Lissie’s rough-hewn first single, “Little Lovin’,” distilled everything good about her debut EP Why You Runnin’, and fans were expecting more of the same from her debut album, Catching a Tiger. Instead, the 28-year-old ditched organic, powerful melodies for infectious, glistening pop songs—fine, in theory, but by sharpening her hooks and smoothing the edges of her sandpaper voice to a glossy finish, Tiger producers Jacquire King and Bill Reynolds did Lissie a serious disservice. Still, when the time comes for her to perform her rendition of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” no amount of stage tricks will tarnish the glorious voice Lissie honed through singing lessons and grated through chain-smoking.

LISSIE PERFORMS WITH DYLAN LEBLANC AT 8 P.M. AT THE 9:30 CLUB, 815 V ST. NW. $15. (202) 265-0930.