In 1997, the NBA's Washington franchise, a bit queasy over the amount of gun violence in the community, changed their nickname from the Bullets to the AK-47s.

Not really. They became the Washington Wizards.

In a similar bit of awareness, the popular Boston Americana band Girls, Guns & Glory also decided to change their moniker in acknowledgment that we have a very serious situation with firearms in this country. Girls, Guns & Glory are now called Ward Hayden & the Outliers.

Same band, same excellence, and you can see 'em when they headline the Blue Monday series in Mystic with a show at Mystic River Park. The name change was not an easy decision after spending a dozen years building an impeccable repuation, but they did so for all the right practical and human reasons. You'll hear plenty of old GG&G favorites in addition to tunes from "Can't Judge a Book," their first album as the Outliers.

Plus, this is a particularly special show with the addition of Sondra Levine to the bill. Note an early 5:30 p.m. start.

Blue Monday Concert Series featuring Ward Hayden & the Outliers with Sondra Levine, 5:30 p.m. Monday, Mystic River Park, 28 Cottrell St., Mystic; free; canned goods and/or donations benefitting Stonington Education Fund an Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center accepted; see Facebook Blue Monday.