By
Micah Mclain
During a break from their increasingly regular opening slot
for Kings of Leon, The Whigs stopped by The Hummingbird in Macon for the type of
intimate performance that is quickly becoming a rarity for the Athens' band.
They brought the uniquely named Vulture Whale along to open the show. The
Birmingham, Ala.-based group did an impressive job at quickly engaging the
audience, especially considering the fact that most of the attendees had never
heard of the band before their opening song. Vulture Whale delivered a catchy
blend of southern indie rock and pop in an infectious, entertaining, and quite
often humorous live show. While performing tracks from their two LPs, both of
which are self-titled, the four-piece took full advantage of the opportunity by
admirably preparing the crowd for The Whigs and undoubtedly gaining numerous new
fans in the process.
The Whigs took the small stage to the Atlanta
Brave's "Tomahawk Chop" in front of a frenzied crowd and immediately began
tearing through tracks from their entire catalog. Although tracks from their
most recent, and successful, release Mission Control received the most
enthusiastic response, The Whigs put together an excellent setlist that
satisfied both old and new fans. The band, keyed by the always awe-inspiring and
powerful drum work of Julian Dorio, delivered the type of high-intensity rock
show that The Whigs has come to be known for. The intense drumming of Dorio is
complemented by the passionate guitar work and somewhat twangy vocal delivery of
lead singer Parker Gispert and the comparatively more subdued bass lines of Tim
Deaux.
Gispert's unique way of playing his guitar with the strap length
more accustomed to that of a banjo is always fun to watch. He made sure the
crowd was actively involved in the show by leaning out into the front rows while
playing on several different occasions. The band kept the between-song banter to
a bare minimum, instead choosing to focus on maintaining the set's energy at an
almost explosive level for the duration of the show. The Whigs shows always seem
to leave the crowd exhausted yet begging for more and this night was no
exception. Although small shows will most likely remain a rare treat for this
growing band, they will definitely continue to increase in intensity as The
Whigs works on their ability to translate their now famous stage energy to
larger and larger crowds.
