PHOTOS BY ALEX CRICK

Camaraderie was the operative word as Say Hi (formerly Say Hi to Your Mom), the A-Sides, and the Velvet Teen played a rousing show at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle last night (Nov. 15). Headliners Say Hi, who are on the tail end of a 29-city tour in support of their forthcoming fifth LP, The Wishes and the Glitch, played a host of new songs while also sprinkling their set with favorites like "Let's Talk About Spaceships" and "Sweet Sweet Heartkiller." But before taking to the stage, amiable Philly popsters the A-Sides kicked off the evening in energetic style, breaking a healthy sweat by the end of the second song. Promoting their latest studio effort, Silver Storms, the band even enlisted the help from their tour mates during their last song; Say Hi keyboardist Nouela Johnston (former frontwoman of local band Mon Frere) and Velvet Teen bassist Josh Staples lent their vocals to first single "Diamonds."

A clear favorite amongst the audience, the insular indie rock stylings of the Velvet Teen amped up the energy level set by the A-Sides, aided by Casey Deitz's frenetic drumming and the powerful vocals of Judah Nagler. Later, despite some crowd thinning after the departure of the Velvet Teen, Say Hi ushered in a slightly more subdued atmosphere -- partially indebted to the characteristic, falling rain outside. Eric Elbogen's acoustic sensibilities gradually progressed to a fuller sound with the addition of keyboards, drums and another set of strings. The deadpanned vampire-themed lyrics of "These Fangs," off 2006's Impeccable Blahs, gave way to the lush, yearning sounds of new tune "Northwestern Girls," the lead off track from The Wishes and the Glitch. Despite a somewhat short set, Say Hi did Seattle proud with their idiosyncratic, groovy tunes. 

We asked: Say Hi's Eric Elbogen has written songs about all sorts of creatures, from vampires to robots. If you could write a song or songs about any non-human or imaginary creature, what "thing" would you write about?

Name: Desi Mangini
Age: 20
Hometown: Bremerton, WA
Occupation: Student
"Sea monsters, because they're interesting -- and they're real."

Name: Colin Miller
Age: 18
Hometown: Redmond, WA
Occupation: Student
"A bear and a wolverine, combined. It would kind of be like a Pink Floyd acid trip."

Name: Chelsea Baggette
Age: 18
Hometown: Sammamish, WA
Occupation: Student
"Aliens would be fun to write about. You hear some songs but not many about them. I just like space."

Name: Julie Byersdorf
Age: 19
Hometown: Redmond, WA
Occupation: Student
"Unicorns, because they're rainbow-y and they can fly. I'd maybe write about dragons too."

Name: Mehron Abdollmohammadi
Age: 18
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Occupation: Student
"I'd write about a wood nymph or an air sprite, something airy and floaty. I like fantasy."

Name: Jordy Hoyt
Age: 21
Hometown: Bremerton, WA
Occupation: Student
"Zombies. It seems like not many people write about zombies. It's an unexplored genre."

Name: Emily Medcalf
Age: 18
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Occupation: Student
"Animated phone charms. I'm inspired by Mehron's cell phone!"

Name: Summer
Age: 26
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Occupation: High school gymnastics coach
"I'd write about Falkor, the dragon from The NeverEnding Story. He's rad."

Name: David Bordoley
Age: 27
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Occupation: Engineer
"A possessed bicycle. I like riding bicycles."

Name: Joe Jellema
Age: 30
Hometown: Ypsilanti, MI
Occupation: Drummer for band Endeavors
"Pixies, because they're hot."

Say Hi frontman Eric Elbogen / Photo by Alex Crick

Say Hi keyboardist Nouela Johnston / Photo by Alex Crick

Say Hi bassist Westin Glass / Photo by Alex Crick

The A-Sides / Photo by Alex Crick

The Velvet Teen / Photo by Alex Crick