1-800-BAND/Tonawondas/Nico Missile

There’s something different about a talented, upbeat rock band; a certain positive energy flows through the space the music inhabits, almost as if the human brain is naturally conditioned to react in such a way. When that first infectious chorus hits the audience, the room seems to overflow with passion, a reminder that the simplest and most straightforward sounds can also be the most powerful. With its latest full-length, High Beams, the New York pop-rock quartet 1-800-BAND sets out to recreate this feeling as often and as honestly as possible. Frontman and guitarist Al Huckabee is 1-800’s driving creative force; his endearingly simple, ’80s inspired songwriting style is what makes the band great. (Shively)