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SATURDAY

It didn’t take Jonathan Fire*Eater long to ditch the distasteful Nick Cave/Jim Morrison overtones of its now widely unavailable self-titled debut (call Third World Underground if you’re desperate; it’s in Tucson). For their Tremble Under Boom Lights EP—one of the highlights of ’96—the five early-twentysomethings pumped up the early Mick and set him amid whorls of smoky atmospherics, banishing Keef in favor of a dissonant, chirping organ and big-boom tom-toms. The former Washingtonians’ Dreamworks debut isn’t due until October, but expect JF*E to be even more secure in its unique stylistic niche, which melds silvery mid-’60s glamour with lounge cool in tales of family loyalty, jewel heists, and undertaking. With Tarot Bolero and Leslie at 9:30 p.m. at the Black Cat, 1831 14th St. NW. $7. (202) 667-7960. (Glenn Dixon)