Jay Reatard at the Black Cat Sunday, July 5

Aping the loud, fast vocal style and fret-banging of the 1970s Brit punks who crossed the CBGB stage, Memphis native Jay Reatard recalls everyone from the Adverts and Wire to Bauhaus and the Damned. Which is good news for those in an indie-rock diabetic coma. Reatard is one of the few touring punk rock revivalists who can credibly resurrect Richard Hell’s howl and Joey Ramone’s unruly mane, and if you think he echoes those influences too closely, tonight may not be for you. Reatard’s forthcoming LP, Watch Me Fail, probably won’t bring anything new to the punk game, either. But if it’s as faithful in its nostalgia as his debut, Blood Visions, it sure as hell won’t get old.

JAY REATARD PERFORMS WITH TV SMITH AT 8 P.M. AT THE BLACK CAT, 1811 14TH ST. NW. $12. (202) 667-4490.