Controller.Controller
Date: November 4, 2005 Lips Stitched Black Controller.Controller continues to make their mark in Ottawa, returning to Zaphod's less than two months after their last trip to that stage. Unfortunately, the band's medical woes also continued. Drummer Jeff Scheven was back, after having missed the September show due to injury; but singer Nirmala Basnayake was coming off laryngitis. Nirmala's strained voice did not lessen her energy, though, and the rest of the band was as tight as ever, making for another fine concert. This show marked my first chance to see four-piece Regina outfit Sylvie; and they definitely impressed. Although I missed the first few minutes of their set, it took no time for the band to hook me with its very loud and very dense musical output. Sylvie played to its strengths, with clear vocals and solid pacing aiding a raw, engaging sound. Magneta Lane handled the middle duties on the bill. Perhaps it was inevitable that the trio would sound thin in comparison to Sylvie's barrage; but overall, I found the band fairly flat, lacking the energy and pacing found in the rest of the night. However, the band did seem to gain some steam as their set went on; and singer Lexi Valentine was in fine form throughout. While Magneta Lane got the strongest crowd reaction for the title track of their EP, The Constant Lover, they also kept the audience moving with the new material that comprised the majority of their set. This was my fourth Controller.Controller live experience but it was the first time that I was worried about the vocals. Nirmala looked decidedly unwell before the band started and I wasn't sure if the large cup of tea that she was clutching would be a sufficient remedy. To be sure, there were moments during the set when the vocals were notably strained but, as usual, it was Nirmala leading the way through the band's aggressive performance. The effort was certainly appreciated by the bouncy crowd that filled the floor at Zaphod's. The larger, more enthusiastic crowd was one of the two main advantages of this concert over the last visit from Controller.Controller. The other was the fact that the band's new album, X-Amounts, was released in the interim. While the setlists for the two shows were likely very similar, my appreciation for the material was higher, as I was not simply hearing the songs for the first time. From the propulsive bass of "Tigers not Daughters" to the bounce of "PF" to the more direct attack of "Straight in the Head" and "Heavy as a Heart," Controller.Controller always sounded great. "Poison/Safe" was perhaps my favourite inclusion from the new album, as it perfectly illustrates the blend of dance-friendly groove and jagged guitars at the core of the band's sound. Given my off-center vantage point and the Zaphod's support post, it was not always easy to take in all of the guitar work; but Colwyn Llewellyn-Thomas and Scott Kaija always sounded great. Jeff Scheven also made an impression, and not just by starting off the set in an animal mask. Bassist Ronnie Morris was probably the most notable player, though, jumping onto the floor several times, adding to the fun, loose mood. Despite Nirmala's ill health and a start time that was slightly behind schedule, the band still offered a full set. In fact, they even seemed to be considering an encore, despite the fact that they were already past the Zaphod's curfew when they concluded with "Disco Blackout," from their History EP. Magneta Lane's Lexi Valentine returned to share vocals on that closer, making for one of the better moments in the set. As always, I really enjoyed seeing Controller.Controller perform, although their effort on this occasion deserves additional credit. Having had a chance to take in the new album made the set that much better; and the sense of fun was obviously shared by an energetic crowd. <--Prev (Broken Social Scene) | Next (Feist)-->Return to Concert ListReturn to Main Page |