WEDNESDAY

I’ve heard some stupid band names in my time, and though the Glands ain’t the worst by a long shot, it’s still pretty dumb. That said, the Athens, Ga., band’s eponymous disk is pretty brilliant: The Glands dig their ’60s psychedelia—see “Swim” and the quicksilvery “Ground”—but, unlike the Elephant 6 folks, don’t make a fetish of it. Indeed, as “When I Laugh” and “Straight Down” demonstrate, the members of the Glands would just as soon listen to Tom Petty (and the way Ross Shapiro spits out lyrics, you’d almost think he spent his infanthood bouncing on the scar-faced one’s knee). But the Glands can get down, too, as they demonstrate on “I Can See My House From Here,” which, though I’m sorry to report is not based on the punch line to the best Jesus joke of all time, still includes the twitchiest rhythm guitar riff this side of James Brown. And just when you’re settling into the groove, the Glands bust out an old-school rocker (“Work It Out”) that comes complete with a guitar solo that is all boots, bluster, and thrown elbows. These four men are my new favorite Americans. They play with Sunshine Fix and Departure Lounge at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, at the Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. $10. (202) 667-7960. (Michael Little)