The Whigs Remind Me to Rock | 2008 Tour Dates and New Album

Nice. It’s about time we get some new music from the Whigs.

I recently got the latest copy of Paste Magazine along with their complimentary CD sampler. I failed to notice it at first but later discovered that the disc included a new track by the Whigs. Discovering this not only got me stoked to immediately give it a listen, but it also made me realize the band’s finally got a new album on the way. And it’s about time.

Although I never got sick of their debut, Give ‘Em All a Big Fat Lip, it was released way back in 2005. They’ve been touring pretty heavily since then, and when I caught their live show in spring of 2007, they were still playing those same tunes. They still rocked, but I kept thinking they really needed some fresh material.

Well, here it is. The Whigs are dropping their new album, Mission Control, this Tuesday (1/22) and throwing release parties this Friday (1/25) in Atlanta and Saturday (1/26) in their hometown of Athens, GA. They’re also slated to play Letterman (1/28), and they’ve lined up a nice U.S. tour for the early months of 2008. Like I said, nice.

Listen:

The Whigs – Right Hand on My Heart [mp3]

(you can also check out a few more new tracks on their MySpace page)

The Whigs have been compared to the Strokes, and they may have taken some inspiration from ATO label-mates, My Morning Jacket. But these comparisons may only be somewhat accurate, as their sound is grittier than MMJ and doesn’t have quite the pop-punk swagger of the Strokes. I really dig Parker Gispert’s distinct vocal growl, and their live set is pure energy. They write songs that tend to get stuck in my head — but in a good way. The vocals are raw, the hooks are solid, and they leave just the right amount of musical space for the songs to breathe.

Overall, the Whigs remind me that even in this day of complex, indie chamber-pop and drawn-out electro jamming, there’s still room for good ole’ three-chord guitar rock.

The Whigs 2008 Tour Dates:

01-25-08: Atlanta, GA. @ CD RELEASE SHOW @ The Earl w/ Wax Fang and the Sammies
01-26-08: Athens, GA. @ CD RELEASE SHOW @ The 40 Watt
01-28-08: New York, NY. @ Late Show with Dave Letterman
01-30-08: Chapel Hill, NC. @ Local 506 w/ the Sammies and Bull City
01-31-08: Baltimore, MD. @ 8 x 10 w/ Spinto Band and Plants and Animals
02-01-08: Brooklyn, NY. @ Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ Spinto Band and Plants and Animals
02-02-08: Philadelphia, PA. @ Johnny Brenda’s opening for Spinto Band w/ Plants and Animals
02-04-08: Buffalo, NY. @ The Mohawk (between Handsome Jack and Johnny Nobody)
02-05-08: Toronto, ON. @ The Horseshoe (small room)
02-06-08: Pontiac, MI. @ The Crofoot (small room)
02-07-08: Cincinnati, OH. @ Madhatter
02-08-08: Cleveland, OH. @ The Grog Shop
02-09-08: Chicago, IL @ Schubas
02-12-08: Minneapolis, MN. @ The Varsity w/ Wild Sweet Orange
02-13-08: Madison, WI. @ Majestic w/ Wild Sweet Orange and Midwest Beat
02-14-08: St. Louis, MO. @ Creepy Crawl w/ WAX FANG
02-15-08: Indianapolis, IN. @ Birdy’s w/ WAX FANG
02-16-08: Milwaukee, WI. @ Rave Bar w/ WAX FANG
02-22-08: Fayetteville, AR. -Majestic
02-23-08: Nashville, TN. @ Mercy Lounge w/ Spinto Band
02-26-08: Asheville, NC. @ Grey Eagle w/ Spinto Band
02-27-08: Charlotte, NC. @ Visulite Theatre w/ Spinto Band
02-28-08: Charlottesville, VA. @ TBA w/ Spinto Band
03-01-08: Lexington, KY. @ The Dame w/ WAX FANG
03-04-08: Omaha, NE. @ Waiting Room w/ Spinto Band
03-06-08: Denver, CO. @ Larimer Lounge w/ Spinto Band
03-07-08: Colorado Springs, CO. @ TBA w/ Spinto Band
03-09-08: Albuquerque, NM. @ Launchpad w/ Spinto Band
03-11-08: San Antonio, TX. @ TBA w/ Spinto Band
03-13-08: Austin, TX. @ Austin Music Hall supporting My Morning Jacket / Yo La Tengo (SXSW 08)