El Mocambo

Well, well, well. what do you know. The lord works in mysterious ways. .
The famous (infamous) trader, Michael Wekerle (of Griffths MacBurney fame and now Dragons Den) sidled up to the bar with a large cheque… There is an interesting photo of him standing outside the joint on Spadina with his tonge hanging out, showing off his tatoo…
In the financial press it was related that a money manager is suing Wek for a bunch of money…
Has anybody been to a show lately?

FINALLY closed its doors ! Let’s hope it never opens again. Place was run like a disco… good riddance !! Barely ok for underground music supporters like myself. Fuck ‘em ! Sadly, I hafta rate this hole so I’ll give it a one but I don’t really mean it.

Great venue for shows, its too bad it always looks like its up for sale but bands can rent the venue for a good price and run their own shows. The owners tend to double book but they are really friendly. The washroom is on the main floor and the upstairs is a great place to have a show as well, different atmosphere.

was just at this venue for battlecross
excellent sound excellent set up
beer was a bit expensive (8 bucks for a tall boy?!)

I visited the El Mocambo for the Music BC showcase at Canadian Music week. I was told of legendary live recordings by Elvis Costello and the Rolling Stones in the 70s and I can understand why this venue is considered by some to be a landmark in Toronto’s music scene.
The bar itself is a bit run-​down and the beer a bit pricey but overall it was a great place to see some live music.
There is a large main room on the ground floor with a raised stage and plenty of room to dance or take in a show. Make sure to check out the long darker room on the second floor.
The neon palm tree sign outside is super photo-​worthy.
Nothing crazy special overall IMO but a nice, dirty venue to watch some dirty rock n’ roll

Nice venue at college and Spadina, 2 stages available with daily concerts.
Bar sympa juste au croisement de College et Spadina. 2 scènes de concert, une à chaque étage.

*2.5 stars* It’s right in between «Meh» and «A-​Ok»
I have mixed feeling about the El Mo. On the whole, when i’ve gone there the only reason i’ve had a good night is because of the specific bands i’ve gone to see, not because of the venue.
I know i know «It’s an institution! It’s got such a history!» I do try to give the El Mo some props for that, but really… do you stay with a dirty, lazy, broken old boyfriend just because you had some good times 20 years ago? No. Keep the memories of the good times alive, but move on.
The ladies bathroom looks like it’s had some work done. That’s a good thing. But it still needs some work too.
What really gets me, and i’ve wrote about this before at other places, is when you pay cover to go somewhere, you get inside and they tell you it’s mandatory to check your coat. AND they charge you for that too! What?! It just really pisses me off. If there was just a tip jar for the coat attendant that would be a different story. But a set charge added to the cover charge i already paid seems like a money grab. Especially because i was wearing a light little sweater-​like jacket that i wanted to keep on. The bouncer told me I HAD to check it. I said «But this is like my sweater». No dice. Tons of other peeps were strolling in with huge sweaters and hoodies, but not me. I was on her naughty list. I went back outside to find my friend and she followed me and I could see her whispering at the other bouncers and pointing at me. Oh dear. I’m the jacket trouble-​maker i guess.

went here for CMW festival concert.
from outside the place looks pretty dodgy. all the walls have marker/​pen writings by guests… so doesn’t really add to the cleanliness of the place.
but it works out as the music venue. it fits lots of people. the bar is spacious and bartenders are very attentive.
also liked the decorative lamps everywhere.

I liked it, went and saw a friends band play there, and thought it was fine. It wasent packed the night we went, but thats ok and I didin’t find the bartendors any worse then anywhere else. Like what are they suppose to be doing kissing your butt everytime you go up there a little bit more drunk?. They seemed decent to me. The bathrooms are a little dark but if your so drunk you cant find the toilet, is that really the biggest problem you have? since really its not that bad! Id spend 10 bucks to get back in, np.

For anyone who is going to the elmo other than for the pure love of music then you just better go home. TO is full of places where you can sit around, pay big bucks and feel pretty. Elmo not only has history, it’s got a soul.
It’s the real deal. If you are going there, go for the music, go for the bands, and MOST IMPORTANTLY… I repeat, MOST IMPORTANTLY:
GO BECAUSE EVERY ADDITIONAL PROFIT GAINED FROM THIS PLACE (not the profit for the bands but concert hall rental profit etc) GOES TO CHARITY!
These people are there for a reason. If some bartender didn’t give you a nice smile, that’s probably because they were up the night before making sandwiches for the homeless of TO, and are too tired at the moment to smile… literally. Do the research on CBC or CityTV news and you are sure to come across some of their stories.

