Lithium Magazine

Featuring DVAS, Young Empires and Rich Aucoin

www.dvasmusique.com
www.myspace.com/youngempires
www.richaucoin.ca
www.steamwhistle.ca/unsigned

Review and Photos by Valerie Bennett

It should be no surprise that Steam Whistle knows how to throw a good party. Even with high hopes for their latest installment of the UNSIGNED Indie Music Concert Series on Friday, Nov. 19th, I still walked out of The Roundhouse trumped. Steam Whistle hosted their sixteenth show of the series, featuring sets from artists DVAS, Young Empires and Rich Aucoin. Each set was filled with electro and dance-rock tunes that had feet grooving all over the brewery-turned-dance floor.

Every few months, Steam Whistle converts their brewery into one sweet concert venue for local Canadian talent to show off their stuff. The space is large enough to house a decent sized crowd, yet small enough to keep performances intimate and the building maintains a sense of charm, with exposed brick and wood. But showcasing the talent of unsigned artists is not the only reason that Steam Whistle opens their doors to share the experience with show-goers. The ongoing concert series also supports the Artists’ Health Centre Foundation (AHCF), by donating 100 per cent of ticket sales directly to the foundation. (And at only $5 per ticket at the door, which also grabs you a beer, it may just be the best deal you’re going to find within Toronto, to check out prime Canadian music.)

Each band had new material to offer the crowd and duo DVAS, based out of Toronto and Montreal, got the show started with their blend of pop, disco and funk electro elements. The vocalist’s enthusiasm was unbridled as he yelled out to the audience frequently between thrashes on his keyboard, while the drummer kept a steady beat throughout. With the recent release of Society, the pair offered up some new gems, with simple and repetitive lyrics that drew in new listeners, including myself, by enabling us to participate and sing along. With flashing lights, catchy music and a captivating, energy-infused onstage performance from DVAS, it was a definite precursor of what else was to come throughout the rest of the night.

Without a chance for the stage to cool, Toronto natives Young Empires followed, keeping things hot with their own unique electro sound. They refer to their sound as “world beat meets haute rock” and really, who am I to argue with that? These boys know their blend and just how to show it off when they’re gracing the stage. Lead vocalist Matthew Vlahovich bobbed around stage, giving a performance filled with swagger and attitude as he sang between stints playing the synth. Guitarist Aaron Ellingson rocked out, often providing a second set of vocals while Jake Palahnuk kept the rhythm on bass. Their electro-flavoured rock tracks had the dance floor even more packed by the crowd, eager for a taste, right up until the end of their set.

The much anticipated finale of the show came from Halifax’s Rich Aucoin. I recently had the chance to experience Aucoin's signature performance a while back (with Hot Hot Heat and Hey Rosetta!) yet regardless, I was immensely excited to experience it again and to witness plenty of others as they experienced it for the first time. Aucoin is a master at combining fun, electro-pop dance-worthy tracks with intense visual stimuli, all while interacting with fans. Dressed in all white, with flourescent glow sticks taped to his arms with multi-coloured duct tape, Aucoin both stood out under the black light and fit in with the bright lights. He bounced between the floor and stage, against a video projection backdrop, as he sang amidst the large, 3D glasses-clad crowd. Aucoin never ceased to astound everyone, especially when he pulled a large parachute from the stage to the floor, having the audience wave it about, before joining him underneath to a private serenade. The show turned into a large dance party until Aucoin wrapped up the night with a dumping of colourful balloons that were batted around, even long after he had slipped from the stage.

Steam Whistle’s infamous slogan, “Do one thing really, really well,” was fitting to describe the night’s concert, as it reflected on both the brewery, the individual artists who performed, and everyone who came to party and enjoy the musical offerings of UNSIGNED 16.