REVIEW
Rifflandia
When: Friday
Where: Royal Athletic Park
Blazing rays of late September sun were entirely welcome - but somewhat unnecessary - during the first of three days and nights of Rifflandia programming at Royal Athletic Park on Friday.
A surging crowd of more than 5,000 that assembled for the second of four action-packed nights didn't need the sun to have fun. Not with the presence of headliners like the Flaming Lips, who brought a three-ring circus of confetti, balloons, human beach balls and lasers with which to work their magic.
They arrived as advertised, with frontman Wayne Coyne acting like a court jester on acid. For a city the size of Victoria, their performance was one for the books.
Rifflandia, which got underway Thursday night at seven downtown clubs, upped its game hugely in 2012, in terms of the acts on display. But organizers also redesigned the layout of Royal Athletic Park, the festival's showcase venue.
The changes were winning, to say the least. From great food offerings to art and fashion, the outdoor sports stadium looked and felt light years away from last year's layout. Bigger and better, but also smoother. The fifthyear festival has nowhere to go but up.
The Flaming Lips stole the show from under the day's other acts - including solid sets by L.A. soul-ska combo the Aggrolites, British power trio Band of Skulls and Seattle rap duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - with a mix of psychedelia, showmanship and utter preposterousness.
Fans (many of whom were dressed in costume) got what they paid for with the Lips, whose arrival was met with lasers, confetti cannons and over-size balloons.
"It's a cool festival and a cool city," Coyne said of Rifflandia. "I wish we could stay here all week."
The band's music lagged in spots, but the Lips offered a visual display untouchable by any other act on this night or the night prior - though, it should be said, headlining Thursday sets by DJ Shadow, Austra and Killer Mike were standouts of the highest order.
That's the great part of a festival that combines DJs, rappers and rock bands - there's literally something for everyone.
Rifflandia continues throughout the weekend at various venues with performances on tap by Cake, Sloan, Dan Mangan, Everlast and more.
Follow Mike Devlin and Amy Smart on Twitter for live coverage of Rifflandia: @tc_vicarts [email protected]
