In concert: Title Tracks

Title Tracks drew inspiration from late-'70s British acts during its Wednesday show at the Black Cat. (All photos by Kyle Gustafson/FTWP)

By Dave McKenna

John Davis has been easy to spot around town for a long while now, either behind a drum kit or guitar in local indie bands that played summer shows at Fort Reno (Q and Not U and Georgie James) or behind the counter at the coolest video store (Video Americain in Takoma Park). Davis remains visible with Title Tracks, the new and supremely accessible pop band he fronted on Wednesday at the Black Cat's Backstage.

(Some choice covers, after the jump.)

The show, delayed a month because of snow, was billed as a record release party for Title Tracks' debut CD, "It Was Easy," and much of Davis' fat-free 40-minute set came from that collection. In the live setting, Davis' newest material melded the kinetic pace (though not the Dischord-ant tones) of Q And Not U and the melodies of Georgie James.

Yet for all his time and prominence on the DC scene, the influence of late-'70s British acts was at least as prominent as anything homegrown.

"Every Little Bit Hurts" recalled "Armed Forces"-era Elvis Costello, with Davis strumming his hollow-body guitar and spewing lyrics at a rat-tat-tat clip, and his backing band (Nick Anderson on guitar, Andrew Black on drums, and Michael Cotterman on bass - full disclosure, Cotterman works for the Post) more than keeping up. "Found Out" could have been at home with the Jam, circa "In the City."

In his new band, Davis has revealed himself to be a lover of covers. While he stayed away from the Springsteen and Byrds material from "It Was Easy" at the Black Cat, Davis delivered 20/20's "Remember the Lightning," and left the stage with a rock-out rendition of Otis Redding's "Security," with Black pounding away like Keith Moon. The folks who packed the Backstage went home wanting more, and will follow Title Tracks upstairs if and when Davis is invited back to play the big room.