Nell Robinson, Nell Robinson in Loango. Seventeen
songs and 47 minutes of whirling banjos and crisp country vocals is
ample bluegrass for the average listener. East Bay singer Nell Robinson
never lets up on her twangy, clear-eyed tales, and neither do the
pickers, pluckers, and string strokers who join this heartfelt journey
through her Alabama roots. (self)
At the Freight & Salvage (2020 Addison St., Berkeley) on
December 10. 8 p.m., $18.50
Kitka, Cradle Songs. A collection of lullabies from
sundry Eastern European sources that’s not as kid-friendly as it might
aspire to be. The songs are poignant and beautifully sung by women’s
vocal ensemble Kitka, but dark undertones and foreign tongues mean
children accustomed to the American canon may be loath to cozy up to
them. (Diaphonica)
At the Paramount Theatre (2025 Broadway, Oakland) on December 13. 4
p.m., $10-$40
Tempo No Tempo, Waking Heat. No question this band of
former Cal classmates has matured into more than a college band, and no
question its sound has improved immensely, too. Yet its refinement may
have come too late; it’ll be hard for the quartet to rally anyone but
neophytes and diehards around an early-2000s dance-punk sound that
already feels dated. (self-released)
At the Hemlock Tavern (1131 Polk St., San Francisco) on December 15.
9 p.m., $7
Davis Jones, Shadows & Gardens. This relatively
nondescript slice of contemporary Americana skews to the laidback
Western side — which is no surprise considering Tim Mooney of San
Francisco’s American Music Club played drums and co-produced. The
record’s mix of country, folk, and acoustic rock is suited to
nonchalant toe-tapping and wide-open nighttime skies.
(self-released)
At Hotel Utah (500 4th St., San Francisco) on December 12. 9 p.m.,
$8
