Haters will tell you that Jukebox the Ghost’s piano pop falls pretty far from D.C.’s punk-rock glory days, but the group’s homecoming at the Black Cat this Saturday seems as much a victory lap for the band as it is for the District’s music scene. With summer appearances at Lollapalooza and the Late Show with David Letterman and a Yep Roc debut on the shelves, the three George Washington University grads have a lot to be cheerful about. Sure, lead singer and pianist Ben Thornewill sounds like a less inspired Elton John, but the trio’s catchy nuggets have won favor with Ben Folds fans across the nation. This fall, Jukebox is touring with Guster and the Barenaked Ladies, proving to naysayers that its peppy pop-rock is still relevant. Er, well, sort of.

JUKEBOX THE GHOST PERFORMS WITH ELIZABETH & THE CATAPULT AT 8 P.M. AT THE BLACK CAT, 1811 14TH ST. NW. $13-$15. (202) 667-4490.