Admittedly, I was late to the Rich Aucoin party. Those early shows didn’t click, and as much as I wanted to be on board, it didn’t connect with me. Until one night at The Seahorse in early 2023, when it all clicked and I was awash in synth, streamers and sweat. It was (and remains) one of the trickiest shows I’ve had the pleasure of capturing, with many dark, underexposed images. I came to understand the challenges, and in the process, overcame them to better capture his shows over the past couple of years (and numerous shows).
Aside from just practicing and performing at these shows, Rich Aucoin crafted an entire experience, complete with a multimedia backdrop, that invited audience participation beyond the actual performance. An added element to these already densely packed shows was the crowd-pleasing Parachute, which was unfurled into the adoring masses, under which Rich Aucoin waded out, towards the centre of the parachute and continued the show for a couple of songs. It was one of those pinnacles of any Rich Aucoin show.
Ahead of his Shore Club and Sommo shows in 2025, he announced the official end of the Parachute era. Many of his loyal fans chuckled as we participated in the end of this era back in 2024, complete with a glorious parachute send-off/funeral. However, much like any good zombie flick, we never saw the body, and sure enough, while it may have been living on borrowed time, the unfurlings continued into late 2025. But, what better way to shut down the Nova 7 stage on the opening day of Sommo than with one final Parachute party?
So, rather than staying to see Paul Janeway’s opulent robe make its appearance on the mainstage, we headed up the hill to stake our claims to a spot on the rail to catch the final show of the Rich Aucoin parachute era. Having been to my fair share of shows, I was excited to share this experience with my daughter, as she is familiar with Aucoin’s music, but not the experience. Once the fog machines fired up and the lights went down, it was time for the opening video package.
On this final night of the Parachute Era, Rich was backed by his longtime collaborator Joel Waddell, who provided a live percussive backbone. It was a set loaded with cuts from his latest release, Synthetic: Season 4 (the final chapter of the multi-year synth saga). The set also included popular tracks such as “Release”, “It” and “We’re In It Together”, all of which fit perfectly in the expansive synth soundscape that Rich has painstakingly crafted over the past number of years.
The show built to that moment when the compact black suitcase was hauled out on stage and unzipped, revealing that technicolour nylon monstrosity. The parachute seemed never-ending as it was passed out overhead towards the back of the tent. With the Parachute outstretched, Rich bounded out into the adoring crowd, all of whom were anxious to get up close to the energetic performer. He, along with the patrons of the parachute, sang their hearts out, knowing that this was the final time that they would experience this magic. I even had the opportunity to press Rich a bit on this “Final Parachute” era talk, and from our conversation, it was apparent that this was the final hurrah. So when Rich exited the parachute paradise and returned to the stage, it was bittersweet to watch the parachute get packed up one last time.
Much like his recent Shore Club show, this was another sweaty communal affair that filled hearts and minds to their brims. Looking over at my daughter, it was clear that her mind was just blown by the bass, bombast and aerobic experience that she just lived. It was also fun seeing Rich’s partner, Leanne, rocking the confetti cannons for this show. Looking back at the crowd through the confetti storm, a younger family was taking in the spectacle, with their young child riding above the crowd on someone’s shoulders, gleefully grabbing for the confetti as it fluttered by. I, for one, am looking forward to the next chapter from the Halifax native, even if there isn’t a parachute involved.
