DASTARDLY

“Transvestite,” “tambourine motherfuckers,” “Jay-Z” and “JEWS!” don’t tend to pop up in conversation with a new Americana band, but hey, there’s a first time for everything.

I was intrigued and slightly bewildered by Gabe Liebowitz, lead vocalist and guitarist for Dastardly, when we discussed his upcoming Boston gig. The transvestites came up when I asked which Chicago neighborhood Dastardly hails from. “JEWS!” was shouted by some drunk guy in the crowd when Liebowitz, who’s Jewish, shared a story about the time he went on a date with a girl and she wound up bringing him to church. Jay-Z was brought up when Liebowitz quoted the Rock-A-Fella impresario in describing the creative process behind Dastardly’s debut, May You Never. “The biggest challenge in recording May You Never …?” he asked rhetorically, “Vocals. None of us really have any classical training, so it was our first time really trying to nail harmonies completely in tune. Ever since Jay-Z put out that ‘Auto-Tune is Dead’ song, we figured we should do the record without [Auto-Tune] because Jay-Z … yeah … wants us to.”

And “tambourine motherfuckers”? Let’s just say that a rowdy concertgoer practiced his curveball and aimed the aforementioned instrument at Liebowitz’s head.

These boisterous Dastardly anecdotes make a little more sense after giving May You Never a listen. Dastardly got their start seven measly months ago, and every song on the EP vibrates with mischievous enthusiasm. Liebowitz and company make their first eastward jaunt this January. “Get to the Lily Pad early. It only fits a few people in there, and we’re going to be bringing it! We’re excited to show the rest of the country what we got, and we’re gonna get real close to you!”

[Dastardly at The Lily Pad. Fri 1.7.11. 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Sq., Cambridge. 9pm/all ages/$10. lily-pad.net]