I experienced a Rich Aucoin performance at Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern last night. I had never been to an interactive show quite like this one before.
First of all, the projections were in 3D. I'm sorry CBC, I know we just aired Queen Elizabeth in 3D and that had its charms, but watching The Grinch Who Stole Christmas in tri-dimensional glowing edges won me over. Bonus: everybody in the crowd looked damn sexy in their free glasses.
The 3D effects were only a warm up for the oncoming fourth wall destruction. From there, it spun into exactly what Rich claims his live show to be: "...a high energy, crowd karaoke dance party with coordinated visuals and lights." Before nearly every song, he prepped us to sing out with him: "WE ARE NOT DEAD YET. WE ARE UNDEAD." "YET YOU LAY DOWN. YET YOU LAY." "WE WON'T LEAVE IT ALL IN OUR HEADS."
With the 3D effects, crowd sing alongs and all the electric dancing, I was already more than satisfied with the show. But then, there was a rainbow parachute, the kind you usually only get to play with when the real gym teacher is home sick. Rich invited us to spread it out over our heads and across the dance floor, then he came down from the stage to party with the rest of us under the canopy.
If you like dancing and/or jumping and/or singing (and/or parachtues, balloons, silly string, etc.), I'd encourage you to get yourself to a Rich Aucoin show sometime. Check out these YouTube videos from "GusFest" and the Halifax Pop Explosion 2009 to see what I mean.
I also just found out he's opening for Hot Hot Heat when they come to Toronto's Mod Club (along with Hey Rosetta!). Can't wait.