Mayer]], [[Florence + the Machine]], [[Cypress Hill]], [[Yukon Blonde]], [[Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds]] and [[Lana Del Rey]].<ref name=MCGWIRE/><ref name=BLISS>{{cite magazine |last=Bliss |first=Karen |date=November 10, 2020 |title=Toronto's Mod Club Theatre, a Rite of Passage for Canadian Artists, Closes Its Doors |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/toronto-mod-club-theatre-closes/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=May 26, 2022 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> [[The Weeknd]] referred to the nightclub as "the stage that changed my life," having performed his first live concert there in 2011.<ref name=BLISS/>

The Mod Club came to an end in 2020, during the [[COVID-19 lockdowns]].<ref name=BLOGTO/>

===The Axis Club===
In late 2021, the entertainment venue reopened as The Axis Club under new management.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wheeler |first=Brad |title=Toronto s revitalized live music scene leans on the past and on a new venue called History |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/article-torontos-revitalized-live-music-scene-leans-on-the-past-and-on-a-new/ |work=[[Globe and Mail]] |location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada |date=November 11, 2021 |access-date=May 26, 2022}}</ref> The club's general manager, Orin Bristol of [[INK Entertainment]], previously worked as both a director and operator of various Toronto venues, including [[The Guvernment]].<ref name=NOW/>

===Return to The Mod Club===
On May 28, 2025, the venue announced that they will be rebranding back to its original name, The Mod Club on June 14, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rebuli |first1=Stefano |title=The Mod Club Returns to Toronto |url=https://ca.billboard.com/business/touring/mod-club-toronto |website=Billboard Canada |access-date=May 28, 2025 |language=en |date=May 28, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=LaPierre |first1=Megan |title=Toronto's Axis Club Returns to Mod Club Namesake |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/toronto-s-axis-club-returns-to-mod-club-namesake |website=Exclaim! |access-date=May 28, 2025 |language=en |date=May 28, 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200218121841/http://themodclub.com/ The Mod Club] <small>(copy archived February 18, 2020)</small>

{{Theatres in Toronto}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Former theatres in Canada]]
[[Category:Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the performing arts]]
[[Category:Music venues in Toronto]]
[[Category:Nightclubs in Toronto]]

Mod Club - Revision history

imported>Amakuru: Amakuru moved page The Axis Club to Mod Club: Requested by Cltjames at WP:RM/TR: The name of the nightclub in Toronto, Canada was reverted to its original name the Mod Club, therefore the article title should be reverted too