KINCH — the name Buck Mulligan calls Stephen Dedalus in James Joyce’s Ulysses — bears a murky etymological history. Mulligan calls Dedalus “Kinch, the knife-blade,” ostensibly because of his wit and acuity. However, some critics link the word to “kinchin” or “child.” In this context, perhaps Mulligan is commenting on his friend’s naiveté.

At any rate, Kinch — the indie-pop band from Phoenix, AZ — would be pleased to associate themselves with either connotation. For the past few years, they’v...