Carole Pope: Rock/Punk/New Wave Anti-Diva Owns the Stage at El Mocambo
- Michael Drukarsh
- 13 hours ago
- 3 min read
By: Michael Drukarsh
Toronto, Ontario - If you haven’t been to the El Mocambo in a while you will be surprised at the changes made, and executive director Mike Chalut will happily be front and centre ready to tell you all about it! Coming out to greet the crowd lined up on Spadina Avenue as doors were ready to open, Chalut, in full sequinsed suit, addressed the crowd. His own hype-man, retelling the history of the El Mo as well as pumping everyone up for the renos they were about to experience, the biggest of which based on crowd reaction, was the toilet count going from 2 to 26 or so. I can honestly say I have never been greeted in such a fine manner at any other venue. Chalut continued to be ever present, addressing the crowd from on stage and circulating throughout the show greeting and treating every one as a close personal friend.
Awake & Dreaming
Opening band Awake & Dreaming started the night off and brought a set full of alt-rock tunes filled with rebellion and hope. Singer and keyboardist Sasha Kristoff’s voice is at once ethereal and powerful as she encouraged the sold out crowd to chant along with protest song "Dancing in the Streets While They Burn". Switching gears, guitarist Stefan Schneider joined Kristoff on the keyboard as they delivered a beautifully haunting tune, "Old Ghosts" which, along with the show closer "Bow Down to the Faceless" were definite highlights for me. Rounding out Awake & Dreaming are Phil Lee on Bass and Ryan Dogull on drums.
Carole Pope
Following a brief intermission, where once again executive director Mike Chalut addressed the crowd, reminding them of the history and connection Carole Pope has with the El Mo, gracing the stage across four decades starting in the 1970s, the Anti-Diva once again faced the spotlights under the palm tree.
With a total “don’t give a fuck” attitude, Pope quickly got the crowd laughing as she pulled out a piece of paper and proclaimed that there is no way she could remember the lyrics to opening song "It’s a Jungle". From there she and her backing band, including a young female keyboardist who Pope was proud to point out was a sign from late Rough Trade partner Kevan Staples after appearing to her in a dream and telling her to hire a female keyboardist, ripped into a straight hour and fifteen minute set that covered songs from across Rough Trade’s catalog.
Pope was in perfect form, enjoying herself on stage and still belting out her trademark sound, attitude and sexuality with tunes such as "Weapons", "I Want to Live", and "Bodies in Collision". Pope had fun interacting with the audience with short quips and some banter, sharing a warning about eating Indian food before a show and wondering what happened to Toronto and its famous landmarks over the years. Addressing the upcoming premiere of her documentary, The Ant-Diva which will be opening the Hot Docs Festival on April 23, she seemed at once proud yet humble for the honor.
After performing the song "Viral" focusing on her and her brother’s youth in New York, she delighted the crowd with two of the most well known Rough Trade songs, "All Touch" and "High School Confidential", and if you closed your eyes, you’d swear it was 1980 all over again.
An icon with so many well earned accolades, Carole Pope continues to be a voice for the LGBTQ2 community as well as a rock/punk/new wave Anti-Diva who still owns the stage at The El Mocombo.
Concert Photo Gallery (all photos by: Michael Drukarsh)
Carole Pope Online
Show Date: March 28, 2026
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