San Francisco's Thao & the Get Down Stay Down is the vehicle for the thoughtful indie folk-rock lyricism of singer-songwriter Thao Nguyen. Over the course of five albums and multiple singles (plus celebrated collaborations like her 2011 LP with indie-pop artist Mirah), she's developed a stripped-down, cerebral but deeply relatable voice that's earned her a sizable and devoted following.

We the Common, the band's fifth album, is their most accomplished to date. It shimmers with wisdom gleaned from Nguyen's nomadic touring lifestyle and years of experience honing her songwriting, and the outfit's musical palette is at once more eclectic and more economical than ever before.

While in town for a show at the Cedar Cultural Center, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down swung by The Current studio to play a few songs and chat with host Mark Wheat.

Songs played: "Holy Roller," "City" and "We the Common (For Valerie Bolden)"

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