In this recurring feature known as The Bay Abridged, our staff writers will provide short, witty recaps on shows they attended around the Bay Area. A scene check, a heat check, and sometimes more — stop by every Wednesday for the most comprehensive and concise recap of last week’s Bay Area concert scene.

The David Wax Museum at Freight and Salvage (Berkeley) Dec. 8
A subdued but appreciative Berkeley crowd, to which David Wax catered, dug the mellowness off the new album “Guesthouse” — particularly “Lose Touch with the World” had us thinking existential thoughts about the realness of the jawbone percussed on stage. —Dan Senter

Tacocat, Pookie & the Poodlez, Sallie Ford at Bottom of the Hill (SF) Dec. 9
“Crimson Wave” is the menstruation song we have all been waiting for. It rhymes “pain I’m in” with “white wine and Vicodin”. “Volcano” is a love letter to a vaporizor. All hail Seattle’s Tacocat! Pookie was sporting the line up of his wet dream — Oakland’s fabulous Cumstain. —MBL

Tacocat, Pookie & the Poodlez, Sallie Ford at Bottom of the Hill (SF) Dec. 9
For a long time, I liked Tacocat, but didn’t love them. So when I saw they were coming to Bottom of the Hill, I decided to trek out, hoping maybe they’d be one of those bands that’s best experienced live. I was right. Tacocat were a direct return to the youth I spent in all-ages clubs around San Jose. They hit all the right notes: Gritty but bouncy, funny but serious, punk foundations with extremely danceable choruses. They also drew what I think was the most respectful, least-interested-in-inflicting-bodily-harm-on-others crowd I think I’ve ever experienced in all my 15 years of show-going. Long live Tacocat. —Jody Amable

The Range of Light Wilderness at The Independent (SF) Dec. 9
The harmonies unspooled, and were given room to breathe, build, billow – “through the leaves” was particularly buoyant. Everyone left with a cooler hairstyle and sand in their shoes. —Dan Senter

Cave Clove, Eight Belles, and Young Elders at Rickshaw Stop (SF) Dec. 10
A night of almost all new music from the set of local acts. Eight Belles, with singer-songwriter Jessi Phillips holding the reigns, used the evening to release their new self-titled record. After having to exit the venue for a few minutes, I returned to find a few additions on stage including Katie Colver and Melissa Kilkuskie of Cave Clove providing vocals. Their new batch of America focused songs is out now with a mid-album tune (The Old Life) to set the tone that moves between shimmering piano and guitar folk to dark plugged-in country rock. Cave Clove, currently in the midst of crowdfunding a new record, pulled heavily from new material they have been working with as a rebooted four piece. Overall, we can expect a much more rock oriented sound from the band in the new year. Bonus: Melissa’s (drums) array of hats. —Mike Chouinard

Razz, New Faultlines & Violent Change at The Octopus Literary Salon (Oak) Dec. 11
New Faultlines feature brothers Luke and Zach Robbins. Their 2013 debut, Drawing a Blank, is a work of art and I can’t stop listening to it’s jangly guitars, drawling vocals (a la Ray Davies) and catchy pop hooks. Violent Change’s dreamy set included the drumming genius of Alexa Pantalone. Surely the hardest working musician of our times, she plays with too many bands to count. Razz opened with an energetic, 80s-centric set. Buy one of their beautiful new t-shirts ASAP. —MBL