The Whigs
Encyclopedia
The Whigs are an American garage rock
band from Athens
, Georgia
, consisting of lead singer and guitarist Parker Gispert
, drummer Julian Dorio
and bassist Timothy Deaux
.
, The Black Keys
, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
, Drive By Truckers, Hold Steady, Band of Skulls
, Dead Confederate
, Wax Fang, and 22-20s
. They have become Late Night television regulars, having appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
, The Late Show With David Letterman twice, Late Night With Conan O'Brien
, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
, and Jimmy Kimmel Live
.
, Julian Dorio
, and original bass player Hank Sullivant
. Gispert and Dorio both attended The Westminster Schools
in Atlanta together, but didn't start playing together until they were both at the University of Georgia
in Athens. After 6 months of playing and writing together, the pair hooked up with Sullivant who they met through mutual friends.
The trio played their first gig together at the DT's Down Under Club in Athens in May 2002 and started setting up gigs in New York once a month. Soon the band were sharing stages with bands such as Franz Ferdinand
, Drive By Truckers and The Killers. Following a negative experience during a "development deal" with major label RCA Records
in 2004, the Whigs opted to record and release their first album independently.
at Ross Crane House, a fraternity house in downtown Athens with engineer Billy Bennett. They used equipment purchased on eBay
, which they resold after recording was finished to help offset the cost of production. The album was released independently in December 2005 and in April 2006 saw the band described by Rolling Stone Magazine as "perhaps the best unsigned band in America." Following this media exposure, in July 2006, The Whigs were signed to ATO Records
by Jonathan Eshak who had earlier seen the band play at the Pianos venue on Ludlow Street in New York, and Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip was re-released on September 19, 2006.
The band appeared at Summerfest
and Voodoo Experience
following the re-release of Fat Lip.
Founding member Hank Sullivant left the band in late 2006 to tour with MGMT
and later pursue his solo project Kuroma. Both parties remain on good terms as Kuroma supported the band at a show in Athens in 2010 and Sullivant stepped in to play at a show in Memphis.
was recorded at Hollywood's Sunset Sound/Sound Factory during the summer of 2007 with producer Rob Schnapf
with temporary bassist Adam Suanders from local Athens band The Pendletons. In between the recording of the album and it's release on January 22, 2008, the band recruited Timothy Deaux
. Following the album's release, the band toured the US with Kings of Leon, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Tokyo Police Club, Band of Skulls, Wax Fang, Tulsa, Dead Confederate, Jason Isbell
, and the Dead Trees. They also appeared at several festivals including Sasquatch!, Bumbershoot and SXSW.
The summer of 2008 marked the band's first European tour, where they performed at Belgium's Rock Werchter Festival, England's 02 Wireless Festival, Scotland's T in the Park Festival and Ireland's Oxygen Festival. The tour also included a performance with Kings of Leon and MGMT at Le Zenith in Paris, France along with stops in Germany and Italy.
Towards the end of 2008 the band toured with Toadies
, Tokyo Police Club
, The Kooks
and Kings of Leon
, and ended the year with a New Year's Eve gig in their home state of Georgia with Band of Horses
.
In The Dark was released March 16, 2010 in the US by ATO Records. It was recorded primarily at Chase Park Transduction in Athens in Summer 2009 by longtime friend and Athens native Ben H. Allen (Animal Collective, Gnarls Barkley). "Someone's Daughter" and "So Lonely" were re-recorded in the fall of 2009 with producer Jay Joyce. First single "Kill Me Carolyne" and "Automatic" were written and recorded a few days later with Kings Of Leon producer Angelo Petraglia. Both additional sessions took place in Nashville, TN.
The band made their second appearance on the Late Show With David Letterman performing "Kill Me Carolyne" and also appeared on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon where they performed "Hundred / Million".
Upon the release of "In The Dark", the band toured the US alongside Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Band of Skulls and The Hold Steady and at festivals including Mountain Jam in Woodstock and Outside Lands Festival. The band also undertook several large scale tours with Kings Of Leon in the US and the UK/Europe, including a sold out show in June at London's Hyde Park
, with an estimated 65,000 attendance.
In May 2010, the band embarked on a U.S.O
tour, performing at military bases in Germany and the UK for soldiers and their families in an attempt to boost morale. The decision to undertake the tour was influenced by the fact the Deaux's father was in the airforce, and therefore lived in numerous countries around the world where his father was stationed.
In June, the Whigs toured England with We Are Scientists and returned in February 2011 to co-headline a tour with Dead Confederate along with some dates in mainland Europe, with whom they share the same label in the UK and Europe, Kartel.
As of July 2011, the Whigs are touring the United States and are also working on writing a new album.
It was announced in October 2007 that the band had finished their second album, entitled "Mission Control," which was released on January 22, 2008. The band appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman on January 28, in support of the album. They also appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
on February 20, 2008 to promote the album.
