Monday, September 27, 1999
Afghan Whigs rock hometown proud
BY CHRIS VARIAS
Enquirer contributor
“Spread the word around!” singer Greg Dulli screamed. “The Afghan Whigs are back in town!”
The town was Cincinnati, the Whigs' original hometown. The place was Saturday night at Bogart's, filled with a capacity crowd plus one blow-up doll strategically placed in the front row. The song was Thin Lizzy's “The Boys Are Back in Town,” the night's opening number and the first of many covers to come.
The Whigs can be counted on to deliver a good show in Cincinnati. Saturday night's was the last in support of 1965, the Columbia Records album released nearly a year ago.
This version of the Whigs was smaller than the one out on the road most of the year. It was the four-man core — Mr. Dulli, guitarist Rick McCollum, bassist John Curley and drummer Michael Horrigan — plus keyboardist Josh Paxton. The backup singers and other side men weren't missed; the smaller version plays with more punch.
The show was heavy on songs from the band's last few albums and on covers, including the Supremes' “Come See About Me” and the Spinners' “I'll Be Around.” The crowd enjoyed the band's penchant for throwing snippets of covers into originals. “Going to Town” began with part of Stevie Wonder's “Superstition.” “66” contained parts of both “Bad Girls” and “Little Red Cor vette.” Bits of the Beatles' “She Loves You,” the Impressions' “People Get Ready” and Van Halen's “Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love” were thrown into the hour-and-45-minute show.
It looks like lots of filler on paper. But did the Whigs still rock? Does Mr. Dulli like to sing the word “baby?”
Material from 1965 offered the greatest rocking surprises. Sometimes the album drags a bit too slowly, as if the humidity in Mr. Dulli's new hometown of New Orleans is getting to him. Songs like “Somethin' Hot,” “Uptown Again,”' “Crazy” and “66,” presented in five-man band arrangements, were reborn tougher.
Songs from Gentlemen, which Saturday included “Be Sweet” and “Fountain and “Fairfax,” are always concert highlights. And then there's “The Boys Are Back in Town,” which of course rocked also.
The encore began with Mr. Horrigan and Mr. Paxton playing a New Orleans-style second-line rhythm and melody. Then out came Mr. Curley and Mr. McCollum, carrying the lead singer in their arms.
Once Mr. Dulli was on his feet, he pulled the blow-up doll from the front row and, as the keyboardist and drummer played on, danced cheek-to-plastic-cheek with it.
It was the image Whigs fans can take home with them as they await the next move from the musical pride of Cincinnati.
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