The Whigs

The Whigs are one of those bands that have just kind of been hanging around the collective consciousness for some time now. They found themselves the focus of a lot of buzz when they were named a band to watch by Rolling Stone in 2006, but they've never really managed to parlay that potential into real success. Their live show is indicative of this juxtaposition; a combination of garage rock and psychedelic exploration, their set bore witness to the struggle of talented musicians hindered by mediocre songwriting. The Whigs' recorded material does a poor job of capturing their raw power - this trio really can shred when they let it all hang out. "Kill Me Carolyne" was a memorable highlight in concert, but on record it falls flat - a middling rock song. At their best, The Whigs recalled The Black Keys or The White Stripes. At weaker points, though, they resembled a watered down version of those bands - perhaps a telling sign.