The song "Need You Need You", from Mission Control
is featured in the video game Pure
.
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
band from Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, consisting of lead singer and guitarist Parker Gispert
Parker Gispert
Parker Gispert is the lead singer of The Whigs. He is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, a 2001 graduate of The Westminster Schools, and a 2006 graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Philosophy... After graduating college and self producing and releasing "Give 'Em All A Big Fat Lip,"...
, drummer Julian Dorio
Julian Dorio
-Biography:Julian started drumming at the age of 6, as an original member of the Flying Dorios. The band included his father and his older brother, Michael Dorio of Trances Arc. A high school graduate of The Westminster Schools in Atlanta and a college graduate of the University of Georgia, Dorio...
and bassist Timothy Deaux
Timothy Deaux
Timothy Deaux is the bassist for the American Rock band The Whigs. The son of an Airforce pilot, he was born in Mississippi, but spent his childhood traveling the world. After graduating from the University of Florida, he moved to Athens, Georgia in 2007, where he began touring full-time with...
.
Biography
Formed in Athens, Georgia in 2002, The Whigs have released three studio albums and have toured the world with acts such as Kings of LeonKings of Leon
Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated in Albion, Oklahoma but formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 1999. The band is composed of brothers Anthony Caleb Followill , Ivan Nathan Followill and Michael Jared Followill Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated in Albion,...
, The Black Keys
The Black Keys
The Black Keys are an American rock duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney. The band was formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. As of October 2011, the band has sold over 2 million albums in the U.S....
, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, now based in Los Angeles. BRMC is known for their garage rock, blues, folk revival, neo-psychedelia sound. They are influenced by bands such as: The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Verve, The Rolling Stones, Oasis, T...
, Drive By Truckers, Hold Steady, Band of Skulls
Band of Skulls
Band of Skulls is an alternative rock band from Southampton, England, consisting of Russell Marsden , Emma Richardson , and Matt Hayward...
, Dead Confederate
Dead Confederate
Dead Confederate is an American alternative rock band formed in Augusta, Georgia and based in Athens, Georgia.The band's sound has been described as a mix of alternative country and grunge and has drawn comparisons to Nirvana and My Morning Jacket.-History:...
, Wax Fang, and 22-20s
22-20s
22-20s are an English rock band formed in Sleaford, Lincolnshire. The band originally disbanded in December 2005 but reformed in 2008 and released Shake/Shiver/Moan in 2010....
. They have become Late Night television regulars, having appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that initially aired from May 25, 1992 to May 29, 2009, and resumed production on March 1, 2010. The fourth incarnation of the Tonight Show franchise made its debut on May 25, 1992, three days following Johnny...
, The Late Show With David Letterman twice, Late Night With Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....
, and Jimmy Kimmel Live
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Jimmy Kimmel Live! is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and broadcast on ABC.The nightly hour-long show made its debut on January 26, 2003, following Super Bowl XXXVII. Jimmy Kimmel Live! is produced by Jackhole Productions in association with ABC Studios...
.
Early days (2002-2004)
The band was formed in 2002 by Parker GispertParker Gispert
Parker Gispert is the lead singer of The Whigs. He is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, a 2001 graduate of The Westminster Schools, and a 2006 graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Philosophy... After graduating college and self producing and releasing "Give 'Em All A Big Fat Lip,"...
, Julian Dorio
Julian Dorio
-Biography:Julian started drumming at the age of 6, as an original member of the Flying Dorios. The band included his father and his older brother, Michael Dorio of Trances Arc. A high school graduate of The Westminster Schools in Atlanta and a college graduate of the University of Georgia, Dorio...
, and original bass player Hank Sullivant
Hank Sullivant
Hank Sullivant is an American rock musician and producer who is known for his early work with Athens-based pop rock band The Whigs, his stint as touring guitarist for MGMT, and currently as leader of the rock band Kuroma....
. Gispert and Dorio both attended The Westminster Schools
The Westminster Schools
The Westminster Schools is a private school in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1951 and tracing its origins to 1878, Westminster has the largest endowment of any non-boarding school in the United States...
in Atlanta together, but didn't start playing together until they were both at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in Athens. After 6 months of playing and writing together, the pair hooked up with Sullivant who they met through mutual friends.
The trio played their first gig together at the DT's Down Under Club in Athens in May 2002 and started setting up gigs in New York once a month. Soon the band were sharing stages with bands such as Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand (band)
Franz Ferdinand are a Scottish post-punk revival band formed in Glasgow in 2002. The band is composed of Alex Kapranos , Bob Hardy , Nick McCarthy , and Paul Thomson .The band first experienced chart success when their second single, "Take Me Out", reached #3 in...
, Drive By Truckers and The Killers. Following a negative experience during a "development deal" with major label RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
in 2004, the Whigs opted to record and release their first album independently.
