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.
An Austin production company is launching a new local sketch comedy series, and they want Austinites to get in on the fun in person. Originator Studios already has a 20-minute Lawn Party pilot ready to go — but as filmmakers Willie Rockefeller and Derek Gildersleev are shopping it out to film festivals and investors, they want to start gathering an audience.
Having a loyal audience will ultimately increase Lawn Party's chances of being picked up, so Originator is throwing an actual party December 6 at event venue Shady Springs (9401 Sherman Rd.). Guests can expect stand-up comedy, live sketches, live music, and even kiddie pools and one big pool, despite Austin's weather taking a recent turn for the very cold.
It'll also be a good opportunity for comedy fans to get in touch with the local scene, thanks to a cast full of Austin comics: Sarah Yoakley, Chad Werner, Kelsey Pribilsky, Kaci Beeler, Rochelle McConico, Yola Jean Lu, Tinus Seaux, Kolby Jacobs, and Garrett Rojas.
Synth pop duo Jane Leo will provide sonic support, and spacey musical cult Grandmaster has lent music to the cinematic and fun series intro.
For those abstaining from December swimming, there will be food, drinks, lawn games, and raffles for prizes including Moontower Comedy Festival badges.
“We’ve spent fifteen years running a production company,” said Rockefeller in a press release. “But Lawn Party is the thing we’ve always wanted to make. We built the sandbox; now we’re inviting everyone to come play.”
Even if Austinites aren't closely following local comedy, they may know Originator from its work on Stavros Halkias' Netflix comedy special, Fat Rascal, or Joe List's special Small Ball. The studio also works on commercials, livestreams, and other creative content.
To pull off the Lawn Party series, Originator has already raised more than $30,000 on a Kickstarter campaign that ended December 1. The campaign promises "uniquely strange characters plucked from everyday life" along with "relatable situations gone awry" and of course "a hint of social commentary."
“We wanted the series — and the event — to feel like Austin," said Gildersleev. "Smart, weird, collaborative, slightly unhinged in the best way.”
If this success continues, it looks like plenty of Austinites will be able to watch along from home someday. But until then, there's Eventbrite. Tickets are $17.85 with tax and fees.
“When you show up for Lawn Party, you’re not just supporting local comedy,” said a team statement. “You’re joining it.”
The Afghan WhigsPhoto by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
