Rich Aucoin Suits Up for the Flaming Lips -- NXNE

Part keyboardist, part VJ, Rich Aucoin is one of a few artists these days who is embracing the concept of audience interaction at his shows. Performing dressed in white as neon lights bounce off of reflectors and disco balls, Aucoin is known to crowd surf on surfboards, pelt his audience with confetti and engage in the kind of parachute games you used to play at grade school. Spinner caught up with the wild entertainer from Halifax, N.S., to hear about performing with the Flaming Lips and the tongue-twister of an album title that awaits his fans.

How would you describe your own music?

I have a hard time describing it. I was on stage with the Flaming Lips last weekend and Wayne Coyne from the band was asking me the same thing after the show, and I couldn't think how to describe it. I just told him it was a kind of crowd karaoke -- a lot of vocals, sing-along choruses -- but under the realm of indie pop.

What goes down at your shows?

I sync up my music with old movies, sort of like how Pink Floyd syncs up with 'The Wizard of Oz.' So I'll show that on a screen and then myself and the band [which is usually four to six people] play music you can dance to and sing along with. There will be confetti and lots of audience participation.

What kind of participation?

It's not uncommon for our shows to venture into the washroom for a song, or go out of the bar... I try to get people to move around in certain situations.

Why have you chosen to perform like this?

I like to think about all the things I'd like to see at a show and then find a way to make it happen. It's a really great energy when a crowd gets all on board and does something together.

Was it scary at first to be so off-the-wall?

Not really, because when I first started playing, I would play movies and hide behind the screen with my piano like the pianist at a silent film. The original shows were all about watching the movies, and I would be the guy in the corner singing songs to it. But then I was opening for Woodhands one time and I decided I would make it a little more dance-y to make it a more proper opener. It really clicked that night so I went with it.

Why do you perform all in white?

There are two practical reasons. We often use projectors at our show and the images carry well on the white and it helps us stand out on stage. Also, Air has always worn white and they are one of my favourite bands. Their reasoning is that white goes well under any lighting conditions.

Watch Rich Aucoin's Video for 'Push' in 3D
I hear you have an affection for neon?

I like to mark and decorate my gear with colours. I used to lose a lot of cords and doing that helps to not lose them. I'd say my favourite neon colour is pink.

What's the craziest show experience you've had?

Last weekend I got to dance on stage dressed as the Tin Man from 'The Wizard Of Oz' with the Flaming Lips -- that was pretty amazing. I was also a hype man for Girl Talk once, I got to throw confetti and toilet paper at the audience.

I understand you've been working on a new album?

Yeah, it's been way too long, maybe three years now. I'm just working on the font and art work at this very moment. It's going to be a collage with a dozen artists who have all contributed to it, with the writing over it. It's going be out in the end of September, and it will be produced by David Wrench who also worked on Caribou's 'Swim.' The album will be called 'Public Publication EP/Over the Top LP: We're All Dying to Live.'

Wow, that's a crazy album title.

Yeah, it was originally supposed to be an EP and then it ballooned into a record, so I wanted to note that.

Rich Aucoin plays the Garrison on Friday, June 17 Follow @Spinner on Twitter | Like Spinner on Facebook