As half of Cardinal, Richard Davies had his skeletal songs fleshed out with orchestral arrangements by his modern-day Bacharach, Eric Matthews. But on Davies’ solo debut, There’s Never Been a Crowd Like This, his ’60s-style folk-pop is left exposed. Davies’ arrangements provide acoustic guitar and piano chords with minimal rhythmic accompaniment behind lush vocal lines. David Bowie’s folk period, the Beach Boys, and the early Bee Gees played a part in shaping Davies’ melodic world, and his vocal-driven music is refreshing in this age of the riff. Davies’ mannered style will contrast nicely with the unsure croonings of ex-Unrest drummer Phil Krauth, whose new album, Silver Eyes, is a collection of seductively jazzy folk songs with a lyrically melancholic slant. Epic Soundtracks, whose visa request was denied, has canceled. At 8:30 p.m. at the Black Cat, 1831 14th St. NW. $6. (202) 667-7960. (CP)