“I would always get mildly offended when people would assume all our songs were about girls,” says Bairatchnyi, who sings in the D.C.-based duo. He says he rarely writes about his own experiences.

The Obsessives have a full-length debut on the way called Heck No, Nancy (out Sept. 18 on Near Mint), but the quickest way to get acquainted with the band’s confessionals is via “Old Mountain Bikes,” a highlight from their 2014 EP Manners.

When they first recorded the track, “we thought people were going to think that it was boring,” says Bairatchnyi. Turns out “that was the song that everyone liked the most.”

With a churning tempo and strong hook, “Old Mountain Bikes” speaks from a girl’s point of view. “I write a lot of songs from the perspective of my younger sister,” says Bairatchnyi. The song’s imagery splits focus between his sister (at the beginning) and his dad (at the end). But when it comes to the tune’s message, Bairatchnyi says that listeners should take their own meaning from it.

“There’s definitely a message there, but I don’t like spelling it out for people too much,” the musician says.

The Obsessives plan to expand their sound on Heck No, Nancy — and true to their name, they’re already writing their next record.

Listen to “Bored,” a track from The Obsessives’ forthcoming LP:

Atlanta indie-rock outfit Semicircle joined the lineup late after a cancelled gig at DC9. They shared the bill with a solid lineup of locals, including post-rock ensemble Polyon, a new band from Typefighter and Joy Buttons member Ryan McLaughlin; Witch Coast, which released one of the best D.C. EPs of 2014; pop-punkers Qualms, featuring members of Big Hush, Sad Bones and The Bowlcuts; and headliners The Obsessives, a two-piece indie-rock band worth paying attention to this year.

Despite blistering cold weather, eventual snow and a Super Bowl halftime performance from the talented Katy Perry, more than 50 people came out for the Dougout’s birthday. Maybe this time next year, they’ll be celebrating another one.

Semicircle

Polyon

Witch Coast

Qualms

The Obsessives