A Highly Charged Set by Control Machete

In rap, you can do a lot with very little. This is especially true of Control Machete, a Mexican rap en espan~ol group that offered an ominous, highly energetic set Tuesday at the House of Blues.

At first you would think that the group--Fermin IV and Pato on vocals, with Toy on samples and turntables--would have a hard time keeping things interesting. After all, there were no instruments on stage, just a couple of guys bouncing around and rapping.

The trio made up for its absence of subtlety and musical dexterity with a battery of brutally upfront beats, a genuine passion for the craft of wordplay and a strong desire to connect with its audience.

Curiously enough, Control’s outwardly aggressive stance masquerades a highly idealistic credo of peace, love and Latino empowerment. And it was uplifting to see all three members put their words to practice by intervening when they believed that several security guards had become overzealous in their attempt to control the crowd.

The highlight of the evening was the electrifying “Comprendes Mendes,” the hit track from Control’s debut album, which manages to fuse all the appealing elements of the trio’s rhythmic poetry, in a furious declaration of independence and rage toward the establishment. Ultimately, the group’s talent for calling things for what they are can only bring positive changes to the scene of Latin pop.