Across the ocean

Netherlands trio Aestrid has made a few trips to Ottawa, and I've managed to miss them each time - until Thursday, when the stars aligned and I caught them playing a fantastic set at House of Targ. They were sandwiched between local combos Sweet Alps () and Swim Team. Sweet Alps were up first. Here's some guitar action with Jamie!



Singalong action with Colleen and Jamie!



Rhythm section action with Collen and Sean!



More Jamie!



Colleen sings!



Sean hits!



More vocals!



More percussion!



More Colleen and Nicholas!



Aestrid trade in a high volume post-punk-shoegaze hybrid that made me think of Motorpsycho. Here's bassist J.J.J.!



Guitar action with Bo!



More J.J.J. and Ray!



Hoodied action!



Bo sings!



More J.J.J.!



Aestridian action!



Keyboard action!



Ray hits!



Ceiling-supporting action!



The whole lot plus feedback!



More keyboard!



And finally a little Hendrix-style guitar-playing.



Swim Team brought the night to a close. I saw them a mere two weeks ago at LIVE On Elgin. Here's Cameron, who apparently came straight from work - thus the blazer.



Bass and guitar action with Bill and Marco!



More Cameron and Bill!



More Marco and Nick!



Marco sings!



Nick hits!



A shouty bit!



Extra Nick!



Guitar action!



Gripping action!



A really excellent night.

Fire and water

I made the short jaunt over to LIVE! On Elgin last week to check out a trio of local indie bands, two of which I was hearing for the first time. The headliner was Elementals, who I've caught at Targ and Black Squirrel Books; things kicked off with a set of emo-ish post punkers Plastic Farm. Here's' main man Michael!



Keyboard action!



Percussive action!



Michael sings!



Plastic action!



The whole lot!



More keys!



On to "surf emo" quartet Swim Team, starting with Bruins fancier Cameron!



Cameron sings!



Bass and guitar action with Bill and Marco!



Marco sings!



Nick hits!



Team action!



More guitar!



Extra Cameron!



Nick drinks!



Elementals played a raging set. They impressed me at previous gigs, but have really kicked things up a notch since then. I also thought they sounded a bit rootsier this time around - the cover of CCRs Green River helped ... here's some hair-tossing action to start things off with Sheehan!



Bass action with Duncan!



Cody sings!



Sheehan sings!



Elementary action!



Unfortunately with all the jumping around at the front of the stage I couldn't snag a good photo of Jamie.



More Duncan and Sheehan!



Tambourine action!



A fun night out!