Megabig

Living in the Underground (Permanent Youth)

Living in the Underground, this Austin power trio’s first full-length, finds joy in songs built on guitar hooks and the energy spew of the eternally caffeinated. Singer/guitarist Danny Listrom doesn’t screw around, gushing sinuous leads, crunchy chords, and melodious singing with neither muss nor fuss. Drummer Danny Blanchard, also of Wiretree and Sweet Spirit, keeps tempos running hot, while bassist Jon Fichter holds the line to keep his bros-in-arms on the rails. The roiling “Never Gonna Know” wallows bluesy and anthemic, the blasting “This Is War!” spikes both hair and coffee, and tuneful confections “Highway to Nowhere” and “Try Try Try” sound like the kind of radio fodder you wish was coming out of your speakers. Living in the Underground may be meat and potatoes, but there’s good reason that dish always satisfies.

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This article appears in May 23 • 2014.

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Michael Toland started writing about music in 1988 on the Gulf Coast, moved to Austin in early 1991, and has inflicted bylines upon the corporeal and digital pages of Pop Culture Press, The Big Takeover, Blurt, Amplifier, Austin.citysearch, the Austin American Statesman, Goldmine, Sleazegrinder, Rock & Roll Globe, High Bias, FHT Music Notes, and, since 2011, The Austin Chronicle.