iSound

“Tonight I’ll get up on the stage and all my problems seem to go away/Tonight I’ll get up in those lights and I will sing my best for you tonight,” proclaims Plain White T’s frontman Tom Higgenson on “Sing My Best,” from the forthcoming album All That We Needed (Jan. 25 on Fearless Records).

It’s not uncommon for musicians to experience a cathartic release onstage. But for singer Higgenson, the rush of performance is particularly acute. “Being up there, connecting with the fans – there’s nothing like it,” he insists.

This intense feeling may explain why the Plain White T’s are on the road nine months out of the year, plying their hook-laden alt pop to a devout, ever-expanding fan base.

During their frequent cross-country jaunts, the T’s have shared stages with such bands as Jimmy Eat World, Sugarcult, Saves the Day and Simple Plan – and played at the Skate and Surf Fest and on the Vans Warped Tour.

The band began in a suburban Chicago ...