A Rich Residency (Rich Aucoin, Pete Samples - Drake Hotel - Feb. 16, 2011)

When is the last time you danced? Okay, okay, easy one. When is the last time you sang? at the top of your lungs? under a parachute?! The Rich Aucoin gig (date 2 of 3 week residency) at the Drake offered an opportunity to do all of the above, and so much more! An intimate but fun-lovin' Wednesday night crowd (apparently including my new Toronto band-crush, Wildlife, though I haven't seen them yet so can't confirm) came out for what always proves to be a ridiculous party of an event when Rich rolls through. In addition to the above there was jumping, silly-string, hands-in-the-middle cheers, glow-stick parachute-popcorn, arm-in-arm bobbing and so many more unmentionables that completed the whole night. (Like the 3D video accompaniment - I've got the glasses to prove it!) Trying to describe a Rich Aucoin spectacle is about as hard as trying not to dance while at a Rich Aucoin spectacle. The dude knows how to throw a party, and a mean handful of confetti!

Do NOT (like me) miss Rich's final night at the Drake next Wednesday! (If it wasn't for Hey Rosetta that night...)

Pete Samples had the honour of opening up, in what is planned to be one of, if not THE, last Toronto show for Pete. Stating that he felt like dancing and doing karaoke he forewent playing many instruments, choosing instead to bust out over prerecorded tracks. Along with this came drum and cymbal bashing, bubble blowing, chime kicking and all sorts of other noisemakers in front of a video reel lifted from a miniature village. (What?? It made just as much sense watching it...none.) He shimmied and shook, often all the way down onto the dance floor with the pint-sized but eager crowd, even forming us into a dance circle around him and having us serenade him sans backing music (like I said, eager crowd). By the end of the set the stage was littered with broken chimes, a slide whistle, gong, and even ice cream cone-shaped bubbles, making it look like the aftermath of playtime at a children's choir!