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TUESDAY

Minnesota’s Party of One has a proud lineage that stretches from the Violent Femmes to Hefner to McLusky: outsider groups led by spazzy geeks torn between a hopelessly smartass view of the world and a desperate need to be accepted by same. Eric Fifteen and Co. groove like members of early Factory bands and stretch the meaning of the word “outré” on every track of their debut full-length, Caught the Blast, whether they’re telling the story of Serbian genocide from the point of view of someone committing it (“Belgrade Sends Its Regards”), skewering American overseas bravado (“We got something you don’t got/We got rage, and we got a lot!,” from “Baghdad Boogie”), or just attempting to marry indie rock with gangsta rap (“Baby Doll”). That the band didn’t create more buzz during its recent U.K. tour is baffling—Party of One is the most fun, most disconcerting way to amuse yourself since the BBC’s The League of Gentlemen. Party of One plays with El Guapo at 9 p.m. on the Black Cat’s Backstage, 1811 14th St. NW. $7. (202) 667-7960. (Andrew Beaujon)