Last Friday, April 28, about 30 independent-minded musicians gathered in front of the offices of the Allied Canadian Corporation, for a demonstration against that company's decision to evict one of their longtime tenants, the Gas Station Studio.
Run since 1992 by Dale Morningstar of The Dinner Is Ruined and Don Kerr of the Rheostatics, the Gas Station had always been a popular choice among Toronto's musical community, for its laidback vibe, its lovely view of the cityscape and the creativity which Dale and Don were able to coax out the artists who booked time there.
The Gas Station's eviction is a flashpoint for larger issues in the city of Toronto, namely the driving out of independent artists and the less upwardly mobile by the gentrification of the warehouse district,a nd the lack of protection for renters -- who are the majority.
Angry though the protest was, it was an
unbelievably fun and joyous afternoon of jamming and carefree silliness on
the sidewalk on the most beautiful day of the year.
Though the bean-counting
minds of Allied Canadian were not changed, the point was definitely made.
Dale and Don's search for a new studio location outside the city continues.
-- Jonny Dovercourt