Live This Month: November 2011

The November 2011 concert schedule offers a chance to check out the artists behind some big recent releases, as bands like M83, Wild Flag, and Real Estate arrive in support of well-received new albums. Locally, a diverse assortment of acts are launching new releases of their own, including the classic-leaning rock and roll of Zodiac Death Valley, The Northern Key’s singer-songwriter pop, and the raucous art-rock of Wet Illustrated.

About the bands:

The excellent SF band Wet Illustrated (“Gypsy Town”) released 1x1x1 last month on True Panther. The band opens what should be a terrific show at Amnesia on November 17, with Tim Cohen’s Magic Trick and Devon Williams.

Gauntlet Hair‘s (“Keep Time”) self-titled album is the Denver band’s debut LP. The group’s West Coast tour with Unknown Mortal Orchestra finds them at the Rickshaw Stop on November 3 and The New Parish on November 7.

Wild Flag (“Romance”) includes members of Sleater-Kinney, Helium, and The Minders, and the band’s self-titled debut lives up to the promise of those previous groups. On November 4 and 5, Wild Flag and Drew Grow and the Pastors’ Wives play at the Great American Music Hall.

SF’s Zodiac Death Valley (“La Razon”) and LA’s The Icarus Line are holding two joint record release parties at Cafe Du Nord on November 5 and 6. Local bands The Tambo Rays and Nectarine Pie open the Saturday and Sunday shows respectively.

Formerly the leader of Dear Nora, Katy Davidson’s new band is called Key Losers (“Bi-Focal”). The band brings California Lite to the Hemlock Tavern on November 20. Lesbians and Nora Roman and the Border Busters support.

Oakland electronic pop artist Metal Mother (“Shake”) performs live infrequently, but she’ll be at Cafe Du Nord on November 29. She’ll be joined by The Horns of Happiness, Mortar and Pestle and Birdseye.

Minneapolis band Peter Wolf Crier (“Right Away”) explores complex prog-pop on its new record, Garden of Arms. On November 4, you can see the group at Cafe Du Nord with Birds & Batteries and The Curious Mystery.

Local psych-pop band The Spyrals (“Sunflower Microphone”) have a new 7″ out November 15. Michael Beach and Hypatia Lake support at the Hemlock Tavern on November 17.

Days is the sophomore album from New Jersey band Real Estate (“It’s Real”). The trio headlines Slim’s on November 11.

Led by singer-songwriter Andrew Galluccio, SF band The Northern Key (“Soak”) has a new album called Wedgewood. The band joins Ash Reiter for a double record release show at the Brick and Mortar Music Hall on November 3.

Our Own Dream is the new EP from electronic pop duo Keep Shelly in Athens (“Lazy Noon”). The Greek band’s touring comes to The Independent on November 9, with Kisses and a DJ set by Blackbird Blackbird.

M83‘s (“Midnight City”) new album, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, finds Anthony Gonzalez merging his interests in epic soundscapes and melodic synth-pop. Gonzalez performs at the Mezzanine on November 10 with the similarly lush Active Child.

Before Merrill Garbus started tUnE-YarDs, she was in a band with Pat Jordache (“Get It [I Know You’re Going To]”). Jordache’s band is now touring with tUnE-YarDs, playing at the Regency Ballroom on November 23rd.