The Whigs @ The Ottobar, 9/8/08

(photo courtesy of The Whigs's MySpace)

Last night, The Whigs blew the Ottobar up with rock music. They charred the inside of the venue and more than likely shook the foundation a little bit, as well. The band put on one of the most enjoyable shows I’ve been to in a while. No, they didn’t ask everyone to clap their hands. No, they didn’t ask anyone to sing along. They simply shared their music with the crowd, performing with every ounce, every molecule, of energy they had. The Whigs have no need to force anyone to listen. I’d like to think that their music is simply enough to engage the crowd – and that certainly seemed to be the case at the show.

The set was a mix of songs culled from their two LPs, 2005’s Give ‘Em All A Big Fat Lip and this year’s Mission Control. They started with the closing track off the new album, “Mission Control,” and managed to make it a strong opener. The set was well-balanced with quick-paced songs such as “Like A Vibration” and “Already Young” and the keys-driven numbers “Sleep Sunshine” and “Nothing Is Easy.” There were moments early on when the guitar was a bit low in the mix and wasn’t very clear, but that problem was fixed as the set rolled on.

By all accounts, no one at the show was really familiar with The Whigs. It is safe to say, however, that after their set, people wouldn’t soon forget their name. The way the three men of The Whigs moved around on stage was a testament to not only how much fun they were having, but also how in tune they were with one another. The music is terrific on record, but live it took on new meaning, new weight, and new life. Parker Gispert’s voice was strong and invigorating; his guitar playing fierce but focused. Tim Deaux effortlessly made his way around the stage, keeping things exciting on bass and nailing his guitar parts (especially the solo on “Half the World Away” which sounded monumental). And then there’s Julian Dorio, drummer extraordinaire. There are drummers who just play the beat, and then there are drummers who feel and live the beat. Julian is the latter. When I saw him attack his kit, head banging, hair flailing, performing the crescendo before the last chorus of “Right Hand On My Heart,” the emotion running through my body was comparable to the anticipatory feeling of excitement you get before seeing a loved one after a period of long separation or the feeling Michael Phelps must have felt when he approached the historic achievement of eight gold medals in one Olympics.

The Whigs aren’t trying to be a rock band. They are a rock band. Their set last night at the Ottobar proved that. Their music is genuine; full of heart, passion, and honesty. The sound has attitude. It’s not necessarily explicit, but it flexes its muscle every now and again. Musically it’s nothing groundbreaking, but it is certainly memorable. Unlike a number of their contemporaries, their music has the potential of lasting beyond the year it was released or their existence as a band. I’m a bit biased when you consider my love for their music, but I would have to type that Mission Control is one of the more overlooked records that has been released this year. Give it a chance. If The Whigs on record doesn’t have you sold, see them live. It’s not something you want to miss.

Here’s hoping they put out a live album at some point…and dare I hope…a DVD.