Barbarossa

PREVIEW While the Bay Area is no stranger to fuzzy, atmospheric dream pop laden with distorted guitars and crashing drums, there are very few local bands that can pull the effect off without sounding, well, noisy. Fans of Mogwai, My Bloody Valentine, and the rest of the post–experimental rock crowd will fall for Barbarossa, a San Francisco trio who formed in early 2005. Following in the footsteps of bands that reside in the mostly freezing climates of northern Europe, Barbarossa leans toward the softer side of shoegaze. Fashioned from spacey, melodic drums, keyboard, and guitar, the band's strictly instrumental sound translates to soothing and wintry pop. It's the kind of music you'd find in a Sofia Coppola movie. Olympian and Lemonade also play. (Stephanie Laemoa)

BARBAROSSA Sat/1, 9 p.m., Hotel Utah Saloon

500 Fourth St., SF. $7. (415) 546-6300, www.hotelutah.com