The crowd at the front of the AMD Stage was mostly still collecting Pokemon cards when the Afghan Whigs released their final album in 1999.
And while the band inspires a fierce loyalty in those who adore their music, they haven't gone become a cult legend whose records have been passed along on burned CDs and external hard drives from teenaged fan to teenaged fan over the past thirteen years, the way that, say, the similarly-timelined At The Drive In has.
For its part, the band has settled into its reunion nicely. After over a decade off, any rust that may have gathered has shaken off well.
So the number of teenagers up front were probably mostly just there to hold a good spot for the closing set from AVICCI, but who really cares about that? The Afghan Whigs are an accessible rock band whose music translates well to listeners who are otherwise stuffed full of pills and waiting for a DJ to emerge.
That's mostly how things seemed to go for the Whigs' set on Friday (er, that is, the Afghan Whigs' set — a band called The Whigs, with no modifier, is on the bill for Saturday, leading to what's sure to be much confusion among fans of relatively straightforward, guitar-based rock bands). The crowd near the front was a mix of place-holding teenagers and die-hard fans in their 30s and 40s, who've been utterly devoted to the band's mix of guitar rock and classic soul since the heyday of Alternative Nation.
For its part, the band has settled into its reunion nicely. After over a decade off, any rust that may have gathered has shaken off well; while the Afghan Whigs have always been a night-time band, they were compelling even during a mid-day performance, loading up the set list with big rock-and-roll stompers like "Uptown Again," "What Jail Is Like," and "Crazy."
The band has also shaken off the reunion-show tendency to focus mostly on the hits (or at least the most beloved songs) in favor of a set that more accurately reflects the experience of seeing the Afghan Whigs in the pre-breakup days.
Back then, the Whigs were known for dropping in covers, both expected and not, throughout their set, interpolating other artists' songs into their own, and generally treating the performance as something of a revue. The ACL performance included pieces of "Who Do You Love" by Bo Diddley, "Little Red Corvette" by Prince, "See and Don't See" by Marie Queenie Lyons, and "Lovecrimes" by Frank Ocean.
In short, the Afghan Whigs' ACL set was a snapshot of what the band has been, and of where they are now (while "Who Do You Love" and "Little Red Corvette" were staples of the band's first run, "See And Don't See" and "Lovecrimes" are exclusive to this incarnation).
All that's really left for the band are some new songs of their own, and until that happens, the ACL set was at least proof that this reunion has their full attention.
Porcelain to play back-to-back album release shows at Hole In The Wall
With ACL Fest, the F1 race, and more happening this month, it’s easy to overlook the local gigs. So, to help guide you through the clutter, here are some key highlights from Austin’s music scene for the remainder of October.
Various at Central Machine Works – October 16 & 17 If ACL Fest put a dent in your bank account but you’ve still got an itch for some live music, then get to Central Machine Works this weekend for a trio of free shows. Alejandro Escovedo will play on Friday, October 16. Then on Saturday, October 17, there will be two shows: an early one with Buenos Diaz and an evening performance with Superfonicos.
Porcelain at Hole In The Wall – October 22 & 23 Post-hardcore act Porcelain will ring in the arrival of their new album, Today’s Minor Victories, across two nights – Thursday, October 22, and Friday, October 23 — at Hole In The Wall. Shallowater and Team Trust will open the first night, and Water Damage and Last Days Of Disco will play the second one. Each show is $18.45.
Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol at the Mohawk – Friday, October 23 Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol will drop their new album, Ca$h Grab, on Friday, October 23, and then throw a release party on that same date at the Mohawk. Bat Lips, Grocery Bag, and Deerspine will provide support for the heavy rockers. Tickets are $26.
Bayonne at The Mohawk – Saturday, October 24 Get to The Mohawk on Saturday, October 24, to see Bayonne, who earlier this year put out a very good album titled Filters. The electronic artist will be joined by Club Coma. Tickets for the show are $26.
Hovvdy at the Mohawk – Monday, October 26 Indie pop act Hovvdy will take the stage at the Mohawk on Monday, October 26 in support of their well-received 2026 album, Big World. The show will get underway with Emma Ogier. Tickets are $31.
Annabelle Chairlegs at Radio/East – Thursday, October 29 Fresh off a tour in Europe, rockers Annabelle Chairlegs will play Radio/East on Thursday, October 29. Support for the evening includes Almost Heaven, who just played ACL, and Swedish Magazines. Tickets are $19.05.
Halloween at the Far Out Lounge – Saturday, October 31 The Far Out Lounge is throwing a big Halloween bash on Saturday, October 31. There will be touring acts, such The Jesus And Mary Chain and Protomartyr, plus a slew of locals, including Holy Wave, Daiistar, Blushing, and Commercial Breaks. Tickets are $66.94.
The Afghan WhigsPhoto by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
