It's Monday (again), and that means a look ahead at the live music acts that might draw your attention in the week ahead. Here are our day-by-day picks for live shows in a neighborhood near you. Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments.
Monday, January 12th
Act: Troy Baker
Location: Milk Bar
Start Time: 10pm
Price: FREE
Troy Baker is much more than a singer/songwriter. Many of his fans also know him as a voice actor, as he provides voices for several notable video games including the most recent entries in the Batman: Arkham and Call of Duty series'. This show at Milk Bar brings Baker back to the public as a musician (he was one the lead singer of Tripp Fontane). Although his record “Sitting in the Fire” was released digitally back in October, this show will be billed and promoted as a record release, so head down and check out his latest material.
Tuesday, January 13th
Act: The Hot Sardines
Location: The Addition
Start Time: 8pm
Price: $21
Band leader Evan “Bibs” Palazzo and lead singer Miz Elizabeth first came together to form a project that stemmed from their mutual love of music from a bygone era. The Hot Sardines is a product of said passion, bringing us a jazz revivalist group that features a dynamic brass section and its very own tap dancer (how many bands can say that?). Coming in hot after the release of their debut record, which was produced by Eli Wolf (Norah Jones), The Hot Sardines are a great reminder that live music will always be king.
Wednesday, January 7th
Act: Cave Clove
Location: Milk Bar
Start Time: 8pm
Price: $5
Cave Clove is an extremely seductive outfit that blends pseudo psychedelic instrumentals with Americana style vocals from lead singer Katie Clover. The core of the group is the dynamic duo of Clover and drummer Melissa Kilkuskie, who met in 2013 and released a six-song EP titled "Bases of Pyramids," which got the ball rolling for the group which now includes band members Dave Glasebrook (bass) and Ryan Parks (guitar). Cave Clove has developed an unique sound and aesthetic that make a second trip to Milk Bar this week a no-brainer.
Thursday, January 14th
Act: Fritz Montana
Location: Great American Music Hall
Start Time: 8pm
Price: $13
Fritz Montana is another example of how San Francisco produces some of the most solid rock bands. This three-piece project continues in the tradition of bands like The Black Keys and The White Stripes: heavy, guitar-driven rock music with the addition of high and raw energetic vocals from lead singer David Marshall. Fritz Montana is definitely a band to watch, as it’s made quite a splash in the short time it’s been active (the band formed in 2013). Its debut EP “Scaredy Cat” also opened up several doors for them, leading them to open for acts such as Kings of Leon and Queens of the Stone Age. With this act, SF-based rock and roll is alive and well.
Friday, January 15th
Act: The New Deal
Location: The Independent
Start Time: 8:30pm
Price: $25
These guys sure have been missed. Returning to the stage for the first time in over two years, Toronto’s own The New Deal is gracing The Independent with its brand of electronic madness. Originally formed in 1999, this collective's unique mission is to bring a “human element” to electronic music, creating a sound that is vibrant but also imperfect, embracing the aspect of human error that often gets lost in many projects on the digital side of things.
Saturday, January 16th
Act: The Pesos
Location: Hemlock Tavern
Start Time: 9pm
Price: $6
Hailing from Los Angeles and currently continuing its West Coast tour, The Pesos brings its act to the Hemlock Tavern this weekend with a sound somewhere in between The Ramones and The Beach Boys. The group's ten-song EP “Country Dope” is an interesting mix of ideas, as it combines strangely suggestive lyrics with instrumentals that make us want to dance like a gentleman, 50’s prom style. If you’re scouting for bands for your next “Grease” theme party, look no further than The Pesos.
