Several months ago, Halifax-based indie artist Rich Aucoin announced his pending retirement… of his live performance. Well, the hyper-crowd focused multi-media experience with as we know it, anyway. With only a few more chances to catch this version of the show, there was no way we were missing it.
Coming out of the pandemic made us realize there is something inherently cathartic about a Rich Aucoin concert. Maybe it’s the chance to scream along with a crowd of like-minded people, the raining down of confetti, the parachute you missed from elementary school, or the fact that Rich is one of the sweetest humans out there.
Donning a cowboy hat and brown suede, Rich took the stage with his touring drummer, Tony Dallas of Fake Shark. He got right into doing vocal warm-ups with the crowd as his projector projected various messages celebrating his Victoria fans.
After two years of waiting, Victoria was finally treated to a long overdue tour stop in support of Rich’s latest album, United States. His lead single, How It Breaks, remains just as poignant as when it was released . . . if not more.
The Middle and The Other from his 2019 album Release took on almost electrifying energy live with the assistance of Tony Dallas. Live arrangements from Rich bring in dynamic theatrics that had Lucky Bar floating in the air all night.
2011’s Four More Years has never felt more personal to all of us with lyrics like “I’m alone so much, what good are friends you cannot touch?” and “I fucking miss my friends, I gotta tell you guys before it ends.” Tonight we embraced our friends we hadn’t seen in a long time and all yelled “Four! More! Years!”
If you don’t leave a Rich Aucoin concert with a hoarse voice, covered in sweat and with a little confetti stuck to the bottom of your shoes, you’ve done it wrong.
Rocktographers are big fans of Rich Aucoin and everything he does. Heck, last time he was in town we did a Rocktographers Session with him. We can’t wait to see what he does next.
In Rich Aucoin we trust!
