Check out The Whigs new music video for "Staying Alive" off their current album Enjoy the Company.The trio portray an underappreciated wait staff with director Scott Carney serving as their boss. The Athens band is currently on the road promoting Company, and their next show is on their home stage at 40 Watt the end of this month. Get tickets to the April 27 gig here.
April 16, 2013
October 08, 2010
March 31, 2010
The Whigs play Letterman
Wednesday, March 31 The Whigs return to The Late Show with David Letterman stage for the second time in their career to promote their new album, In The Dark. Tonight also marks the first night of their new tour. Although it doesn't look like the Athens trio will play Atlanta, they are scheduled to play Athens' 40 Watt with Band of Skulls on Thursday, April 8- get tickets! Read Mixtape Atlanta's interview with The Whigs' bassist Tim Deux here.
SXSW 2010: Saturday, March 20
As SXSW came to a close on Saturday, the best showcase was saved until last with the 3rd Annual 40 Watt Party. Converting every available space at Side Bar into a performance area, 40 Watt managed three stages all with dynamic lineups that ran smoothly and on time. Although the weather was blustery and cold, many braved it and little seemed to care as the crowd imbibed in drinks and dancing.
Spring Tigers were the first to perform on the only indoor stage, while Lera Lynn took to the partially covered outdoor stage and Modern Skirts kicked off the main stage. Performing first is never an easy task, but Skirts’ show came off effortless and polished despite the freezing temperature. The Athens quartet played several new songs off their upcoming third album, increasing enthusiasm and buzz for its release. J Roddy Walston and The Business continued their SXSW string of performances with another exciting, high-energy spectacle.The Whigs, who have been on a non-stop promotion whirlwind for their new album In the Dark, reveled in playing on their hometown stage. Although The Whigs are known for their invigorating performances, the band held nothing back as they packed their set with back-to-back hits including “Kill Me Carolyne” and “Like A Vibration.”
While The Whigs began their set, Ponderosa finished up on the outdoor Jerry Fuchs Stage. The Athens/ Atlanta rockers played a solid set full of original hits infused with classic southern rock appeal and their signature swagger. After the official 40 Watt party wrapped up, many returned to Side Bar for a late night dance party to let loose and celebrate the end of an amazing festival. DJ sets by Black Dominoes and Washed Out kept the crowd dancing until the early morning. Check out all the 40 Watt Party photos here!
Kim Burdges
December 03, 2009
The Whigs are Still in Control
The Whigs have been a staple in the Athens music scene for years and a favorite at local Atlanta venues. This spring the trio is preparing to release In the Dark, the much-anticipated follow-up to 2008’s Mission Control. Although it has been over a year since their last album release, these guys do not sit still. They have been on a nonstop tour for the past few years playing alongside acts such as Kings of Leon and Band of Horses. This Friday they return to Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse for a must see show featuring old and new hits. Mixtape Atlanta recently chatted with the band’s bass player, Tim Deaux, about The Whigs’ recent highlights, rivalries, and fan John McEnroe.
There is a little bit of friendly poking here and there, but my team tends to win the majority of the time so I try not to rub it in their faces. On game days I’ll sometimes wear a Gator t-shirt and they’ll wear their Bulldog attire; we give each other a hard time.
Not only do The Whigs seem to have been on the road constantly touring the past several years, but you have been sharing the stage with some big acts. How was it touring with Kings of Leon?Those guys have really treated us to a great 2009; the majority of our touring has been with them. I’ve been a fan of their band for a long time and I can’t believe our paths crossed. We met them after a gig the summer before last and we just hit it off. They told us that night that they would love to have us on some bills, but it was at an after party and none of us really believed them. After the first tour we did with them, we didn’t expect the second tour too. We’ve become pretty close with those guys and they’ve had an unbelievable year. To be able to be along for all that fun has been amazing, and playing in front of huge crowds and at large Canadian hockey arenas and Madison Square Garden; those are experiences that will not soon be forgotten.Hopefully this doesn’t sound too much like a James Lipton question, but how was the Madison Garden experience?It was wild. When we saw that on the itinerary for the last date of the tour, we didn’t think it would happen. Since we’ve played there, I’ve seen so many images of it and I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that we got to play in that room and that is how I felt the whole time. Walking down the hallway there was surreal and breathtaking with all its history, nostalgia, and aura; it just seemed to keep going. It was incrediable and we owe a lot to Kings of Leon, and they probably don’t even realize what a treat it was for us. I even met John McEnroe.Did he yell at you? Haha. He was actually extremely friendly. Of course he was there for Kings of Leon, but he told me he caught the last few minutes of our set and he said he enjoyed us. It was awesome.Tell me about the new album In The Dark. I’ve heard the title track, and I can’t get it out of my head; it’s great. After we did another tour in March, we came home and focused on material to be recorded. “In the Dark” was actually one of the last songs we wrote before the studio. Julian and I started on it, because we were working on drum and bass demos and then we gave the demos to Parker. I think it freed Parker up some, because he could immediately start on vocal ideas. He didn’t get distracted working on chord progessions and charting out the guitar first, instead he added guitar last and that was the majority of the way it went. “In The Dark” was one of those drumming jams that we then added vocal and melody to. It was one of the last songs we got in the studio and turned out to be one of our favs.How was it working with producer Ben Allen on the new album? Ben is an old friend and we have known him for a long time. We were throwing names around as to who might produce the new album, and Ben’s name came up between us, because we loved what he did with Gnarls Barkley and Animal Collective, but we never made a phone call. Instead we got a phone call from the label suggesting him. It was a pleasant surprise since we hadn’t communicated it to anyone, and we gave him a call. It was very natural to work with him, especially since he was familiar with us, all our albums, and live shows.What has the reception been to performing the new songs on your current tour? We try to play four or five new ones a night, but it varies night to night. We don’t want to just play new songs, because people bought tickets to see us play and want to hear material they are already familiar with.Do you have anything special planned for your Variety show on December 4? There is no telling. That show will more or less be a homecoming show for us, although we all live in Athens. We might stretch the set out longer than usual, because there will be friends, family and fans that have been with us for a long time. We might have a few more old and new songs. It will be a good mixture of things people know and don’t, but hopefully everyone will know the new ones March 2, 2010 [In The Dark’s release date].If you had to pick one song to be on your ultimate mixtape, what would it be? I’m kind of the guy that goes crazy and head over heels for a song and then wears it out and moves onto the next. Lately I’ve been really into Kris Kristofferson, his “From the Bottom to the Bottle” is currently my favorite song. If I made a mixtape this afternoon, it would be on there. Don’t miss The Whigs show at Variety Playhouse on December 4. Email [email protected] for a chance to win a pair of tickets.Kim BurdgesOctober 20, 2009
Whig Out
Atlanta’s The Whigs are some of the hardest working rockers in town and the country. Even with non-stop touring along such acts as Kings of Leon and Drive By Truckers, The Whigs found time to record a new album. In The Dark will drop early 2010, but we have the title track for you now! The catching atmospheric rock song will have you singing along to the chorus after just one listen. The band will also play more songs off the highly anticipated In the Dark at Variety Playhouse on December 4. Get tickets!
