We Were Pirates’ brand of minimal, guitar-and-keyboard pop is so annoyingly precious that it almost makes you want to slap the sappiness right off singer-songwriter Mike Boggs’ melancholy face. Of course, if you did, he’d probably cry, then write an annoyingly precious pop song about it. The next thing you know, you’re tearfully listening to an overly earnest tune about man’s cruelty to man on We Were Pirates’ MySpace page, feeling not only guilty for hurting the poor guy’s feelings but wanting to kick yourself for giving him further inspiration. More than anything, though, you’d probably be angry with yourself for your inability to stop listening to it: As wistful as they may be, Boggs’ carefully crafted songs are brimming with charming melodies and soft vocals that are, above all, undeniably catchy. We Were Pirates performs with the Apes and Police & Thieves at 7:15 P.M. at Fort Reno Park, 3950 Chesapeake St. NW. Free. (202) 355-6356.