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The Whigs
Athens, GA, is known for two things… the University of Georgia and, in the '80s, largely because it is a college town, as the home of a vibrant music scene led by R.E.M. and the B-52s.
UG is still there but the music scene waned until The Whigs arrival. The band formed while they were still college students. That resulted is some scheduling challenges. The group got booked to play a New York club gig and drove fourteen hours to make it. Then, right after the show, they drove back. "It's like a mission," said Gispert.
The Whigs soon became local favorites and that led Rolling Stone magazine to call them one of the "best unsigned bands" in America. Well, that level of recognition was not going to go unnoticed.
The Whigs self-produced/released "Give 'Em All A Big Fat Lip" before landing with ATO Records, a label co-founded and operated by Dave Matthews. "Mission Control" was the group's '08 release.
The Whigs are a Garage Rock Band. "Mission Control" opens with the irresistible "Like A Vibration." Coming next is the chucky yet danceable "Production City" followed by the killer guitar of "I Never Want To Go Home." Country touches (or at least a steel guitar) shows up on the effective ballad "Sleep Sunshine" while the other slow tune, "1000 Wives" has a dream-like quality without losing focus. The Whigs roll through a good natured romp, complete with "oh, oh, oh" backing vocals on "Hot Bed" then power-pop their way through "I Got Ideas."