Artist: Rich Aucoin

Venue: The Warehouse, Calgary

Anyone who's tried to put on a Live-PA set knows what a difficult endeavour it can be. While some people just queue up and hit samples, some artists take the endeavour to a higher level and control all the instruments in real-time, becoming a modern version of that dude with the harmonica, banjo and cymbals between his knees.

Rich Aucoin is the latter to the nth degree. A combination of French House, random indie, lounge and electro, Aucoin puts on a really sick live set made all the more impressive by the fact it's synchronized to short remixes by Aucoin of classic films like "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas."

Yes, you heard right: the man is simultaneously playing keyboard, sometimes xylophone, setting drum beats, playing samples and still interacting with the crowd—all entirely while doing everything synchronized to a prerecorded film. Mr. Aucoin has some serious, serious multitasking skills.

Does that mean it's any good? The dude with the tambourine and knee-cymbals and a harmonica may be fun to watch but that doesn't mean he's worth listening to. Fortunately, Aucoin manages to pull off this incredible feat while still being listenable enough to dance to. The sheer breadth of Aucoin's style means that most people will at least be able to find something to like about his music. It at once brings to mind mid-'90s eurodance and corny '50s American pop while still being electro enough to remind listeners that it is indeed 2008 and Indie is long since dead.

Plus anyone who has a thing against "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" is obviously a fucking Communist. Tell your friends.

       

Written by :

Janus Jones