Junius Heights resident Lucy Galey doesn’t quite fit the rock band persona. She and the four other women who form the group Merry and the Mood Swings are in their 40s and 50s and sandwich band practice between loads of laundry and shuffling kids to school. “My main job is my family and taking care of my home, and when you do that for so many years, you tend to lose the identity that you had as a young woman,” says Galey, the bass guitarist. “Being in the band — it’s empowering. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and haven’t had the nerve to do it.” Audiences at their gigs can expect standards by Everclear, The Romantics and Peter Gunn as well as original songs such as Metrosexual, an ode to a man “who looks better than me,” and Trailer Park, a bluesy tune about failed expectations for marriage. “We do have a sense of humor in the band because the world needs more of that,” says lead guitarist Diane Harris. They also strive to empower younger women with songs such as Sleeping Beauty — “wake up and stop waiting for your kiss.” The women cut their first CD this summer and most recently showcased their music at New York’s Momapalooza. “We’re not all going to be wearing black with skulls and crossbones and white powder on our noses,” says electric guitarist Mary Guthrie. “But we play like it,” insists lead guitarist Diane Harris. “We can get down and dirty.” Listen to their music at myspace.com/merrythemoodswings and check them out at Poor David’s Pub, 1313 S. Lamar, Thursday, Sept. 14. The concert starts at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.); cover charge is $6.