What a shit-​hole.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the venue is «a Toronto landmark» and has been the host of some well known bands/​celebrities… but the El Mocambo reminds me of an old 96 year old man in a coma who’s family keeps hoping he’ll wake up but everyone knows he never will… PULL THE DAMN PLUG!
I came here reluctantly because a co-​worker was playing a show here and everyone from work pestered me to go. Not really my scene, that’s fine, I’ll suck it up. But no, sorry. It sucked.
First of all– the bartender we had was a super bitch. People who are miserable with their jobs should quit. She clearly hates her job. She should quit. I mean, when your income relies on making tips you should be a bit more friendly with people, and not have a smug-​stuck-​the-​fuck-​up look on your face the ENTIRE night.
Secondly– security here is such a joke. A couple of our friends (ALMOST 30!) weren’t drinking and didn’t bring their I. D so they had big X’s on their hands to show that they aren’t allowed to drink. Fine. But when they both went outside for a cigarette and tried to get back in, they were denied. No one told them that because they had X’s on their hands they weren’t free to come and go as they pleased. No one relayed this info to us as we entered. So my friends that weren’t allowed to come back in MISSED the band they came to see. I had to get their coats for them in coatcheck and everything.
After that incident, I will NEVER come back. That was just insane, I thought. I mean, I understand you can’t be letting little kiddies coming and going (they could be going out to drink booze, then coming back in all drunk and if something happens the club is liable… etc…) I get it. But these were some GROWN-​ASS MEN. Who were not intoxicated at all. The Security guard should have made an exception, but whatever. Fucking idiot.
Other than the shitty people working there, the place is filthy beyond belief and there’s no lighting in the bathrooms! And wtf is up with the pop for drinks being poured out of 2-​litre bottles? Can you say GHETTO? Haha. I can’t believe this place is still in business.

This place is pretty dingy but I saw this band called KC Roberts and the live revolution and they blew my mind!!!

Normally I have frequented bigger venues in the past and this is only one of the few smaller venues that I have attended for a concert. I can’t complain about smaller venue shows. I read the reviews about El MO prior to attending the concert and went in having no expectations of this place. I thought the venue was pretty good as there were a few seats that you could sit on instead of having your poor feet feel like they are going to fall off by the end of the show. I felt that the limited seating gave the venue a nice homey /​cozy atmosphere as though you were sitting in someones living room. Mind you, most people like to stand so you may not get a good view of the performance if you sit the entire night.
Contrary to other reviews, they were not forcing anyone to check in your coat. There were no coat checks at all. I’m not sure if it was because we were on the first floor that it was so close to the door, but it felt really cold like the heat was not on cold. I wore a fall jacket thinking that I would get hot during the show, however, I kept the jacket on the entire night and still felt chilly.
The staff was really efficient and friendly. I would recommend that you go check out this venue if your favourite artist/​band is going to perform here.

The El Mo’s been kicking around for a looooong time. I neither like or dislike it, it’s just sort of «there.» Let’s put it this way: if I hear that a band I like is playing here, I’m both excited and not. Excited because I know it’ll be cheap (under $ 12) and easy to get to (506 College or 510 Spadina streetcar) but underwhelmed because it’s as dark as the cellar in Silence Of The Lambs, the sound quality is questionable and they try to force you to check your coat in the winter. And I really hate that.
I recently saw Telefon Tel Aviv now (deadly show) and the bass was so fucking loud that the projector broadcasting the visuals kept getting shaken right off the screen. As in, with each thump it’d get rattled an inch to the right until it was eventually projecting onto another surface entirely. A tech had to keep climbing up on a chair to readjust the projector. Needless to say, the sound quality need some work. Also file under: loud as fuck.
What’s up with the weird, long front room as you enter? It’s got a motorcycle on display, some plants, a few issues of NOW magazine and a couch that I’ve never seen anyone sit on. What is that even used for?

I don’t want to hate on this place because it is a pretty cool spot and I had a hell of a time here but as a venue for bands it’s kind of lacking.
Upstairs:
The stage is super tiny. The (abnormally long) room is divided in half by a unfortunately placed pillar. The acoustics are garbage. The sound system sucks.
The coolest thing about this place is behind where they have the stage there is what feels like a VIP lounge. Super cool spot to sit and have a drink at intermission.
Theres not much to be said since I’ve only been there once. It would be nice if they had a bit more seating in that huge empty space near the bar for those people who just want to chill out and enjoy the music. After all watching how some of the patrons dance is pretty awesome and hilarious all at once.
The music was really good when I went! (We seen Whiskey Collective)
I wouldn’t rule out going to this place for another show, and I have already recommended it to my friends. Only now that I am writing a review did I really notice all the flaws while trying to be completely honest with all the readers. But to be completely honest I’d have to emphasize that you won’t notice these flaws in the moment, you’ll be too busy having a blast with your pals!

