Between the low lighting, comfortable chairs and scrumptious bar food, it's easy enough to mistake the Mucky Duck for someone's actual den. The only thing that gives it away is the soundboard console, big and intimidating enough to resemble something out of a '60s or '70s sci-fi film. Other details help enhance the room's cozy ambience — like the plush curtains ringing the stage that turn the sound into the equivalent of a warm blanket around your shoulders, or the soft glow emitted by the individual lamps on each table — but nothing feels extraneous. Everything at Houston's premiere listening room is designed around strengthening the bond between artist and listener, creating a hermetic environment for performers who excel when fans hang on their every word.