Mod Club

The Axis Club has a 600 person capacity and a stage that is 24 feet wide x 18 feet deep.{{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 |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}}{{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}}

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{{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}} It also featured two large video panels to give audience members views of the performers on stage.

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.{{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}} The interior also features music-themed murals from Toronto artist John Nobrega.

File:Nightclub artwork.jpg artwork in The Mod Club Theatre during a 2018 The Oh Hellos concert.]]

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.{{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}}

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.{{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}} 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".{{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}} 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.

In 1999 these happenings were rebranded as "Mod Club" nights, which were held Thursdays at the Toronto nightclub, Lava Lounge.{{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}} 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.{{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}} Attendees of these club nights dressed in mod-inspired fashions. 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.{{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}}

Looking for a larger venue, Mark Holmes approached Bruno Sinopoli about coming on board and converting The Corner Pocket into a nightclub venue together. The Mod Club featured theme nights such as ska nights, and Velvet Goldmine nights featuring glam music. 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.

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. 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.{{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 |access-date=May 26, 2022 |url-access=subscription}} The Weeknd referred to the nightclub as "the stage that changed my life," having performed his first live concert there in 2011.

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

In late 2021, the entertainment venue reopened as The Axis Club under new management.{{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}} 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.

On May 28, 2025, the venue announced that they will be rebranding back to its original name, The Mod Club on June 14, 2025.{{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}}{{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}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20200218121841/http://themodclub.com/ The Mod Club] (copy archived February 18, 2020)

{{Theatres in Toronto}}

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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