Opening a sold out show is no easy feat. You know the crowd is there for the headliners and those that have shown up in time for your set really need to be impressed and that’s what The Whigs did on the second of their two night stint at the Electric Factory. The threesome played energetic, gritty rock featuring beautiful riffs, heavy vocals and energetic beats. The half full venue enjoyed the Whigs’ energy, solid set and infectious stage presence.
At one point, these Georgia guys made an awkward joke about the Colts winning the last World Series that fell flat for so many reasons then played a song with such a rock star finish — wild beats and pounding guitars — that the audience was surprised to see the guys launch into another song. The remainder of the long opening set blended together until the very last song with stellar beats from the energetic Julian Dorio and roaring vocals.
We Are Scientists followed The Whigs in an attempt to keep the energy flying high for Kings of Leon. I last saw W.A.S. at Johnny Brenda’s and do prefer to see Chris Cain and Keith Murray play in a smaller venue, but they kicked the set into high gear as front man Murray sang, “My body is your body / I won’t tell anybody” and later jumped into the crowd and made his way to the back of the Electric Factory. The crowd was moving around and sufficiently stoked for the main act of the night.
In an act of what I found to be pretension, Kings of Leon walked out onto the stage to a heavenly choir as the crowd went nuts. Maybe I’m unfairly judging KoL, but IÂ also found their light show to be equally pretentious and obnoxious as they shined bright spotlights into the crowd nearly blinding us all many times. The crowd was raucous and way too frat-y for my tastes (lots and lots of way too drunk to function pugnacious dudes), but I started to enjoy myself once Kings played current hit single “Sex on Fire”. The distorted vocals weren’t really my cup of tea but the drummer is just fantastic.
The Whigs: website | myspace | Mission Control review | @ granada theater | @ download: san francisco 2008 | @ download: philadelphia 2008 | @ monolith 2008 |
We Are Scientists: website | myspace | Brain Thrust Mastery review | @ johnny brenda’s | @ austin music hall
Kings of Leon: website | myspace | Only By The Night review
Wow, you went to this! The one @ MSG in NYC in January has The Stills opening up with We Are Scientists, sounds like a terrific show.
I don’t get the big fuss with KOL either. They’re good, but I dunno, WAS do it for me more.
WAS totally do it for me more. I mean, doesn’t hurt that Keith and Chris are babes, but I just like the music better. And their fan base isn’t the same kind of frat crowd