Today Oakland's The Saxophones released the second single off their forthcoming, sophomore album Eternity Bay (out March 6 on Full Time Hobby). The song is a fusion of jazz, quiet pop and folk. Vocalist Alexi Erenkov says of the album, "While this record was influenced by a broad range of music the through line seems to be conveying a strong mood or sense of place. I love music that transports listeners to another space, whether it's Jonathan Richman making you feel like you’re walking the streets of Boston in 'I Love Hot Nights' or Arthur Lyman transporting you to a Hawaiian hotel lobby in the 50s." Erenkov and wife Alison Alderdice create songs that live up to that transportive feel. Catch their latest single here and be on the look out for upcoming tour dates and Eternity Bay. -Lucille Faulkner

This Friday Throwin’ Bo’s has a showcase of Bay Area bands that are sure to keep you energized and moving. Oakland’s Babewatch is surfy garage rock with just the right amount of punk. Stress Dreams isn’t as stressful as it sounds but they do describe themselves as “rat” music. Well said, we guess. Local dream catch Shutups are playing the bill, along with the quietest of the bunch, Andy Bender. Need some folk rock with more melodies and twists than you bargained for? Listen to Andy Bender! And come on down to Eli's Mile High Club. -Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

On December 27, the San Francisco experimental rock group Dear Banshee released their latest, Viva Guernica. Title track has an accompanying video with dark synth feels and creepy vibes—in a good way. Catch them playing in Oakland at The Golden Bull January 23. -Lucille Faulkner

As he does all things, Fantastic Negrito is celebrating the end of decade in style. The singer combines passionate blues meets soul meets R&B and is a performer you won’t want to miss. Fantastic Negrito is playing a two-night residency at The Chapel, concluding with a New Year’s Eve show. What a way to end a decade and what a forceful way to start the new year. Here’s a taste of some of his latest work, featuring blind dancer Odil Gerfaut. Presented by Folk Yeah, get your tickets now. -Lucille Faulkner

Avant rock performer Katie Burden just released the title track of her forthcoming album Edge of Sleep, and it is a captivating representation of the song. Burden, who has spent the last few between San Francisco, Los Angles and New York, created the album with a new level of consciousness. Of the name, Burden says, “There’s that ancient Toltec wisdom that describes our conscious life as a waking dream that we sort of project into the world…’Edge of Sleep’ refers to an occurrence that shakes one from their waking dream and brings about a new perspective or way of seeing.” Title track lies somewhere between Björk and Florence and the Machine. The video depicts the frustrating place between awake and conscious and emotion, dragging a woman through a house where she can’t seem to decompress. Enjoy Burden’s new video and keep an eye out for her full album Edge of Sleep out January 30, 2020. -Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor