So Called Underground

Catch So Called Underground live on May 26, 2026 at 8:00 pm for a night that fuses road-tested musicianship with fearless, free-form creativity.

This band was literally built around its defining record, “How To Paint A Silver Lining.” What started as a song-by-song studio journey from drummer and songwriter Kenny Sharretts slowly pulled each member into orbit, until the project became a full-fledged band powered by five distinct musical personalities.

On stage, that history shows up as big, dynamic rock songs that can snap from tight, radio-ready hooks into expansive jams without ever losing the groove. The music is crafted but never stiff – the kind of set where you can feel the arrangements breathing and evolving in real time.

So Called Underground is stacked with veteran players whose résumés crisscross Austin’s music scene and beyond:

• Kenny Sharretts, whose songwriting sparked the project, brings a rare combination of drummer’s drive and singer’s intuition, shaped by years working with artists like Vox Box and Monte Montgomery.
• Bryan Jones, longtime rocker from Podunk, adds the punch and edge of classic guitar-driven alt rock.
• Carson Alexander channels the fire of a blues guitarist who spends his off nights in an alt-country world, folding that Blu Edmondson flavor into So Called’s sound.
• Wesley James Steck, a seasoned Sacramento transplant and successful jingle writer, brings a melodic instinct that makes every hook stick.
• Keyboard master John Takanikos layers in lush textures, soulful runs, and the kind of spontaneous flourishes that can flip a groove on its head.

Between them, the band members tour the world as technicians and players alongside major artists like Stevie Wonder, Kelly Clarkson, and Blu Edmondson. That means the musicians on this stage are constantly immersed in great songwriting, huge live productions, and a wide spectrum of styles – and all of that finds its way into So Called Underground’s music.

Despite the long list of influences – pop precision, blues grit, alt-country storytelling, Top 40 polish, and jam-band freedom – this isn’t a clash of styles. It’s a surprisingly seamless blend. Their rehearsals and shows often erupt into free-form jams where five different musical vocabularies snap together into something powerful, emotional, and surprisingly cohesive.

Expect songs that hit both heart and mind: big choruses built on pop sensibility, guitar work that nods to blues and Americana, keys that float between classic rock warmth and modern sheen, and rhythm parts that are tight enough for radio but loose enough to stretch out live.

If you like music that feels familiar but never predictable, this is the kind of show where you lean in for the musicianship and stay for the chemistry. So Called Underground turns all their collective experience into a set that feels less like a gig and more like being invited into an ongoing musical conversation – one where the next song could go anywhere, but it is absolutely going to sound good getting there.