Official Blog of City Sonic Toronto

Director: Anita Doron, 2009
Sebastien Grainger never wanted a Grammy, he just wanted to park his band van in front of the El Mo. For a fabled time, and back before Sebastien became famous with Death From Above 1979, the legendary live music used to host a popular UK music dance party on its top floor while rock bands burned up the stage downstairs. The young musician-in-waiting went there every week for the girls and cheap beer – and inadvertently discovered how to make rock music you could dance to. Since achieving international success with DFA and forming his latest band Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains, the singer/guitarist/drummer has witnessed his share of magic nights at the El Mocambo – and caused a few of them himself. In conversation with his bassist and cohort Nick Sewell, Sebastien recounts how he came of age at the legendary bar beneath the neon palms.