Debut single and album releases from San Franciscan folk bands with activist tendencies could go one of two way, but luckily Thao and the Get Down Stay Down’s We the Common is a class, blue grass, folk body popper. The single will be accompanied by the release of their debut album of the same name, so hopefully the it’s a good sign of things to come.

The band is made up primarily of singer, songwriter, Thao Nguyen and the new single reflects on her first visit to Valley State Prison with the California Coalition for Women Prisoners. With a left of centre political stance and an addictive chorus, it manages to work well as both a sort of protest song as well as being a great folk single in its own right.

Having previously talked about Mumford and Sons with the phrase “banjo ball-bag”, it’s probably pretty clear that we don’t take well to the instrument, but it adds a lot to We the Common, giving it a blue grass sound base. It’s added to with catchy, Cate Bush-like vocals and a really cool synth that levers in and out of the track (check out the video stream below).

Both We the Common single and album are set for launch on the 4th February 2013. They’ll be available for digital download, and the record will be released on CD and vinyl LP.

There’s no word as of yet on any UK gigs or tour dates for Thao and the Get Down Stay Down in 2013, but if We the Common works well the left field, blue grass folk wagon could be winding it’s way to a town near you in the not too distant future.

Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, We the Common single review: 4.2/5