Give Em All a Big Fat Lip (2005-2006)
In July 2005, the band recorded their first album, Give 'Em All a Big Fat LipGive 'Em All a Big Fat Lip
Give 'Em All A Big Fat Lip is the debut album from The Whigs. It was originally released independently, and was re-released by ATO Records after they signed the group.-Track listing:#"Nothing is Easy" – 4:02#"Can't Hear You Coming" – 2:13...
at Ross Crane House, a fraternity house in downtown Athens with engineer Billy Bennett. They used equipment purchased on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
, which they resold after recording was finished to help offset the cost of production. The album was released independently in December 2005 and in April 2006 saw the band described by Rolling Stone Magazine as "perhaps the best unsigned band in America." Following this media exposure, in July 2006, The Whigs were signed to ATO Records
ATO Records
According to Our Records was founded in early 2000 by Dave Matthews , Coran Capshaw, Chris Tetzeli, and Michael McDonald as a division of RCA Records...
by Jonathan Eshak who had earlier seen the band play at the Pianos venue on Ludlow Street in New York, and Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip was re-released on September 19, 2006.
The band appeared at Summerfest
Summerfest
Summerfest is a yearly music festival held at the Henry Maier Festival Park along the lakefront in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. The festival lasts for 11 days, is made up of 11 stages with performances from over 700 bands, and since the mid-1970s has run from late June through early July, usually...
and Voodoo Experience
Voodoo Experience
Voodoo Experience, also commonly referred to as Voodoo or Voodoo Fest, is a multi-day music and arts festival held in City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana. It was first held on Halloween weekend in 1999. It has since moved between the weekend before Halloween and Halloween weekend throughout the years...
following the re-release of Fat Lip.
Founding member Hank Sullivant left the band in late 2006 to tour with MGMT
MGMT
MGMT is an American alternative rock band founded by Benjamin Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden. After the release of their first album, the members of their live band, Matthew Asti, James Richardson and Will Berman, joined the core band in the studio...
and later pursue his solo project Kuroma. Both parties remain on good terms as Kuroma supported the band at a show in Athens in 2010 and Sullivant stepped in to play at a show in Memphis.
Mission Control (2007-2008)
The band's second album Mission ControlMission Control (album)
Mission Control is the second full-length album by Athens, Georgia-based garage rock band The Whigs. It was released on January 22, 2008 by ATO Records, on CD and vinyl simultaneously.-Track listing:#"Like a Vibration" – 2:36#"Production City" – 3:01...
was recorded at Hollywood's Sunset Sound/Sound Factory during the summer of 2007 with producer Rob Schnapf
Rob Schnapf
Rob Schnapf is an American record producer and musician. He was the co-producer of Elliott Smith's albums Either/Or, XO , Figure 8 and From a Basement on the Hill, for which he was recruited by Smith's family to complete after Smith's death.Schnapf, along with Rothrock and partner...
with temporary bassist Adam Suanders from local Athens band The Pendletons. In between the recording of the album and it's release on January 22, 2008, the band recruited Timothy Deaux
Timothy Deaux
Timothy Deaux is the bassist for the American Rock band The Whigs. The son of an Airforce pilot, he was born in Mississippi, but spent his childhood traveling the world. After graduating from the University of Florida, he moved to Athens, Georgia in 2007, where he began touring full-time with...
. Following the album's release, the band toured the US with Kings of Leon, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Tokyo Police Club, Band of Skulls, Wax Fang, Tulsa, Dead Confederate, Jason Isbell
Jason Isbell
Jason Isbell is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Greenhill, Alabama, near Muscle Shoals.-Background:Almost all of Isbell's family, except his parents, were musicians, and his father was an avid music listener...
, and the Dead Trees. They also appeared at several festivals including Sasquatch!, Bumbershoot and SXSW.
The summer of 2008 marked the band's first European tour, where they performed at Belgium's Rock Werchter Festival, England's 02 Wireless Festival, Scotland's T in the Park Festival and Ireland's Oxygen Festival. The tour also included a performance with Kings of Leon and MGMT at Le Zenith in Paris, France along with stops in Germany and Italy.
Towards the end of 2008 the band toured with Toadies
Toadies
Toadies are an alternative rock band from Fort Worth, Texas, best known for the song "Possum Kingdom." The band's classic lineup consisted of Todd Lewis on vocals/guitar, Mark Reznicek on drums, Lisa Umbarger on bass, and Darrel Herbert on guitar. It formed in 1989 and disbanded in 2001 after...
, Tokyo Police Club
Tokyo Police Club
Tokyo Police Club is an indie rock band from Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. It consists of vocalist and bassist David Monks , keyboardist Graham Wright, guitarist Josh Hook , and drummer Greg Alsop ....
