Two Gallants

San Francisco duo Two Gallants (the name is borrowed from a James Joyce story) offer tales of desperation, desolation, and death in song from. The guitar-and-drum arrangements and folk-meets-indie trappings provide a suitable home for singer Adam Stephens’ rough-hewn voice and clever, cutting lyrics, and Saddle Creek has, in turn, provided a suitable home for the band’s last two albums. Though the band’s last record, the self-titled Two Gallants, came out almost five years ago, the band’s stayed active, touring the states often and, more recently, spending some time playing in China. If smart, edgy folk rock that illuminates the darker edges of life is your thing, you could do a lot worse than Two Gallants.

Updated 01/04/2012