song performed: “Right Hand on My Heart” from the album Mission Control
conan’s reaction: “that was great, thank you so much *shakes parker hand* that was great! thanks for doing it *shakes tim hand* killer drumming that was great. the whigs everybody. alright we’ll take a break, we’ll be right back, stick around.”

Hailing from the same hometown as R.E.M., The Whigs possess that Georgian energy and enthusiasm for song that has produced so much brilliance. One thing I dug that I heard about these guys is that they recorded their previous album Give ‘Em All a Big Fat Lip in an emptied fraternity house. That is nothing special, but check out the environment.

Here’s the cool control room used in the recording - tell me on a hot summer night that amazing things would not come out of a recording place like this.

Tonight’s song starts with a fierce drum and guitar. Parker on guitar stands lean and tall in jeans and black tee with straight bangs over his face. His voice sounds totally awkward like he sings through his nose and back throat only, but it works. drummer julian has the type of taylor hawkin hair that millions of drummers probably wish he had - each effort flows from arms to tip of drumstick and hair alike. He is an exactist. During the chorus we great a wonderful presence from bassist tim who backs up two feet and belts out out of tune tones that ring of nothing but energy and enthusiasm.

There is a lot of control in tonight’s song which I was very happy to see. I don’t know the Whigs very well, but there is a great sound here for a trio.

The amazing part is that after hitting the chorus a 2nd time the song could have stopped. instead bass and guitar take over. tim and parker look like brothers fighting back and forth with tim’s sideburns being the only distinguishing feature. it is a brilliant rebuild to the song with killer rock poses. then the song bursts and smoothes out. with a few dashes of distortion and calm lyrics, the song is complete like a perfect lava cake.

playing:
3.4 waiting room - omaha
3.22 paradise rock club - boston