Opinion: Showing Up For Live Music (2022)

Two years after a wave of cancellations and endless postponements, the Toronto live music scene is finally kicking back into gear. Our very own Lavinia Tanzim reports back on her first gigs since the December lockdown.

Live music is officially back in full swing in Toronto after our pandemic induced hiatus, and the scene looks a bit different than it did a couple years ago. We lost some venues, gained new ones, and a couple of our old favorites got some new makeovers, so I headed out to check out a few shows and this is how it went.

The Good

Everything is looking GOOD. I visited the newly renovated El Mocambo, Massey Hall and the new kid on the block History, which are freshly polished and refitted with state-of-the-art sound systems. They’re definitely worth checking out before the less-sanitized hands of time leave their mark on the venues. Of the renovated venues, the El Mo’s makeover is certainly the most dramatic of the bunch. It still has that Rock & Roll club essence but less grungy and more glam rock, with plenty of social media friendly backdrops throughout. They also have two rooms that are completely soundproofed so you can have two performances going at once without any sound leaking between shows.

My second stop, Massey Hall looked pretty much same inside the theatre – the renovations stayed true to its original character which I was glad to see in such a beautiful historic venue. They did however install more comfortable seating and floor seats that tuck away to create a general admission standing area. They also gave the bars and bathrooms a sleek new upgrade that mirrors the feel of its sister venue, Roy Thompson Hall.

As for our newest venue History, you can definitely see Toronto rap sensation Drake’s influence on the aesthetic of the environment, who collaborated with Live Nation to open the venue. It looks like a high-end nightclub, complete with atmospheric LED lighting and roped off VIP booths. The general admission and VIP areas also extend to the upstairs mezzanine which gives you birds eye view of the entire space away from the crowds. Plus if you fancy, you can book a booth in advance to have bar service brought right to your seat. I also thought they scored major points for selling Blondies Pizza at the venue which was exceptionally delicious, I may add (other venues, please take note).

Lastly, everyone is having more fun than I’ve ever seen at Toronto shows. Pre-pandemic, local crowds had a bit of a reputation for being a little too cool to show we’re having a good time. That’s not the case anymore – people are showing up earlier, dancing for the openers, and not being shy about their appreciation for the performers. We are showing the love and we love to see it! Additionally, every single artist I saw shared words of gratitude after two years of cancellations and reschedules. This was particularly relevant for the ever-perseverant Men I Trust whose show was rescheduled a grand total of five times since 2020. Watching everyone beaming with love and excitement on stage was a heart-warming reminder of what pulled me into this industry in the first place.

The Bad

While it’s great to see people having fun, there are some elements of crowd etiquette that seem to have lapsed in our return to shows. I had a hard time hearing some of the performers over the sound of people talking throughout the sets, and a few have been a little too brazen with smoking indoors in the middle of a crowd. Also after two years of social distancing drilled into our brains, standing shoulder to shoulder amidst throngs of people at sold-out shows does take a bit of getting used to at first.

The Ugly

If you’re going to shows right now, they are largely unmasked and there is a heightened risk of catching COVID-19 (which I did) as the city is entering the biggest wave of this pandemic. While some people are still masking, it can feel a little unnerving standing among hundreds of people who are not. Additionally, it’s also important to consider the artists and staff at these events – especially for smaller touring acts, if someone gets sick on tour it affects a lot of people’s livelihoods. This is not to deter anyone from attending, but if you choose to engage in these environments just be realistic about the level of risk that you’re comfortable bearing.

All that being said, after two years of intense struggles, artists and venues need all the support they can get right now. With a little care and consideration, we can all get out there, support our favorite artists and keep enjoying shows for a long time to come.