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The Axis Club

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Coordinates: 43°39′19″N 79°25′10″W / 43.6554°N 79.4194°W / 43.6554; -79.4194
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The Axis Club
The Axis Club in 2023
Map
Former namesThe Mod Club (2002–2020)
Coordinates43°39′19″N 79°25′10″W / 43.6554°N 79.4194°W / 43.6554; -79.4194
OperatorMFG Entertainment
TypeMusic hall
Seating typeGeneral admission (standing)
Capacity618
Opened2002
Website
https://theaxisclub.com/

The Axis Club is an entertainment venue in Toronto located 722 College Street, which is in the city's Little Italy neighbourhood.[1][2]

From 2002 to 2020, the venue was called The Mod Club Theatre.[3] Prior to that, the building housed a pool hall called The Corner Pocket, as well as a nightclub called Allure.[3]

Overview

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The Axis Club has a 600 person capacity and a stage that is 24 feet wide x 18 feet deep.[4][5]

While functioning as The Mod Club, the interior was accented with murals featuring images of 1960s mod subculture and concert-goers could watch acts from the floor, the tables to the side of the room, or the second floor balcony[3][6] It also featured two large video panels to give audience members views of the performers on stage.[5]

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.[1][7] The interior also features music-themed murals from Toronto artist John Nobrega.[7]

History

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Jameson whiskey artwork in The Mod Club Theatre during a 2018 The Oh Hellos concert.

The Mod Club Theatre

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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.[8]

The nightclub's theme was inspired by club nights held at other venues in the city that were run by former Platinum Blonde frontman Mark Holmes and partner, Bobbi Guy, a fellow British-expat who managed the Toronto record store Sam the Record Man.

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.[9] 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".[10] 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.[10]

In 1999 these happenings were rebranded as "Mod Club" nights, which were held Thursdays at the Toronto nightclub, Lava Lounge.[11] As the popularity the of these shows increased, Mod Club shows were featured on Saturdays at the nightclub Revival, which was situated in a former Baptist church.[12] Attendees of these club nights dressed in mod-inspired fashions.[11] 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.[11][13]

Looking for a larger venue, Holmes approached Sinopoli about converting The Corner Pocket into a nightclub venue.[3] The Mod Club featured theme nights such as ska nights, and Velvet Goldmine nights featuring glam music.[13] Holmes also deejayed at the club under the name DJ MRK, and from 2003 to 2007 his Thursday night shows were broadcast live from 102.1 The Edge.[3]

The venue opened with a focus on British musical artists and hosted live performances by artists such as Amy Winehouse, Muse, New Order and Keane.[3] Other performers that played at the club included The Killers, 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.[6][14] The Weeknd referred to the nightclub as "the stage that changed my life," having performed his first live concert there in 2011.[14]

The Mod Club came to an end in 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdowns.[3]

The Axis Club

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In late 2021, the entertainment venue reopened as The Axis Club under new management.[15] 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.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Trapunski, Richard (July 14, 2021). "The Mod Club is relaunching as the Axis Club in September". Now. Toronto, Ontario. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  2. ^ Ship, Jesse (November 19, 2012). "A brief history of the Mod Club Theatre". BlogTO. ZoomerMedia. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Ship, Jesse (November 7, 2020). "The Mod Club becomes the latest live music venue in Toronto to permanently shut down". BlogTO. ZoomerMedia. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  4. ^ Bliss, Karen (November 10, 2020). "Toronto's Mod Club Theatre, a Rite of Passage for Canadian Artists, Closes Its Doors". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Venue Specs". TheModClub.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  6. ^ a b McGwire, Frank (August 9, 2012). "Canada's biggest band from 80's reunite". The Brandon Sun. Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. p. 4. Retrieved May 26, 2022 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  7. ^ a b Dingwall, Kate (April 5, 2022). "Inside the west end's newly refurbished premier concert venue". Toronto Life. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  8. ^ Benson, Denise (November 16, 2012). "Then & Now: Mod Club". Then & Now Toronto Nightlife History. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  9. ^ Sperounes, Sandra (August 18, 1999). "Surprise! Surprise!: Platinum Blonde, ... er No. 9, is back Get set for a trip down memory lane". Edmonton Journal. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. p. C1. ProQuest 252722903. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  10. ^ a b O'Connor, C.J. (August 21, 1997). "Retro DayGlo: Glam, bam, thank you, man". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. p. G3. ProQuest 437706871. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  11. ^ a b c Murray, Christine (October 7, 2000). "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". National Post. Don Mills, Ontario, Canada. p. W10. Retrieved May 26, 2022 – via ProQuest.
  12. ^ Shinn, Eric (August 25, 2001). "The mod spirit is in Revival in Little Italy". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. p. J16. Retrieved May 26, 2022 – via ProQuest.
  13. ^ a b Ellis, Don (December 27, 2003). "British invasion lands on College". National Post. Don Mills, Ontario, Canada. p. TO13. Retrieved May 26, 2022 – via ProQuest.
  14. ^ a b Bliss, Karen (November 10, 2020). "Toronto's Mod Club Theatre, a Rite of Passage for Canadian Artists, Closes Its Doors". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  15. ^ Wheeler, Brad (November 11, 2021). "Toronto s revitalized live music scene leans on the past and on a new venue called History". Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
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