Live This Month: January 2011

We sample some of the great local and out-of-town bands performing in the SF Bay Area this month. After a quiet December, a number of local bands are already lining up some high-profile CD releases, including Deerhoof, Young Prisms, and Jake Mann. Enjoy this sampler and then go check out some shows!

About the bands:

White Fence (“Lilian (Won’t You Play Drums?)”) is a project led by Darker My Love’s Tim Presley, who has a new album out next week on Woodsist. On January 9th, White Fence will be at the Hemlock Tavern with The Babies, Grass Widow and Bad Back.

Deerhoof‘s (“The Merry Barracks”) first album for Polyvinyl Records is Deerhoof vs. Evil, arriving on January 25th. The band’s US tour starts this month, and they’ll be at the Great American Music Hall on January 28th.

Khaela Maricich hasn’t released a new album as The Blow (“Pile of Gold”) in some time, but we’re excited to see her return to the Bay Area. She’ll be at the Great American Music Hall on January 30th, with Sonny Smith.

Indie-rock-meets-experimental-jazz trio Beep (“Wolf Pantolones”) release City of the Future on January 18th. Catch them at the Hemlock Tavern with Dinosaur Feathers and The Careerers on January 23rd.

Peter Wolf Crier (“Hard as Nails”) is a Minneapolis folk-rock duo currently touring the US. The band stops at Bottom of the Hill on January 20th. Retribution Gospel Choir and Cannons and Clouds support.

Bird By Snow‘s (“Across The Water”) 2010 album Common Wealth is full of wonderfully moody experimental folk-rock. The band will be at Bottom of the Hill on January 5th and the Elbo Room on January 31st.

San Diego post-punk band Crocodiles (“Sleep Forever”) return to SF on January 15th. See them at Slim’s with locals The Fresh & Onlys and Magic Bullets.

Tobacco (“Fresh Hex”), a member of Black Moth Super Rainbow, brings his solo work to The New Parish on January 20th. Local band Seventeen Evergreen opens the show.

With several buzz-building releases behind them, SF indie-shoegaze band Young Prisms (“Sugar”) release their debut full-length album Friends For Now on January 18th on Kanine Records. On January 19th, you can see them at Bottom of the Hill, joined by Ganglians, Melted Toys and Speculator.

Midwestern Minutes is the latest album from Ohio folk-punk band Defiance, Ohio (“Hairpool”). The group’s West Coast tour hits Thee Parkside on January 18th. Kimya Dawson and Songs for Moms are also on that bill.

Jake Mann & The Upper Hand (“Days Are Long”) release their latest album Parallel South on Crossbill Records this month. Mann’s CD release show is on January 23rd at Bottom of the Hill with Grand Lake and il gato.

The Sandwitches (“Back to the Sea”) headline one of Folkyeah‘s Winter Residency shows at Slim’s this month. Their date is January 25th, with supporting performances by The Art Museums, The Soft Bombs and Rachel Fannan.