THURSDAY

Tonight, in a weird but welcome booking, Dave’s True Story, the Manhattan cult voice-and-guitar duo, opens for ’80s pop group Air Supply. Songwriter-instrumentalist David Cantor and then-waitress and backup singer Kelly Flint joined forces in 1989; ever since, they have been creating music that has been variously described as “Cole Porter-meets-Seinfeld,” “the Eurythmics of the Cocktail Nation,” and “nonsucky jazz.” If you can imagine sultry singer Julie London and guitarist Barney Kessel in their chart-topping “Cry Me a River” mode, you’ll have some idea what Dave’s True Story is about. Cantor’s Berklee College of Music schooling is evident in his sophisticated melodies and harmonies; his keenly crafted swingers and ballads soar above the neoprimitivism of contempo pop songwriting. His literate, racy lyrics overflow with unexpected themes and turns of phrase. “Spasm” unfashionably celebrates sex for sex’s sake (“It all boils down to the raw protoplasm/’Cause this ain’t the real thing/It’s just a spasm”). Other DTS classics include “Ned’s Big Dutch Wife,” about a homemaker who secretly runs a brothel; “Daddy-O,” a chronicle of the Beat Generation’s decline; and “Stormy,” a passionate monologue sung from the point of view of a lesbian serial killer. Arguably the smoothest pop vocalist to emerge since k.d. lang, Flint has a crisp yet tawny sound, pinpoint intonation, a rock-solid sense of timing that allows her to push or lay way behind the beat, and a wry, intelligent approach to Cantor’s offbeat lyrics. It will be interesting to see what, if anything, Air Supply’s audience makes of DTS’s subtle, dry-martini presentation. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 12, at the Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. $39.50. (703) 549-7500. (Joel E. Siegel)