, The Kooks
The Kooks
The Kooks are an English indie rock band formed in Brighton, East Sussex, in 2001. Formed by Luke Pritchard , Hugh Harris , Paul Garred , and Max Rafferty , the lineup of the band remained constant until 2008 and the departure of Rafferty...
and Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated in Albion, Oklahoma but formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 1999. The band is composed of brothers Anthony Caleb Followill , Ivan Nathan Followill and Michael Jared Followill Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated in Albion,...
, and ended the year with a New Year's Eve gig in their home state of Georgia with Band of Horses
Band of Horses
Band of Horses, originally briefly known as Horses, are an American rock band formed in 2004 in Seattle by Ben Bridwell. They have released three studio albums, the most recent and most successful of which is 2010's Grammy nominated Infinite Arms...
.
In the Dark (2009-2011)
The band spent 2009 writing new songs for their next album whilst continuing to tour with Kings of Leon and undertaking several headline tours with support from bands such as Dead Confederate, The Features and Trances Arc, featuring Dorio's brother.In The Dark was released March 16, 2010 in the US by ATO Records. It was recorded primarily at Chase Park Transduction in Athens in Summer 2009 by longtime friend and Athens native Ben H. Allen (Animal Collective, Gnarls Barkley). "Someone's Daughter" and "So Lonely" were re-recorded in the fall of 2009 with producer Jay Joyce. First single "Kill Me Carolyne" and "Automatic" were written and recorded a few days later with Kings Of Leon producer Angelo Petraglia. Both additional sessions took place in Nashville, TN.
The band made their second appearance on the Late Show With David Letterman performing "Kill Me Carolyne" and also appeared on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon where they performed "Hundred / Million".
Upon the release of "In The Dark", the band toured the US alongside Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Band of Skulls and The Hold Steady and at festivals including Mountain Jam in Woodstock and Outside Lands Festival. The band also undertook several large scale tours with Kings Of Leon in the US and the UK/Europe, including a sold out show in June at London's Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
, with an estimated 65,000 attendance.
In May 2010, the band embarked on a U.S.O
United Service Organizations
The United Service Organizations Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization that provides morale and recreational services to members of the U.S. military, with programs in 160 centers worldwide. Since 1941, it has worked in partnership with the Department of Defense , and has provided support and...
tour, performing at military bases in Germany and the UK for soldiers and their families in an attempt to boost morale. The decision to undertake the tour was influenced by the fact the Deaux's father was in the airforce, and therefore lived in numerous countries around the world where his father was stationed.
In June, the Whigs toured England with We Are Scientists and returned in February 2011 to co-headline a tour with Dead Confederate along with some dates in mainland Europe, with whom they share the same label in the UK and Europe, Kartel.
As of July 2011, the Whigs are touring the United States and are also working on writing a new album.
Awards and accomplishments
In March 2006 Rolling Stone Magazine named the Whigs one of their 10 Artists to Watch. In September 2006, The Whigs were named "Artist of the Day" by Spin.com. Dorio was awarded an Esky award in March 2007 as "Best Drummer" by Esquire magazine.It was announced in October 2007 that the band had finished their second album, entitled "Mission Control," which was released on January 22, 2008. The band appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman on January 28, in support of the album. They also appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
on February 20, 2008 to promote the album.
The song "Need You Need You", from Mission Control
Mission Control (album)
Mission Control is the second full-length album by Athens, Georgia-based garage rock band The Whigs. It was released on January 22, 2008 by ATO Records, on CD and vinyl simultaneously.-Track listing:#"Like a Vibration" – 2:36#"Production City" – 3:01...
is featured in the video game Pure
Pure (video game)
Pure is an off-road, quad-bike trick-racing video game for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Windows published by Disney Interactive Studios and developed by Black Rock Studio...
.
Studio albums
- Give 'Em All a Big Fat LipGive 'Em All a Big Fat LipGive 'Em All A Big Fat Lip is the debut album from The Whigs. It was originally released independently, and was re-released by ATO Records after they signed the group.-Track listing:#"Nothing is Easy" – 4:02#"Can't Hear You Coming" – 2:13...
(2005) - Mission ControlMission Control (album)Mission Control is the second full-length album by Athens, Georgia-based garage rock band The Whigs. It was released on January 22, 2008 by ATO Records, on CD and vinyl simultaneously.-Track listing:#"Like a Vibration" – 2:36#"Production City" – 3:01...
(2008) - In the DarkIn the Dark (Whigs album)In the Dark is the third album from The Whigs. The album was released on March 16, 2010. Recording took place in band's hometown of Athens, Georgia. The band worked extensively with producer Ben Allen, notable for his production work on Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion, one of the...
(2010)
Singles
- "Like a Vibration" b/w "That's A Lot To Live Up To" (demo) (7", 2008)
- "Right Hand on My Heart" (2008) #40 Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks