# Mod Club

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{{Short description|Entertainment venue in Toronto, Ontario}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2026}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = The Mod Club
| image = 250px
| image_caption = {{small|The Axis Club in 2023}}
| former_names = {{flatlist|
* The Virgin Mobile Mod Club
* The Axis Club (2021–2025)
}}
| coordinates = {{coord|43.6554|-79.4194|type:landmark_region:CA-ON|display=inline,title}}
| type = Music hall
| event = 
| built = 
| opened = {{flatlist|
* 2002–2020
* 2025–present
}}
| renovated = 
| expanded = 
| demolished = 
| owner = Bruno Sinopoli
| operator = 
| seating_type = General admission (standing)
| seating_capacity = 618
| website = https://www.themodclub.com/
}}

'''The Mod Club''' is an entertainment venue situated at 722 College Street, in [Toronto](/source/Toronto)'s [Little Italy](/source/Little_Italy%2C_Toronto) 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](/source/Now_(newspaper)) |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](/source/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](/source/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 Mod Club has a 600 person capacity and a stage that is 24 feet wide x 18 feet deep.<ref name=Billboard>{{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/articles/news/international/9481479/toronto-mod-club-theatre-closes |magazine=[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine)) |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](/source/Mod_(subculture)) and concert-goers could watch acts from the floor, the tables to the side of the room, or the second floor [balcony](/source/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](/source/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 the transition 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](/source/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 whiskey](/source/Jameson_Irish_Whiskey) artwork in The Mod Club Theatre during a 2018 [The Oh Hellos](/source/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](/source/Platinum_Blonde_(band)) frontman [Mark Holmes](/source/Mark_Holmes_(musician)) and partner, Bobbi Guy, a fellow British-[expat](/source/Expatriate) who managed the Toronto record store [Sam the Record Man](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/happenings) of the 1960s and got their name from the alert that sounded whenever [penal colonists](/source/penal_colonists) attempted an escape during the 1960s, British TV series, ''[The Prisoner](/source/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 |work=[National Post](/source/National_Post) |location=Don Mills, Ontario, Canada |page=W10 |access-date=May 26, 2022 |id={{ProQuest|329782082}} |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](/source/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 |work=[Toronto Star](/source/Toronto_Star) |location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada |page=J16 |access-date=May 26, 2022 |id={{ProQuest|438322819}} |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Attendees of these club nights dressed in [mod](/source/Mod_(subculture))-inspired fashions.<ref name=MURRAY/> Mod Club nights incorporated [R&B](/source/R%26B), [funk](/source/funk) and [soul music](/source/soul_music) from the 1960s, music from the [mod revival](/source/mod_revival) scenes of the 1970s and 1980s as well as 1990s [Britpop](/source/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 |work=[National Post](/source/National_Post) |location=Don Mills, Ontario, Canada |page=TO13 |access-date=May 26, 2022 |id={{ProQuest|330002970}} |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](/source/ska) nights, and [Velvet Goldmine](/source/Velvet_Goldmine_(song)) nights featuring [glam](/source/Glam_rock) music.<ref name=ELLIS/> Holmes also [deejayed](/source/Disc_jockey) 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](/source/CFNY-FM).<ref name=BLOGTO/>

The venue opened with a focus on British musical artists and hosted live performances by artists such as [Amy Winehouse](/source/Amy_Winehouse), [Muse](/source/Muse_(band)), [New Order](/source/New_Order_(band)) and [Keane](/source/Keane_(band)).<ref name=BLOGTO/> Other performers that played at the club included [The Killers](/source/The_Killers), [Metric](/source/Metric_(band)), [Calvin Harris](/source/Calvin_Harris), [The Lumineers](/source/The_Lumineers),  [Sia](/source/Sia), [John Mayer](/source/John_Mayer), [Florence + the Machine](/source/Florence_%2B_the_Machine), [Cypress Hill](/source/Cypress_Hill), [Yukon Blonde](/source/Yukon_Blonde), [Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds](/source/Noel_Gallagher's_High_Flying_Birds) and [Lana Del Rey](/source/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](/source/Billboard_(magazine)) |access-date=May 26, 2022 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> [The Weeknd](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/INK_Entertainment), previously worked as both a director and operator of various Toronto venues, including [The Guvernment](/source/The_Guvernment).<ref name=NOW/>

===Return to The Mod Club===
On June 14, 2025, the venue rebranded back to its original name, The Mod Club.<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://www.themodclub.com/ Mod Club website]

{{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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mod Club](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mod_Club) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mod_Club?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.