Some concerts are about musical brilliance. Others are about nostalgia, questionable fashion choices and having a ridiculously good time. The Vengaboys and Prozzäk double bill at Hard Rock Live Ottawa on October 15 delivered the latter in spades.
Canadian duo Prozzäk got the party started with an entertaining set built around their wonderfully quirky cartoon universe. The story behind the group is almost as entertaining as the act itself. Jay Levine and James McCollum were both members of Canadian R&B band The Philosopher Kings, but after a rocky start to their relationship — which apparently included a physical altercation — they discovered they worked surprisingly well together when writing music. A comedic song called “Europa,” featuring a mock British accent, became the unlikely starting point for Prozzäk in 1998.
Their animated alter egos, Simon and Milo, went on to chronicle the trials and tribulations of searching for true love through catchy pop songs and cartoon music videos. I knew some of their music, but hadn’t realized they were Canadian or how much of the concept revolved around their characters’ ongoing romantic misadventures.
That concept came to life on stage, with a cartoon storyline playing out on the screen behind them and animated versions of Simon and Milo positioned beneath their microphone stands. A female vocalist joined them from time to time, while the duo performed from platforms behind the setup. It was nostalgic, clever and just plain fun to watch, particularly when they launched into familiar favorites like “Strange Disease” and “Sucks to Be You,” getting the crowd up and dancing.
Then came the Vengabus.
A cartoon bus circling the globe appeared on the screen, accompanied by those familiar musical hints, and anticipation quickly built. The crowd was ready. Many had embraced the occasion with fluorescent ’90s outfits, spandex and fishnet stockings, while one particularly committed fan showed up in an inflatable bus.
The Vengaboys — the Dutch Eurodance group behind late-’90s mega-hits like “We Like to Party!” and “Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!” — burst onto the stage in flamboyant costumes. The four performers, two men and two women, didn’t need an elaborate production. The screen established the scene, their synchronized choreography kept the energy high, and their strong vocals and constant interaction with the audience made it feel like one enormous party.
The set mixed original hits with medleys of familiar ’90s and party anthems. Was it occasionally a little cringey? Absolutely. But nobody seemed to care. The crowd sang, danced and embraced every ridiculous minute, and the performers looked genuinely delighted to be there. The audience spanned generations, although the thirty- and forty-somethings seemed particularly well represented. By the time the show wrapped, the packed room was still buzzing. I walked out smiling, as did seemingly everyone around me. Sometimes a concert doesn’t need to be complicated. It just needs to be fun. And this one was a nonstop ball of energetic, gloriously cheesy fun.
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