Decked out in matching black suits and ties, Kate Clover and her band look like a late-1970s power-pop group or perhaps members of Blondie circa Parallel Lines. And while the L.A. singer’s original songs are loaded with catchy pop hooks, she plays with a hard-driving punk power that’s closer to the Ramones than The Knack. “Woke up with the television telling them lies,” Clover declares on her 2019 debut single, “Channel Zero.” She goes on to rail about the CIA mind-control program Project MKUltra as distorted punk guitar chords rage behind her, indicating that Clover has got a lot on her mind and is anything but a typically escapist and retro power-pop wannabe. She brings in her band for the first evening of her free Monday-night residency in January.

Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., L.A.; Mon., Jan. 6, 8:30 p.m.; through Mon., Jan 27, 8:30 p.m.; free; ages 21 & over. (213) 389-3856, www.bootlegtheater.org.

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