Making time

>>The Mod Clubs of Canada give the
international subculture a contemporary spin

WE ARE, WE ARE, WE ARE THE MODS:
(L to R) Lee Modern, T.T. La Veste, Parklife

by LORRAINE CARPENTER

In the wake of Britain’s mod boom of the mid-’60s, when impeccably tailored Motown fans on scooters (and speed) famously fought old-school “rockers” in the streets (as depicted in the Who’s landmark film Quadrophenia), the mod aesthetic has found its way into music, movies, magazines and catwalks across the Western world, sometimes spurring a real revival.

In Toronto, where iconic scooters and parkas have been nightlife staples for decades, the Mod Club Theatre grew out of late-’90s DJ nights organized by British ex-pats Mark Holmes (of ’80s hair band Platinum Blonde) and Bobby Guy (a one-time house-music producer). In 2001, the Mod Club brand spread to Vancouver, where DJ Lee Modern began to man the decks à la mod every weekend.

Now, there are half a dozen Mod Club nights across the country, the latest taking root in Montreal. After a yearlong stint at Vinyl, and a month’s hiatus, the local branch returns this weekend, establishing a Saturday-night residency at Main Hall. In anticipation, the Mirror spoke to Modern (now a Montrealer) about what mod means now, and the international language of Motown.

Mirror: There’s a long history of regular mod nights in Toronto, but presumably it’s more of a challenge promoting such an anglophile event here.

Lee Modern: That’s what I thought as well. However, I’m just back from spending four months in Sweden, and Scandinavia, Italy, France and Spain all have thriving mod scenes. And Montreal’s Vespa and Lambretta scooter club, the High Flyers, they’re the most intense mods I’ve ever met in Canada. The scene was really, really humming here in the late ’80s and the photos of certain club nights that happened over on St-Denis and scooter rallies they had and so on, it’s insane, I’ve never seen anything like it in Canada. And there’s not an anglo in the bunch.

M: What’s the appeal of mod culture?

LM: It’s a really longstanding aesthetic that continues to fit into cool, cutting-edge stuff, new bands, new fashions. You don’t have to define yourself as a mod and go down a checklist every day of what to wear and listen to, it can easily fit into people’s lifestyles in a way that most historical subcultures don’t. And the ’60s Motown tunes are so much fun. It’s just a good look and a good sound that’s familiar to people, yet it feels interesting and flashy.

M: So it’s not locked in time for you, it continues to evolve?

LM: That’s the way we use it. I don’t detract from purists, and we certainly have our share of regulars who wish we’d stick to the first or second waves, and we’ve built [these events] on ’60s R&B and soul, and to some extent the mod new wave phenomenon of the late ’70s. But if you want to continue to stay exciting, and fill a room every week, you have to keep it moving and capitalize on the new stuff. The feel of the Mod Club nights isn’t 22 or 23 people in a room, it’s 200 people or more enjoying not only Booker T and the MGs and the Jam, but also Oasis and the Strokes and the Pigeon Detectives. I think it’s perfectly legitimate to take mod in that direction and keep it relevant and exciting, and at the same time educate people about the old stuff. Hopefully, everybody learns something and has a great time.

With DJs Lee Modern, ParkLife, T.T. La Veste and George
Donoso III at Main Hall on Saturday, Jan. 12, 10 p.m.