Music With Meaning: Crash Test Dummies Headline BBBS Toronto Benefit at the El Mo
- jaybroderick
- 6 hours ago
- 6 min read
By: Jay Broderick
Toronto, Ontario - There’s something that fascinates me about music fans. We are forever debating ticket prices, hesitate on all‑inclusive packages, but yet when a free ticket giveaway was offered by us here at LoudTO (thanks to the generosity of Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto), a free night out with food, drinks, and a legendary Canadian band, we somehow still manage to pull away. Perhaps one of those "too good to be true" moments? Who knows! But on February 19, the hundreds of fans who did show up to the El Mocambo for the latest edition of the “Music That Moves” series proved exactly why live music culture thrives... because when people gather with purpose, the room becomes electric!
“Music That Moves” is simple in concept but powerful in execution. Once a month, one charity, one great Canadian band, one night to make a difference. And like the previous instalments, this night was bound to succeed in its mission. Guests began streaming in right at doors open, filling the El Mo with a warm, buzzing chatter. Stories were shared, food was sampled, and drinks were enjoyed.
MC Mike Chalut (El Mocambo's Executive Director) set the tone immediately in his blingy green blazer, bounding onto the floor, welcoming everyone with the kind of enthusiasm that makes you forget February exists. He hyped up the gourmet signature hotdogs from celebrity chef Mark McEwan, announced that all drinks were on the house thanks to generous donors, and reminded the crowd why they were here... to support Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto.
BBBS President and CEO Stachen Frederick took the mic next, grounding the night in reality. It costs $3,000 to support one young person until they’re matched with a mentor. Right now, 450 kids are waiting. So without surprise, tonight wasn’t just a concert... it was a chance to shorten that wait. When she introduced Toby Roseskull, one of the “littles,” to perform “Healing Hearts,” the room shifted. The applause wasn’t simply Canadian politeness... it was heartfelt.
Tim Magwood and the Riffers
The evening kicked off downstairs at the recently renovated venue. Tim Magwood & The Riffers warmed up the crowd with a six‑piece sound that was full, without ever overwhelming. Tim welcomed everyone with genuine gratitude for supporting such a vital cause, then launched into a set that was as lively as it was heartfelt with their track "Just Look it in the Eye".
By the second song "Sweet September", the band's frontman was already in the crowd, dancing, singing and connecting. His energy and showmanship was contagious, bringing the onlookers out of their shells as they joined in the fun with singing and dancing.
Later joined by special guest cellist Kevin Fox, who added a smooth richness to the band's sound, Magwood dedicated the next track "Little Angel" to the Bigs and Littles (the affectionate moniker given to the Big Brothers and Sisters, and the young people they mentor). The band then ramped things back up with “The Hollowness Surrounds”, written during the isolation of COVID but fitting for a snowy Toronto winter. Fans bobbed along as Tim once again jumped into the crowd, turning the floor into a dance circle.
“Runaway Train” brought out the keyboardist’s saxophone, and I suddenly had the urge to be barreling down an open highway with the windows down and the wind blowing across my bald head. By the time they closed with a double‑shot of The Tragically Hip, “Ahead By a Century” and “Little Bones”, the room was fully alive, singing, dancing, and primed for the main event.
Crash Test Dummies
Upstairs, anticipation thickened as a live auction raised more funds for BBBS. Then, to roaring applause, Crash Test Dummies took the stage and opened with “The Ghosts That Haunt Me.” Brad Roberts’ voice, still impossibly deep, clear, and unmistakable, rolled through the room like a warm wave. Fans grinned at each other. This was going to be special.
The band moved seamlessly through songs like “In the Days of the Caveman” and “I Think I'll Disappear Now,” settling into a groove that had the crowd dancing and smiling nonstop. The ever radiant Ellen Reid floated between tambourine, accordion, and vocals, her harmonies adding a softness that paired perfectly with Roberts’ baritone.
The band continued through their set with a favourite of mine, “God Shuffled His Feet”. It was a standout... tight, and melodic. Roberts even ripped a guitar solo that earned a surge of applause. “Comin' Back Home (The Bereft Man’s Song)” with Reid on accordion, brought an East Coast vibe that had fans hooting and dancing like it was a kitchen party, and when Roberts stepped forward for an acoustic/vocals only “The Psychic,” the room fell into a hush, Ellen’s harmonies soothing and ethereal.
Eventually, Ellen took a moment to chat with the crowd sharing that the band had never played the El Mo before. She spoke warmly about BBBS and about getting to know the organization's VP of Philanthropy Tara Monks, then revealed it was Tara’s birthday. The entire room sang to her, a moment that felt perfectly aligned with the night’s spirit.
“Are you ready to rock moderately?” Reid joked before leading the band into “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead,” which had the crowd dancing all over again.
Then came the unmistakable opening to “Superman’s Song,” greeted by a wave of cheers and raised phones. Roberts sounded phenomenal, and the contrast between his baritone and Ellen’s tenor harmonies was pure magic. Fans belted the chorus like it was 1991 all over again.
From the song that launched the band into stardom 35 years ago, to their most recent offerings, and everything in between like “Afternoons and Coffeespoons” which turned into a full‑room singalong, Crash Test Dummies showed that they still have creative fire. Even with their perfectly timed engagement with the crowd with guitarist Stuart Cameron splitting the room into two sides for a playful call‑and‑response, the band looked genuinely delighted. Ellen was smiling, keyboardist Leith Fleming-Smith rocking out, and Roberts was thanking everyone and promising to return next year.
The encore opened with the gentle, almost a cappella track "Heart of Stone" that held the room (well, most of it) in quiet attention. Unfortunately, a few over‑enthusiastic drinkers broke the spell, prompting Ellen to jokingly threaten a $50 donation to BBBS for anyone who talked during the next song "He Liked to Feel It". The crowd applauded in agreement and laughter. The hard‑rocking finale, complete with a keytar appearance from Fleming-Smith, band introductions, and finally, of course “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm.” The room erupted. It was the perfect ending to a night that balanced nostalgia, purpose, and pure musical joy.
Set List
The Ghosts That Haunt Me
In the Days of the Caveman
Flying Feeling
Winter Song
I Think I'll Disappear Now
How Does a Duck Know?
God Shuffled His Feet
Comin' Back Soon (The Bereft Man's Song)
The Psychic
Androgynous (The Replacements cover)
Two Knights and Maidens
Happy Birthday (Ellen Reid led Happy Birthday to BBBS VP Tara Monks)
The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead (XTC cover)
Superman's Song
Sacred Alphabet
Afternoons & Coffeespoons
Encore:
Heart of Stone
At My Funeral
He Liked to Feel It
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
“Music That Moves” isn’t just a clever name. It’s a reminder that music can bring people together, open wallets, open hearts, and in the case of the most recent event, shorten the distance between a young person and the mentor who might change their life. On February 19, Crash Test Dummies, Tim Magwood and the Riffers, the El Mocambo team, and a room full of fans did exactly that for Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto.
And everyone left feeling a little lighter, a little warmer, and a little more connected.
Concert Photo Gallery (all photos by: Jay Broderick)
Crash Test Dummies Online
Show Date: February 19, 2026
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