It’s Not Easy Being Green

{Originally published on UR Chicago Magazine Online}

GREEN APPLE FESTIVAL CELEBRATES EARTH DAY

In the clear Spring sky, the sun shone brightly on the majestic lion. As he stretched and sunned himself on the perfectly placed boulder, lazily glancing at his surroundings, I found myself wondering if this king had any awareness of what had become of his kingdom. I’m often conflicted at zoos. On the one hand is the feeling of pity for the displaced animals relegated to their makeshift habitats, and mild indignation at humanity for creating such a façade. On the other is the knowledge that this lion could instead be starving to death in its natural setting, or facing death at the hands of a poacher, so perhaps the zoo may very well be the ideal kingdom after all.

Winning Formula

{Originally published in UR Chicago Magazine, July 2008}

The Whigs Will Get You Wasted On Their Southern Indie Sound

press photo

Like the classic cocktail you always order when not sure what else to drink, the chemistry of rock ‘n’ roll is a simple concoction: equal parts guitars, drums, bass and vocals. Sure, you can add a splash of this or that and end up with some newfangled martini, but nobody likes a hangover. More often than not, stick with the basics to have the most fun. Following that formula, southern garage-rockers, The Whigs, offer intoxication without the hangover.

The first major-label release from the Athens, Georgia-based trio, Mission Control (ATO Records), dropped in January to much critical acclaim. Geography isn’t the only reason they’ve drawn favorable comparisons to labelmates My Morning Jacket and hometown neighbors Drive-By Truckers: The resonant guitar twangs and drum thumps of instant classic “Right Hand On My Heart” certainly justify the tag “Southern.” Meanwhile, singer/guitarist Parker Gispert’s strident growl recalls ’80s indie rock and ’90s Seattle grunge, , as a track like “Production City” brings The Replacements to mind. Bassist, Tim Deaux, does his best to keep each track simultaneously crisp and raw, and the Keith Moon-meets-Animal drumming of Julian Dorio begs to be set loose onstage.

While the album displays the band’s classic rock talent, it’s the live show that Dorio says they thrive on. “For us, the live stage is everything we focus on when we’re putting songs together. There’s nothing more revealing than the stage.” With Lollapalooza as one of the last stops on a world tour, The Whigs are sure to serve up an inebriating rock ‘n’ roll libation.

-JASON HORINE