I like to think of Controller.Controller as my band. This would likely come as a surprise to them, since we’ve never formally met, and I certainly have no ownership over them. However, despite living in a city where worthwhile shows are few and far between, I’ve seen Controller.Controller three times over the past six months. This has to be worth something — maybe part-ownership rights?

Last Friday’s show, though, was the first time I’d seen Controller.Controller in a headlining role. They’d opened for Tangiers and Death from Above 1979 in June, and for The Organ in October. But this time was different. People were paying to see my band; not the bands that’d follow them onto the stage. Understandably, I was pretty excited. But something funny happened on the way to my Controller.Controller dance party.

After arriving halfway through the set of the first opening band, Uncut, I moved up to the stage to check out Read Yellow, the night’s second act. Having not heard anything about, or by, Read Yellow, I was entirely unprepared for the performance they were about to unleash on us unsuspecting Controller.Controller fans. Put it this way: By the end of their first song, frontman Evan Kenney had already broken two guitar strings and fallen off the stage. And he was just getting warmed up.

According to their website, Read Yellow’s live show “encourages audience participation and attempts to eliminate the division between band and crowd.” Yeah. Kenney spent nearly as much time off the stage as he did on it, creating his own spastic dance moves amidst the front row of the audience. Even on the stage, he was a fury of movement. He did headstands against speakers, then tried to hold his microphone and sing from that position. He careened across the stage into other band members. He fell off the stage some more. The level of energy he maintained throughout Read Yellow’s entire set was practically super-human. Is he always like this? Does he stand on his head while he’s eating dinner? Does he fall out of bed every morning, just for practice? Even if he just takes on this entirely insane persona for a half-hour a day, it has to take its toll. Considering how infrequently I see that kind of passion from bands these days, I was impressed.

Oh yeah, Controller.Controller played next. It’d be unfair to say that they were overshadowed by Read Yellow. After all, I can hardly complain about a set that opens with “PF”, a song that’s arguably tighter than anything on their History EP (check out a version of “PF” that the band recorded for CBC Radio here). And some of Read Yellow’s audience-loving tendencies even rubbed off on bassist Ronnie Morris, who wandered down to the club’s floor during two or three songs. But, after watching Controller.Controller outshine headliners like Tangiers and The Organ on past tours, I’m a little surprised that my memories of this show constantly return to Read Yellow.

If songs like “PF” are any indication though, I’m happy to have Controller.Controller remain my band, as they prepare to record their debut LP in the new year. I might have even told them as much last Friday night, if I hadn’t had to leave right after the show to prepare for a 9:00 exam the next morning. That’s rock and roll, baby!