These Guys Got It Right - Afghan Whigs From 120 Min

[Blanket Jackson]

1 part Stax soul + 1 part British hard rock + 1 cello + a tubful of anger
= a band that should have been much bigger than they were

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[A-Bone]

Definitely. From Congregation forward, I predicted each album would break them big. One of my favorite bands of the 90s.

[Hackubus]

Yup. I was watching some youtubes of them last night and thinking the very same thing. What a coinky-dink!

[Andy J.]

Amen. Gentlemen, Black Love and 1965 is such a great trilogy of albums. The second Twilight Singers album, Blackberry Belle, is right up there with those three in my book, though.

http://ohiochristmas.bandcamp.com/track/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-an-afghan-whigs-reunion

;)

[Andy J.]

...best gig I've ever seen was The Twilight Singers in Stockholm back in 2004; last song of the second encore, the band starts to play and Greg says "Imagine I was a 100 punds lighter, 20 years younger and kind of mocha-colored..." and dives into "Purple Rain", only to transform into "Faded" a verse later... Magic right then and there.

One of my biggest regrets in life is not taking the trip to Umeå in Sweden back in '99 when The Whigs played there (I lived right across the gulf!!!) due to "not having enough money to go". :bonk

[teleharmonium]

They're local, so everybody knows about them here. I remember when they were called the Black Republicans. I think I saw them for the first time in maybe '88. Their bassist John Curley is a great guy, he runs a studio here and is always playing in a band or two.

[tiktok]

'Black Republicans'--I'd never heard that, but sounds totally like something they'd have picked.

I saw the Whigs three or four times in their heyday. Each time was the same--first six songs were amazing, then a bunch of ill-advised meandering 'covers' of soul tunes and some of their tunes, then the last four or five tunes would be just crushing. The beginning and end made up for all the waffle in the middle.

[aaronblues]

First time i've seen that video! Shawn Smith at the beginning there, still rockin' with Stone Gossard in Brad these days.

I saw the Whigs twice, and they were great. Black Love was the one i listened to over and over, tho Gentleman really is the one and only choice if you're feeling hateful towards a loved one. I always thought they just were out at the wrong time. Could've been a lot bigger now, playing the big alt-festivals. They're a Coachella-kinda band to my ears! Time to reform!

cheers

[Lost_Cause]

Twilight Singers should have a new platter dropping early next year. Believe that it is in the can. Greg was a screamer. He got it right last TS tour though with Mark Lanegan on to take a little bit of the vocal load. See them at the beginning of a tour because later his voice seems to get a bit raw. Love these guys. Gentleman is a modern classic. I thought the 100 lb line was going somewhere else. Great songwriter. Cannot wait for the new TS album. Greg Dulli was the essence of cool at that time. Awesome clip.

[RocksOff]

Still one of my faves. It doesn't get much better. I'm also a big Twilight Singers fan.
Bonnie Brae and Candy Cane Crawl... genius.

[harmonicator]

They definitely had a unique thing going in the Ninties. Awesome songwriting on the black love album. That and Blackberry Belle are my 2 faves of Dulli.

[Lost_Cause]

My favorite thing about Greg is that rather than live in the past he is moving forward. I know his last tour was a "solo" tour with plenty of old songs but I think he is more doing it as a nod to the fans and the past rather than a way to get on the gravy train. If that was the route they would put the band back together in some way shape or form.

I remember seeing Greg on stage for the Backbeat band on the MTV awards 1994/95. He was smoking up a storm and just killing (I think Greg was John's voice) with Dave Pirner, Thurston Moore and that whole awesome group. Might have to look for that clip when I get home.

[A-Bone]

I remember seeing Greg on stage for the Backbeat band on the MTV awards 1994/95. He was smoking up a storm and just killing (I think Greg was John's voice) with Dave Pirner, Thurston Moore and that whole awesome group. Might have to look for that clip when I get home.

It was a once in a lifetime, supergroup performance. The composition of the Backbeat Band was Dave Pirner, Thurston Moore, Mike Mills, Don Fleming, and Greg Dulli. Didn't they launch in "Helter Skelter" after doing the earlier Beatles material from the movie?

[Andy J.]

Had totally forgotten about Backbeat, thanks for reminding me!

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...I've become old and prissy about gear, it seems; watching that Matchless fall made my stomach turn a bit...

[A-Bone]

Had totally forgotten about Backbeat, thanks for reminding me!

JAFBLqfKLng

...I've become old and prissy about gear, it seems; watching that Matchless fall made my stomach turn a bit...

Spoken like a true gear pager.

[Blanket Jackson]

watching that Matchless fall made my stomach turn a bit...
http://lgimages.s3.amazonaws.com/data/imagemanager/5547/oh_no.jpghttp://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/%7Efroste/pics/ohno.jpghttp://www2.orlandoweekly.com/blog/images/ShockJillGgallery.jpghttp://www.united-vision-entertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/shocked.jpg

[Lost_Cause]

Had totally forgotten about Backbeat, thanks for reminding me!

JAFBLqfKLng

...I've become old and prissy about gear, it seems; watching that Matchless fall made my stomach turn a bit...


Maybe Greg was not smoking quite as much as I remembered but he totally hurt my throat singing that way. Dave and Greg are both souls singers. Listen to some boots and they both inject plenty of soul tunes in their sets back in the day. Dave is a great singer and Soul Asylum in one of the other the most overlooked bands of that era overshadowed by The Replacements. I thought that I remember hearing that Thurston Moore broke his leg falling over Greg there at the end. Cool stuff!!!