The Whigs played the HiTone in Memphis, TN on August 8th, 2006 and our correspondent, Brent, was lucky enough to attend the show and write a review. Here’s his review:
-amit
The Whigs made their second foray into Memphis this past Wednesday night (08/02) at midtown Memphis’ HiTone Café. Recently signed to ATO Records, home to such artists as My Morning Jacket, Ben Kweller, and Gomez, The Whigs always seem to draw well in bassist Hank Sullivant’s hometown.
Having been heralded by the likes of Fader Magazine, Pop Matters, and Rolling Stone (“may well be the best unsigned band in America†extolled Rolling Stone, pre-ATO), Athens, GA darlings The Whigs have come into their own as a rock n’ roll tour-de-force. From the tight opening lines of “Like a Vibration†to the manic energy of “OK, Alright†and crowd favorite “Technology,†The Whigs seem like seasoned vets rather than 3 20-somethings that signed a major label deal two hours after their last collegiate exam.
Evoking some of the bands from the Elephant 6 collective, The Whigs have a certain pop sensibility that doesn’t threaten to overshadow their indie rock roots. Become the toast of a musically spoiled town like Athens doesn’t come easy though. Lead singer Parker Gispert and the boys played 2+ solid years of shows in the Athens/Atlanta area while building up a stellar live reputation and a significant fan base, many of whom knew every word, despite the lack of any recorded material. That all changed in the summer of 2005.
Independently-released “Give ‘Em All a Big Fat Lip,†the trio’s debut, was recorded on a yeoman’s budget in the Ross Crane house in Athens, GA by ex-UGA place kicker Billy Bennet. Many questioned if The Whigs could translate the energy of a live show onto record, but judging by the outcome of these sessions, no one will doubt The Whigs’ authenticity, and the resulting sound allows Gispert’s southern-tinted yowl to shine through while Sullivant and drummer Julian Dorio drive the bottom line. The rich sound seems almost unattainable for a three-piece.
ATO Records plans to re-release “Give ‘Em All a Big Fat Lip†on September 19, and the boys will continue to tour throughout the southeast and up the eastern seaboard until mid-November, before heading back into the studio. Until then, Gispert recently purchased new software for his laptop that will allow him to lay down some tracks on the road. There’s no doubt these new offerings will be as dynamic as the more established tracks by the trio, while The Whigs win fans over the old fashioned way- with a kick-ass rock n’ roll show.
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hank the dank hank the dank
August 18th, 2006 21:42