Rich Aucoin

The limited time slot Haligonian indie popster Rich Aucoin was given at the Indies didn't stop him from delivering an outstanding performance. From the minute Aucoin wandered on stage looking like he walked off the set of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and the personalized opening credits began to roll over the screen behind him, it was obvious that this was not going to be a typical rock show. Integrating video with his electro-tinged pop tunes caught attention, but once the confetti started popping and Aucoin threw a gigantic parachute over the crowd and jumped in -- reminiscing about "that fucking awesome day in gym class" when the teacher would bust it out -- an all-out dance party ensued. Set closer "It" proved absolutely anthemic, though Aucoin had the audience shouting along to pretty much every song he ran through. It's astounding how well he can break down the barriers between performer and fans (literally, too, when the barricade collapsed at one point), creating one of the most exciting and interactive live shows out there. Aucoin's been pulling out the same colourful tricks for a while now, but gimmicks don't get old when they're this much fun.