The El Mo is a venue that always seems to rented out by bands you’ve never heard of, making it consistently one of the best places to enjoy local music.
The El Mo has 2 floors. The main floor is dark and a bit grimey, but it has a huge concert venue space. It’s so huge, that there could be bands playing, and you could easily sit by the window (past the bar) and have yourself a regular conversation. Of course, that’s in plain view of the stage, so there’s also a chance you’ll be the subject of some ridicule from whomever has the mic. Just sayin’…
Upstairs is a smaller venue, and it has a bit of a homier feel to it, but one that quickly dissolves when it fills up. If there’s lots of people, it’ll be a party. I’ve seen the upstairs used for non-​music things, like stand up comedy. It’s a good venue for things like that, too.
The beers here are reasonably priced, with a bottle being in the $ 4 range.

I don’t think I’m allowed to hate the El Mo. It’s been around too long, it has too much history with the city, and it has too much history with me.
Smaller bands and dance nights generally happen on either the main floor or upstairs, and how good your night goes really depends on what you’re going to see. The last concert I went to there was mind-​blowing — not only was I going to see one of my favourite musicians, but I was with good company and the place was quiet and insanely intimate.
I’ve been here for other things, from comedy shows to punk shows to dance parties, and the level of fun all depends on what’s going on. The El Mo for sound quality is not amazing, but the El Mo for booze is great — awesome bartenders and cheap prices. And they carry 50, so that means I can get as much beer as possible for my $ 20 bill.
If you’re in the city, don’t come to the El Mo just to go there — odds are, you’ll be stuck in the middle of an all ages show or something else lame and weird. But if you see something that looks fun, it probably will be, and the El Mocambo is a good place to see a great show.
Note: El Mo in the summertime = NO. I’ve had a couple nights where the upstairs was so hot I was covered in other people’s sweat, and one night there was even a fire! (Maybe from the combination of dirty dancing and humidity? I say yes).

This place has definitely prettied itself up since that whole fearsome buyout debacle. After successful petitions and town hall meetings hosted by community flag-​waver Olivia Chow, the El Mo remained a concert venue on the main floor, much to the heaving sighs of local live music fans.
Though it did keep its promise, the space has definitely lost its street cred and attracts way fewer punks (are there any punks left in Toronto?) than I remember seeing before. I hate to say it, but it’s kind of lost the personal touch it had with the more intimate, ramshackle seat layout and stage off to the right: small to moderate sized crowds made the place cozy. In the reno’ed venue, with the stage at one end and a long empty space before the bar starts at the back, there’s an empty awkwardness that lingers in the air.
At the same time, there’s lots of tradition here. It holds vastly more people and attracts good quality local and international acts that should be getting more attention. Go on a weekend and don’t waste your time in the back by the bar, standing away from the crowds.

If you live and breathe in Toronto and are a fan of music, you must check out the El Mo at some point.
(Side note: I know how tired it is to ask someone if they like music. Everyone likes music. I just didn’t want to start with: go check out their website and if you like the set list, you can’t pass on The El Mocambo!)
My point is, the El Mo is a venue that’s been around since the 50’s. Everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Black Flag has made an appearance there; it’s a true piece of T. O history. As such, if you live in this city or are visiting, it’s a spot that has some great shows that is worth checking out.
Other good points: the cover charge is consistently lower than other concert venues, and while it has gone through a reno, still has the intimate feel lacking from other bigger places.

I went to a concert at El Mocambo yesterday. I didn’t even know there was such a venue on the Spadina strip. I don’t know what I would dub this joint, I guess concert venue, although I don’t know if they have other stuff throughout the week.
First impression, not very good. The bouncer guy at the front was quite strict with my friend. She had a container of juice, which she packed from lunch (she came straight after work), and the guy made her dump it out! It actually was funny because he kept saying «if I open the bottle, will there be water». And confused, she kept saying «no, it’s juice». This went on for a minute or so and finally she dumped it out… So word of warning, do not bring outside food!
The concert was on the 1^st floor. I didn’t realize that there were multiple floors, the place is bigger than it looks! There are some seats on both sides, as well as a very low couch near the AV booth. That’s where I spent the majority of the night. The venue is very cozy and seeing a band play there is awesome. There’s some very sensual about being a small venue and so close to the stage.
Great couch, great music, pretty good venue!