Bad Moves at Black Cat

Local power pop outfit Bad Moves are bringing their punk-laced bangers to Black Cat this Friday, April 29. Catch them as they kick off their East Coast tour, with stops following in Brooklyn and Philadelphia, before supporting indie rock outfit Cheekface on a five-date tour in July. Since forming in 2015, Bad Moves have been blazing through punk pop tropes with an energy as fierce as The Hold Steady alongside buoyant melodies and uniquely bright guitar hooks. They will be showcasing their 2020 album, Untenable, which further solidified the band’s tight lineup and chemistry among both personal and political tracks, like the thunderous “Working for Free,” a blistering takedown of the dismal state of workers’ rights. That song, and many more scorchers, will grace Friday’s audience as a much overdue live debut. “It was a little bit of a letdown after working really hard on Untenable to not be able to play those songs live for a year and a half,” the band tells City Paper over Instagram DMs. “But the important thing is we can play them now.” Amid seemingly endless spikes of COVID variants, the band is understandably thrilled to finally unleash the glory of their newest album. “As long as everyone wears masks—and everyone should wear masks—we can create fun and safe show environments,” the group says. The supporting acts make the night a can’t-miss, with local firebrands Gauche and Bottled Up guaranteed to light the stage from their very first notes. The openers offer diverse takes on D.C.’s continuing punk legacy, with Gauche bringing more of a groovy, new wave mastery, and Bottled Up promising heady art pop with notes of psychedelia. It’s a local lineup stacked from top to bottom, and one you will want to show up to on time. The show starts at 8 p.m. on April 29 at Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. blackcatdc.com. $15. Proof of vax or negative test required.