April 29, 2020

Control Top at The Monarch - Concert Photos

Control Top at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
Control Top at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
Control Top at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
Control Top at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
Control Top at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
Control Top at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
If you're reading this post in the period relatively soon after I published it, then you're acutely aware of what's going on. If you're looking back at this from quite a time along, you might forget exactly what was going on at this exact moment in human history. I hope the world has returned to something resembling normal. Whatever that actually means anymore.

I'm well known for taking some time with my edits and my posts. Some of it's due to lifestyle, some it it's to do with juggling responsibilities, some of it's to do with awaiting the editing muse. This time, it might be different. This time, it might be due to the fact that I don't know when I'll see another live band, in front of me, in a live music venue, and publishing this post is kind of an end.

When I finished editing all my photos from 2019 I felt like I’d cleaned the slate and was optimistic about what 2020 would hold. I’d get better at posting quickly and being on top of my concert calendar. I was optimistic and hopeful about the year ahead for music and for my place in it.

Now that the world is a different place, I have been procrastinating on editing the photos from this last show. While we have to stay in our homes, and certainly not gather in close and sweaty proximity to each other in front of musical acts like Control Top, I long for the busy concert calendar that laid out before me, and the innocent plans I had for 2020 including travel and adventure, and I think I just don't want to accept the change.

Now back to our regular programming...

Back on March 11, I attended my first-ever show at The Monarch Tavern. It was headlined by Control Top and featuring Weeping Icon and The Effens.

I knew Control Top from their Covert Contacts album and the fantastically energetic and addictive tune "Chain Reaction". The tune impressed me enough to land on my Favourite Songs of 2019 list. Check it out.

Control Top are a post-punk power trio from Philadelphia. They put on a show of unrelenting intensity that got me and everyone else hyped. They played The Monarch back in June and were happy to be back. Their tunes all sounded great live and amped up the energy and power of their recorded music.

When will they be back? When will another band perform at this venue? Who knows. Until then I'll be looking forward to the return of live music and to hearing the new music that Control Top are working on.

Cherish the good times life gives you, or that you go get. Show gratitude for what you have, because you'll never know what the future will bring. All the best, everyone. Be well.

Please check out my shots or Weeping Icon and local personal favourites The Effens from this show.

And give a listen to some tunes from Control Top:

"Office Rage"

"Black Hole", "Type A", "Covert Contracts", "Chain Reaction", "Straight Jackets", "Ego Deaf", "Unapologetic"

Weeping Icon at The Monarch - Concert Photos

Weeping Icon at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
Weeping Icon at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
Weeping Icon at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
Weeping Icon at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
Weeping Icon at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
Weeping Icon at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
Weeping Icon were the second band up on The Monarch Tavern stage on March 11. Check out my phots of headliners Control Top and local openers The Effens, who joined Weeping Icon on this bill. The Brooklyn band gets the distinction of being the second last live band I saw before Toronto, and so much of the rest of the world, was shut down.

Weeping Icon are intense, with songs that communicate through hypnotic sonic manipulation and sonic severity. Lyrics like, "I'm really trying to perfect the art of screaming into a paper bag and I want to look good doing it" from the song "Control" reflect their unique, perceptive art and social commentary. A quote that stood out from the show, "We’re from the United States. Pray for us." was poignant then, and has only become more so as the days have gone on.

Sometimes you witness something and know that it’s art. This performance by Weeping Icon was one of those times.

Check out some of Weeping Icon's music:

"Like Envy"

"Ripe for Consumption"

"Control"

The Effens at The Monarch - Concert Photos

The Effens at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
The Effens at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
The Effens at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
The Effens at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
The Effens at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
The Effens at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
The Effens at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
The Effens at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
The Effens at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
The Effens at The Monarch Tavern on March 11, 2020 Photo by John Ordean at One In Ten Words oneintenwords.com toronto indie alternative live music blog concert photography pictures photos nikon d750 camera yyz photographer
It was March 11. The virus that would shut down much of the world, and the live music industry along with it, was looming for North America, and getting more foreboding every day, but life carried on. I didn't know it at the time, but this would be my last live music show for the foreseeable future. That fact is probably the most significant reason why I'm posting this so long after the show when I've had an abundance of free time to edit, write and post. Publishing this leaves a void.

It was another killer set from The Effens at The Monarch Tavern. I've seen this band a ton and I truly love them; their music, their live energy, their passion and their overall vibe. Their sound is unique with familiar sonic touchpoints. I love the impassioned vocals, the driving beat, the thick, rumbling low end from the bass and the massive guitar sounds. It was cool to hear one of my favourite tunes of 2019, "Human" live again.

Check out my photos of Control Top, who headlined this show at The Monarch Tavern, and Weeping Icon who were on tour with Control Top.

My Favourite Songs of 2019 list, featuring The Effens, is here. My Favourite Concert Photos of 2019, featuring The Effens is here. And follow the links to my shots of previous Effens' shows at The Baby G, The Horseshoe in 2019 and The Horseshoe in 2016.

And check out some cool Effens tunes:

"Burn Blush"

"Human"

"Ditch Ditch"

"Laugh Off"