Horseshoe Tavern turns 70 — with no end in sight

Not many Toronto live music venues get to celebrate a 70th anniversary.

But, then again, not many are the legendary Horseshoe Tavern which turns the big 7-0 on Wednesday (Dec. 6).

“It’s got a secret sauce that can’t be replicated,” says co-owner Jeff Cohen, a one-time talent booker who took ownership of the Queen St. W. club with Craig Laskey in 1998 — the year after the Rolling Stones performed at the iconic venue.

“The history, the sound, the staff, can’t be replicated,” he added. “Just the feeling when you hit that stage, just the closeness of the audience, the respect of the audience attached to the venue, pretty decent for a dive bar.”

Over the last two decades, Cohen and Laskey carved out an alt-country niche, booking such influential acts as Wilco and Ryan Adams.

 “It’s always had someone who loved music so much they went out of their way to book stuff they loved, ” Cohen noted.

Originally a blacksmith’s shop, the space was bought in 1947 by Jack Starr, who turned the 460-patron capacity venue with its famous checkboard floors into a country music hall of worship in the 1950s-’60s. Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson were among those who entertained audiences.

Eventually, Stompin’ Tom Connors played a 25-night residency there.

The tavern had several owners over the years —  including iconic comedian Dan Aykroyd (with Ken Sprackman, Michael “X-Ray” Macrae and Richard Crook).

The programing also changed.

In the ’70s, for example, the two Garys — Cormier and Topp — favoured punk and new wave acts such as The Ramones, Talking Heads, The Police and The Viletones — the latter played the Last Pogo, which famously led to a riot and a documentary.

The ’80s came along and so did such bands such as Blue Rodeo and the subsequent decade ushered in surprise performances by Foo Fighters, Bryan Adams, Melissa Etheridge, The Tragically Hip, The Dead Weather and Crowded House’s farewell gig.

CO-OWNER JEFF COHEN’S FAB FIVE ‘SHOE SHOWS:

“The Stones thing was fun — these are life affirming,” says Cohen.

1. Joel Plaskett did a week residency in 2012 and on one night he brought The Hip’s Gord Downie up to the stage who made up verses to Love This Town. “It was f—ng magical.”

2. Frank Black and The Catholics’ did a five-show residency in 2002. “Frank just worked for the door (proceeds) and there was piles and piles of Canadian cash. (Black) said, ‘Just put it in a plastic bag.’”

3. Wilco’s two shows for Being There in 1998. “The concert in Toronto that propelled the alt-country movement.”

4. Golden Smog’s two 1998 shows (Wilco, Soul Asylum, Jayhawks and Big Star members) in 1998. “Joyous.”

5. Ryan Adams’ 2002 solo acoustic show:“You could hear a pin drop on every single song.”