total-control-21

Total Control played two NYC shows (pics from Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ Sannhet)

photos by PSquared, words by Bill Pearis

Total Control / Sannhet @ MHOW 8/1/2015
Total Control
Sannhet

Australia’s Total Control were in NYC this weekend for two sold out shows, playing a very sweaty show at Palisades on Friday with Crazy Spirit and Nandas, and then a slightly cooler show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday (8/1) with tourmates Lust for Youth (pics here), as well as Sannhet and Flesh World (pics here). While their records split the difference between straight-up punk and dark, synthy postpunk, Total Control stayed firmly on the punk side, though frontman Dan Stewart did occasionally play a tiny Teenage Engineering OP-1 that was somewhat comically set up on a normal sized keyboard stand.

Pacing around the stage and growling out lyrics through gnashed teeth, Stewart was a menacing presence even while having a scarf draped over his head most of the night. He and the rest of the band (all of whom play in about seven other bands each) banged out song after song with little in the way of stage banter, keeping the energy high. This was an older crowd, so not too much in the way of a pit, but it was a sea of nodding heads. Did I wish they’d played “Scene from a Marriage?” Yes, but I left very satisfied nonetheless. Let’s hope this is not the last time we’ll get to see them in NYC.

Sannhet were probably the odd band out on this bill (most of the crowd was downstairs during their set, to be honest), but their proggy brand of instrumental metal — and the band’s arresting lighting — was impressive. They play again on August 21 at Saint Vitus with Uniform and Alberich (tickets).

More pics from Total Control (including one of their setlist) and Sannhet are below…

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Flesh World

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Total Control

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