Controller.Controller
Date: September 15, 2006 Be Happy That You Came After a somewhat subpar outing at Bluesfest, Controller.Controller returned to Ottawa for a show at Zaphod's. The young crowd made evident the fact that school is back in session; and both the audience and the bands proved to be very energetic. In fact, this was my favourite concert yet from the frequently touring Controller.Controller. Kicking the night off was The D'Ubervilles. If the university crowd wasn't going to make me feel old, this band certainly would have. Despite their youth, The D'Ubervilles lacked neither confidence nor efficiency on stage, tearing through a quick set of very catchy songs. Vocalist John O'Regan was a definite focal point, with his spastic dancing and quirky delivery but the whole band sounded great, laying down one well-crafted song after another. The danceable rock vibe continued with You Say Party! We Say Die!, who built on the audience enthusiasm generated by The D'Ubervilles. Once again, the star was the singer, Becky Ninkovic, who displayed a strong stage presence and a high, clear voice. The fun was spread across the stage, though, with various band members getting a laugh from the crowd and all seeming to enjoy their time. With a tendency towards short, sharply-ending songs, You Say Party packed a lot into a forty-minute set. When I last saw Controller.Controller, at Bluesfest, I found that the mix took away the group's musical dynamics, melding the entire set into a blur of noise. For this club show, though, they were sounding as good as I have heard them be; and their playing was equal to the sonic improvements. The group opened with "History," with drummer Jeff Scheven starting in his customary wolf mask. The fact that they were proceeding without a setlist was made apparent when Scott Kaija deferred his turn on vocals, causing the band to debate the follow-up song, settling on "Silent Seven." Fortunately, pacing was not an issue on the night, with the few pauses serving as welcome breathers in a sweaty set. As usual, the whole band was engaging, although I was most preoccupied with bassist Ronnie Morris, who, apart from his late foray into the crowd, was often swinging his bass a few inches above my head. "PF" and "Poison/Safe" were notables in a compelling set but the true highlight was the closing pairing of "Disco Blackout" and "Magnetic Strip." Becky Ninkovic returned for the former, joining Nirmala Basnayake for a duet, while the band elevated what is often their best live song into something even more than I was expecting. The added power carried through "Magnetic Strip," ending the night on a great note. With all three bands complementing each other's sound and adding to the crowd's energy, it was a great concert. The first two acts were pleasant surprises to me, as I didn't know them well going into the show. As for Controller.Controller, my sixth concert from the group ended up as my favourite to date. You Say Party! We Say Die! setlist 
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