Last Call
Last Call is a first-person style blog that delves into all facets of nightlife in and around the HRM. This column is written by Jon Careless. He writes about everything, from personal experiences to where the best drinks are found, and much more. Each daily post is meant to deliver honest opinions, entertainment, and humor. Feel free to add your own posts and pictures to this page.
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The Weirdest Show I've Ever Seen....Ever. |
 JUNE 6, 2007
Okay so, Rich Aucoin at Gus' Pub. Sounds normal enough right? I figured it was going to be like every other solo artist I've seen at Gus' Pub. Just another long-haired hippie doing his best Bob Dylan impersonation. Well, other than the long haired hippie comment, I was way off when it came to this guy. Wayyyyyyy off.
It all started last night, where if you were outside any longer than an hour your body would almost certainly seize up and die. Gus' Pub was curiously bustling with throngs of hipster types crashed at each table, and the odd sight of what looked like a bed-sheet hanging vertically on the front of the stage. I meandered about until finally settling down to a drink. First up on stage was a small, scruffy fellow by the name of Dave Mealiea. He sounded a little like Conor Oberst with a shakier voice and the same constant, nervous disposition.
Maybe I'm being too hard on the kid. It wasn't like I was expecting to witness some sort of revelatory moment of musical greatness or anything, I just wanted to be entertained. In fact, a guy at the next table told me this was Dave's first real show so I felt some sympathy. Speaking of dispositions, I was becoming more listless and bored with each passing minute. Little did I know a trulybizarre incident was on the horizon.
If I told you the following performance involved a Santa suit, a grinch mask, and a movie playing on a bed sheet, you'd probably assume I'd made it up or I simply took a lot of drugs last night. At first, I thought all those hash brownies I ate were to blame, but then I looked at the pictures I took this morning, and the evidence proves otherwise. One thing I'd like to make clear is that Rich Aucoin does have a great voice. It's even in tone, and has this quirky quality that fits in well with his weird synth sounds and keyboard effects. The first few songs of his set were seemingly normal. He switched from one instrument to the next and sang at various points during each song. At times, it was almost like he was making it up as he went along.
Then, out came the Santa suit. I chuckled, a few people yelled, and one guy behind me actually "guffawed." Rich put the suit on, along with a curious Grinch mask, and told us he'd created a film to go along with a series of songs he'd recorded. At this point, whoever was disinterested or blind drunk in the bar was instantly engaged to Rich Aucoin. The bed sheet came to life with scenes from "The Grinch" and the music began to bounce along with it. It was obvious Rich had spent a few hundred hours perfecting this opus. In all, I believe there were six full-length songs accompanying the video. Some were more interesting than others. His vocals are definitely his strongest asset, and adding more lyrics might help to erase some of the instrumental lulls during the program.
Many in the audience seemed to be captivated by this combination of performance art and music, while some faces showed signs of boredom. People realize that doing something like THIS on-stage takes a lot of guts, and I think deep down everyone appreciates the sheer gaul of it. That's why you rarely see someone being heckled during a one-man show. It's just plain rude.
Although, I was not treated to the same type of warm applause Rich received when I tried out for my high school talent competition/fundraiser. When I strutted out in my Garfield suit and started singing "Cats in the Cradle" I was heckled so loudly the school faculty even told me to get off the stage.
I tell you, there's nothing quite like trying to sing a song while a half dozen non-perishable food items are being launched at your head.
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