A reliably energetic band with deep roots in Chicago’s punk and emo scenes of the late ’90s, Plain White T’s have never been shy about showing off their softer side, even when they’re rocking out. Indeed, singer/guitarist Tom Higgenson proved he had a knack for balancing the sweet and the crunchy well before his band broke wide with 2006’s “Hey There Delilah,” one of the era’s quintessential expressions of yearning and heartache. Likewise, the keenly melodic quality of his songwriting connects signature ballads like “1-2-3-4” with later efforts to re-embrace punk fundamentals and absorb new influences like electro-pop, too.