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Despite its obnoxious name, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart is not another emo band clad in white belts. In fact, the only thing emo about this New York foursome is their sappy lyrics. On “This Love is Fucking Right!” Kip Berman chimes, “Sweet sister, can’t you find the words to say?/Your mister, he don’t treat you the right way.” Their set Monday night at Black Cat will be a kind of tribute to a city that practically gave birth to their sound. Slumberland, the band’s label, started in the Washington area in the in the late-’80s and became a prominent alternative to Dischord, releasing albums by indie pop, noise, and shoegaze acts (notably Black Tambourine and Velocity Girl). With the release of their self-titled LP this month, the Pains looks back to Slumberland’s early stars with dark, blissful songs crafted with layered guitar distortion, far-away-sounding vocals, and prominent bass lines. THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART PERFORM MONDAY, FEB. 9, WITH THE DEPRECIATION GUILD AND THE SUGARPLUMS AT THE BLACK CAT BACKSTAGE, 1811 14th ST. NW. $10. (202) 667-7960.