Prozzak makes live debut in Vancouver

VANCOUVER--Sucks to be you, Prozzak.

Despite a pyrotechnic feast for the eyes and rock-solid sound, cartoon characters Simon and Milo couldn't weather the storm that is soulDecision, Saturday night at a very sold-out Vogue Theatre in Vancouver.
 
 The number of screaming teens in the audience made it clear from the start that the home-grown members of soulDecision were there to steal this Hot Show from Prozzak, who took the stage for the first time ever.
 
 Even adults in the audience (parents and the curious alike) had a difficult time not appreciating Prozzak's pop music, a druggy-sounding mix of ska-ish New Wave and acoustic-synth pop.
 
 The happy-time harmonies of soulDecision, however, sent the young audience into a near-frenzy, offering a glimpse of what could become the next Canadian teen-beat sensation.
 
 The trio (who performed with a three-piece rhythm section on stage) even caused a minor panic during Prozzak's set by showing up in the theatre lobby to sign autographs and, I'm sure, tell stories about attending North Vancouver's Capilano College.
 
 It was the debut concert of a dozen-date tour that puts headlining Prozzak on a kid-friendly journey across the nation (winding up on Sunday, March 12 at the Juno Awards, 8 p.m. Eastern on CBC).
 
 Children of all ages tend to adore both candy and cartoon characters, which is why Prozzak is one of the more brilliant ideas to come out of Canada in recent years. The candy-sweet groove of the duo's music was cooked up by Philosopher Kings sidemen James McCollum (as the guitar-playing, taller and blonder Milo) and Jason Levine (lovesick Brit Simon).
 
 A large video screen allowed Milo and Simon plenty of room to frolic and be in-sync with McCollum and Levine, backed by a drummer and DJ on a stage dominated by giant heads that resembled the cartoon stars of this Hot Show (a name borrowed from the title of Prozzak's Juno-nominated album).
 
 Fireworks and lasers kicked off Prozzak's budget-blowing set, which went deep on such choice cuts as "Europa", "Sucks To Be You", "New York", "I Like To Watch (Milo's Night Out)" and "Shag Tag (You're It!)". It wasn't exactly a KISS concert, but Prozzak at times lit up enough flashing lights and pyro to drain a sizable hydro bill.
 
 Less flashy were soulDecision, who pumped out polite R&B-flavoured pop from their debut album, "No One Does It Better", during a tight 30-minute set that ended with their hit song, "Faded".
 
 Winnipeg-based duo McMaster & James set the tone for the evening with polished songs that should do equally well in the teen pop market.
 
 The concert was a day-long event for a gaggle of teens who waited outside the theatre since 9 that morning. A brilliantly sunny Vancouver day managed to warm them up for the Hot Show later that evening.