January 2002

Toronto Music Scene News

WAYNE OMAHA TURNS 5!
The Wayne O's are throwing a giant party/show Saturday, Jan. 26 at the New El Mocambo to celebrate five beauty years of Wayne O. (Jan 2002 will be the fifth anniversary of Wayne Omaha's first gig.) The show will also double as "Mandython II"; the 12-door Suburban known as Mandy is currently not only inoperative but also incarcerated in a tow lot down by the Lakeshore. One of the opening acts will be Hanna (three members of the now-defunct Knockout Pill, one of those members also being a Wayne O). Also note that No Beat Radio (CIUT 89.5 FM Mondays 10pm-midnight) will be interviewing them on Jan. 21, as well as spinning some new unreleased tracks from the recent WO recording session at the House of Miracles.

DEN OF INIQUITY
Your favourite local bands may have a new stage to play. The OPM Den is the first new indie-friendly club to open in T.O. in about three years. While the name might result in some unwanted attention from Toronto's Finest, booker Doreen Chung is signing up all those squeaky-clean glam-punk bands you know and love from the Bovine, like 66 Kicks, Shaftdrive and Cheerleader. The official opening is Friday, Jan. 4 with said bands and a bunch more, and the club is located at 418 Dundas St W., just down the street from the AGO. The OPM Den will also be open in the day for studious OCAD and U of T tuition-payers.

LONG TIME NO SEE
Chicago trio Longitude, who treated Wavelength to their deliciously dreamy power-folk in November, will be returning to Toronto for a gig at Rancho Relaxo on Thursday, Jan. 10. Opening will be The Co-operators and The Curfew (featuring ex-members of Frizbee and Radioblaster). And Rancho has a new booker, ex-Ted's agent Yvonne Matsell.