Mon., Feb. 11, Sand

What's surprising about Sand, the new trio headed up by drummer Dylan Ryan (pictured), is that its music is simultaneously mellow and unsettling. Yet, it should come as no shock that these three musicians would create such experimental, out-there sounds: They've all played in strange projects in the past—Ryan with Herculaneum, Cursive and Rainbow Arabia; guitarist Timothy Young with John Zorn and Beck; and bassist Devin Hoff with Xiu Xiu and Good for Cows. What is impressive about the group is, even for experimental music, what a large, dynamic sound the three of them create with what is essentially an instrumental rhythm section. These are some moody, free-form compositions. 1414 16th Street, http://sand.dylanryanmusic.com.