You have to admire him for his technique—it’s tense, in how he sounds like he’s containing a storm—but really, give local cellist Gordon Withers props for taste: In addition to the originals on last year’s self-titled album, he covered big-guitar bands like Don Caballero, whose riffage benefited from Withers’ bowed fury; and thoughtful poptronica ones like The Notwist—as well as an uncharacteristically thoughtful song by a big-guitar band, Chavez’ “Unreal Is Here.” Two years before that he released an album of Jawbox covers, which, in retrospect, must have made for a killer audition tape: These days, Withers is playing cello for the Office of Future Plans, the latest band of former Jawbox leader J. Robbins.

GORDON WITHERS PERFORMS WITH LADY PCOQ & THE PLUMES AND PETER MAYBARDUK AT 8:30 P.M. AT THE BLACK CAT BACKSTAGE, 1811 14TH ST. NW. $10. (202) 667-7960.