| Bovine Sex Club | |
|---|---|
 The outdoor facade of The Bovine in July 2007. | |
| Background information | |
| Founded | January 1991 |
| Capacity | 200 |
| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Website | Bovine Sex Club Official |
The Bovine Sex Club is a bar on Toronto's Queen Street West strip. In operation since January 1991, the Bovine Sex Club (often shortened to The Bovine) has at various times found itself at the forefront of Toronto's rock, punk, alternative, and rockabilly music scenes, distinctive by it's entrance surrounded by mangled bicycle parts and other junkyard memorabilia.[1] A haven for independent musicians and artists since it's opening, the Bovine also became well-known for being one of the first establishments to serve Jägermeister on tap. In 2013 the venue would expand to open a rooftop patio known as the Tiki Bar.[2]
The club opened in January 1991 with a trio of Toronto nightlife enthusiasts behind it in ownership capacity — Wesley Thuro a.k.a. Happy Dog who had already had some organizational experience with Toronto nightlife establishments having launched the all ages rave club 23 Hop just a few months earlier in 1990,[3] colourful CFNY radio personality Chris Sheppard who in addition to achieving a measure of local fame as the voice of CFNY's weekend live-to-air broadcasts from various Toronto clubs also performed under the 'DJ Dogwhistle' moniker, and Darryl Fine. The Bovine began initially as an EDM/DJ club but would evolve into hosting wider ranges of music.[4]
The Bovine Sex Club has had numerous sizable visitors over the years. Those who have visited the club include members of U2, Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Foo Fighters, The Offspring, Rage Against the Machine, Mötley Crüe, The Strokes, Lenny Kravitz, Perry Farrell, Kings of Leon and Pink. As well, the Bovine has hosted countless actors, including Bruce LaBruce,[5] Mickey Rourke and Nick Nolte, along with filmmakers, TIFF Parties and annual parties for the Wild Bunch film production and distribution company. The venue is notably a favorite of tattoo artists Kurt Wiscombe and Bob Tyrrell. On one occasion Bill Murray visited the venue and took over as bartender for a day.[6]
The Bovine's facade was built by a small group of local artists including Dave Grieveson and Great Bob Scott (also the drummer for The Look People).[7] They worked under the creator of the Bovine, Happy Dog (real name - Wesley Thuro). The exterior and interior were an art installation made solely from discarded items.[8] Long rumored to have been modeled after New York City's "The Scrap Bar" in fact owes more of its heritage to a 70s Toronto club called "Brandy's" whose reputation for as a 'meeting place' inspired both Thuro and the Bovine's eventual sole owner, Darryl Fine.
Selected Performers at the Venue[]
- Brant Bjork
- Yawning Man
- Freedom Hawk
- King Buffalo
- Bison
- Jucifer
- Priestess
- The Atomic Bitchwax
- Sons of Otis
- Dopethrone
- Electric Magma
- Nice Cat
- OFF!
- Blizaro
- Horseburner
- Telekinetic Yeti
- Hyborian
- Godstopper
- KEN Mode
- C.J. Ramone
- Lydia Lunch
- Ty Segall
- We Are The Asteroid
- Conan Neutron & The Secret Friends
- Indian Handcrafts
- D.O.A.
- Anti-Flag
External Links[]
- Bovine Sex Club on Facebook
- Bovine Sex Club on Exclaim!
- Bovine Sex Club on Songkick
- Bovine Sex Club on Setlist.fm
References[]
- ↑ Patio Guide
- ↑ blog.to
- ↑ Then and Now Toronto
- ↑ Exclaim!
- ↑ [LaBruce, Bruce (1997). The Reluctant Pornographer. Gutter Press. pp. 25–26. ISBN 9781896356129.]
- ↑ Exclaim!
- ↑ Music She Blogged
- ↑ [Jepson, Tim; Lee, Phil (2004). The Rough Guide to Canada. Rough Guides. p. 110. ISBN 9781843532668.]