Controversial Sharks

Founded in October 2014 by Jeffrey M. Fleming, Controversial Sharks set out to bring Fleming's music to life. After going through various lineups, Fleming decided to produce his own album, which became 2015’s “…And George”. He recorded the entirety of the album himself with the exception of two song contributions from Kesenia Parent. Fleming felt this would be the best way to bring his vision to life.

In May 2015, Jeffrey Fleming recruited drummer Nic Killoran, vocalist/guitarist Kesenia Parent, guitarist Alex Showdra, and vocalist/bassist John Slawek to fill in the band’s lineup permanently. Shortly after, Fleming’s album “…and George” was released in June 2015. The Sharks played a number of shows in Kitchener/ Waterloo and Toronto after the album release, including playing two shows at the Mod Club for a talent competition where the Sharks reached the finals. In addition to playing Fleming's repertoire, the group began to share their song ideas and collectively arrange and produce the music, creating a powerful and diverse sound.

In December 2015, Kesenia Parent left the group, and the Sharks continued as the four-piece comprised of Fleming, Killoran, Showdra, and Slawek. The band’s repertoire grew as band members contributed their songs, and songs often changed dramatically as the group put their own unique arrangements into the song ideas. The Sharks continued to gig regularly around Kitchener/Waterloo in 2016, including a very closely contested second place finish in the 2016 Battle for Koifest.

In October 2016, the Sharks released a live off the floor album that was a rerecording of 2015’s “…And George”, not including Parent’s two songs. The band acknowledged that the group sounded very different from Fleming’s original recordings, and opted remake the album to show off their current sound. The album was recorded at Small Dog Studios in Kitchener, ON, with studio owner Ian Graham engineering and mixing the record. Shortly after the new release in November 2016, Alex Showdra left the band to explore other opportunities.

After a brief hiatus, in December 2016 The Sharks added guitarist/vocalist Matt Kleist to round out the four-piece and contribute his own original songs. Kleist adds an exciting alternative edge to the group, who once again finds itself the intersection point of the diverse influences of its members. Currently, The Sharks are gaining momentum as a powerful song-writing collective, developing a unique and exciting sound. They will continue to play shows around Ontario, and are working on material for a new full length album.