Controlling The Famous

Los Angeles-based Controlling the Famous revel in an angular, groove-driven blend of melodic post-rock somewhat similar to the styling of bands like Minus the Bear and Cursive. Most of the group initially hooked up while attending college in L.A., but finding themselves in need of a new drummer, Max Hellmann (guitar/vocals), Brendan Hughes (bass), and Johnny Collins (guitar/vocals) turned to the popular website craigslist. Mike Schneider answered their ad, and upon jamming a few times together, quit his existing band and took up shop behind the Controlling drum kit. The group released the 2002 EP Maybe It Won't Kill You, But Probably It Might before issuing a split in 2003 with California's Operatic titled We Are Bounty Hunters for Hire. Sharing stages over the years with bands like Sparta, the Mooney Suzuki, Say Anything, and the Anniversary, the quartet self-released another EP, Two Birds vs. One Stone, in 2005 before inking a deal with The Militia Group that October. With Alex Newport (At the Drive-In, the Mars Volta) in the production seat for their label debut, Automatic City appeared in May 2006. The record was something of a concept album meant to convey the hectic nature of living life in cities like Los Angeles. Controlling the Famous went on hiatus that October as rumors circulated that they were breaking up. Though the guys had apparently regrouped in early 2007 to start playing again, by late February they had officially announced their dissolution.