Augustines / My Goodness / The Bellflowers

Tapped into the blue-collar nerve of middle-class America, Augustines reveal a powerful yearning for creative expression. The band’s sophomore album, an incredible collection of larger-than-life tunes, expands on the uplifting redemption of their initial output. The colossal “Cruel City,” for instance, just begs for a room full of people singing along with its righteous lyrics. Prep your pipes for as much at the Grog Shop tonight. Musically, the band’s stuff is terrifically exciting. Multi-instrumentalist Eric Sanderson holds down the low end on the band’s self-titled album with dextrous enthusiasm. He backs up singer/guitarist Billy McCarthy’s alternating growls and croons, along with drummer Rob Allen’s seemingly eight-armed percussion work. At times, the band almost seems to reach too high with its melodic and lyrical peaks, but the pros outweigh the cons tenfold here. (Eric Sandy)