Whether for a prom or a special office gathering, it can be fun to dress up every once in a while and go out to a party.
That feeling is exactly what the alternative-rock duo Dean & Britta and singer-songwriter Keren Ann may experience Monday night performing on the same bill at the new Yoshi’s in San Francisco. The last time Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips worked in San Francisco, it was at the charming but decidedly unfancy nightclub the Independent.
Asked if the elegance and comfortable seating at the new Yoshi’s, which opened in late November, will affect the Monday set list, Wareham says, “Oh, definitely. When people are standing, you don’t want to play too many really slow songs. On the other hand, when people are sitting down, it’s hard to play fast numbers.”
Keren Ann says, “On my last tour, we preferred the stand-up venues because we were a trio, and it was kind of a rock sound. But we found that in certain seated venues, the mood gave us a new kind of trio sound. So it’s nice, too.”
As for the presence of these acts at the new Yoshi’s, which has been presenting jazz icons, Peter Williams, artistic director for the San Francisco location as well as the older Oakland venue, says, “With two clubs now, it’s been apparent that I had to try and do some different things. Yoshi’s is always going to be a jazz club, first and foremost, but we’ve always branched out a little bit.
“Keren Ann (has) done a few Blue Note releases,” Williams continues, referring to the label with a jazz tradition going back more than 40 years, but the one that also propelled Norah Jones into the mainstream. “I heard Keren Ann was going out (on tour) with Dean & Britta. . . . So I checked out their stuff, and I just thought it would be a cool gig to do in our room, where we’ve got great sounds and sight lines.”
Over the past year, a pair of Hawaiian shows was featured in the mix at the Oakland Yoshi’s, which also has programmed blues, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, neo-soul and roots artists from time to time.
Wareham, co-founder of the influential “dream-pop” bands Galaxie 500 and Luna, says he’s heard Keren Ann perform but never shared a stage with her. The 44-year-old New Zealand native has been working with Phillips ever since she joined Luna in 2000 as its bassist. Phillips continued working with Wareham after Luna was dissolved in 2005, and they are now married. They have introduced themselves to Keren Ann and given her their 2007 album, “Back Numbers.”
Keren Ann, 33, who has released five albums, comes from Israel and has lived in the Netherlands and France, as well. She says, “I believe that I have a lot to learn from (Wareham and Phillips), and hopefully they’ll feel the same.”
Her latest disc, “Keren Ann,” released last year on Blue Note, features heavenly chamber pop and tracks that give listeners a sense of what trip-hop might sound like without dance beats.
Dean & Britta have followed up “Back Numbers” with “Variations,” a mini-album with seven remixes from the earlier disc, including one by Phillips.Dean & BrittaWith Keren Ann
Mercury NewsWhere Yoshi’s at Fillmore Heritage Center, 1330 Fillmore St., San Francisco
When 8 p.m. Monday
Tickets $18-$22
Call (415) 655-5600, sf.yoshis.com.