On the beach

Dirty Beaches wrapped up the evening with a short set of ultra-reverbed surf noir. It's appropriate that Xiu Xiu ended with a Suicide tune, since Alex Zhang Hungtai's music also reminds me quite a bit of the NY provocateurs' work. Just listen to Speedway or Sweet 17 from his Badlands album to hear what I'm talking about. He's aided during his live shows by Ottawa expat Shub Roy, who also knos a thing or two about grim sounds.

Alex frets!



Guitar action!



Dialling action!



Alex sings!



More guitar!



Gripping action!



Bendy action!



Bonus Shub!



The whole lot!



Extra bending!



Wah-wah action!



They've just concluded some U.S. touring and are now eying Iceland.

• Show reminder: There's some folksy action at 337 Lemoine in Vanier, with Felin/David & The Woods, Her Harbour and (the less folky) Android Junkies. The Brothers Chaffey and The Split play Irene's; The Justin Lacroix Band, Kristin St-Pierre and The Rhys Williams play the Avant-Garde. The Elmdale hosts Still Winter Hills and Jack Pine.