Celebrating the tenth anniversary of their cult favorite sophomore release Mission Control, Athens formed, Nashville based garage rockers The Whigs are set to play the whole thing in full May 5 at The Basement East. Joining in on the fun for the fan-focused, extra special show are eclectic local indie/alt-country rocker Bobby Bare Jr. and garage rock up and comers Staying For The Weekend, and tickets are still available right here. A must-see for Whigs fans, or, really, fans of expertly crafted garage rock in general, we’re also excited to announce that we’re giving away a pair of tickets to one lucky fan! Read on for more about the show, and enter for a chance to win below.
THE WHIGS
Formed in the musical hotbed of Athens, Georgia while attending school at the University of Georgia, by Atlanta natives Parker Gispert and Julian Dorio and Memphis raised Hank Sullivant (who departed in ’08, and was replaced by Timothy Deaux), The Whigs came together in ’02 amidst a prolific explosion of revivalist garage rock, and added their own stamp to the scene with their 2005 debut Give ‘Em All a Big Fat Lip. It was 2008’s Mission Control, however, that really helped put the trio on the map, earning both critical acclaim and a cult following, and cemented the group’s sound as they earned their place as a formidable force in the garage rock scene. In the decade since, the band, now Nashville based (and involved in other solo and side projects as well), have released three more great full-lengths, become a fixture on the late night television and festival circuit, have toured the globe both as headliners and in support of some big-name acts, and have remained one of rock’s most dependable groups, even if rock as a whole has faded considerably from the mainstream zeitgeist in the years since they first sprung onto the musical landscape. Despite more than a decade and a half of admirable accomplishments, Mission Control has long remained both a fan-favorite an artistic high-point, so it’s exciting to see the band give in to nostalgia to honor its 10th anniversary, by performing the LP in its entirety at a handful of shows. As their adopted hometown, it’s no surprise that Nashville made the cut, but The Basement East is an especially inspired choice- whether you’re a longtime Whigs fan or you’re curious to see what the fuss is about, this is going to be one seriously cool, fan-focused show.
BOBBY BARE JR.
If you couldn’t gather from the name, local singer-songwriter Bobby Bare Jr. is the son of country legend Bobby Bare Sr., who rose to acclaim with a countless string of hits throughout the ’60s and ’70s. A lifelong Nashville area native, Jr. found his first taste of musical success at just eight years old, when he appeared with his father on Grammy nominated track “Daddy What If,” written by none other than Shel Silverstein. With the unavoidable pull to music in his blood, Bobby cut his teeth in the ’90s leading roots rock group Bare, Jr., before branching out as a proper solo artist in the early ’00s. Though his sound is fairly eclectic and has evolved over the years, Bare Jr. has settled into a style that builds on his country upcoming and fuses it with indie rock, pop, and Americana, distinctly establishing a unique and stellar artistic identity of his own. More recently, Bobby’s been pulling double duty as the guitarist in the latest incarnation of legendary indie rock act Guided By Voices, in case you had any doubt about his bona fide rock cred. We’re glad to see the local talent still carving out time for solo shows though, and since we’re a few years removed from his last LP, there’s a good chance some new tunes will be in the repertoire as well.
STAYING FOR THE WEEKEND
A local group we’ve been buzzing about now for a number of years, indie garage rockers Staying For The Weekend mix anthemic, pop energy with stylish, garage rock fuzz, making them both substantive and accessible, and a great choice to kick off this show. The young group have really experimented with and honed their sound since they fell onto our radar in 2012, and with last year’s latest EP, Growing Pains, they’re sounding especially poised to be Nashville next breakout garage rock success story. They really sizzle live, so don’t be late.
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ENTER TO WIN TICKETS
Enter to win tickets by filling out the form below. Must be 21+ to attend. If you experience any trouble with the contest widget, or have any questions, feel free to email us at [email protected].
Winner will be announced Thursday, May 3 at 2 p.m. CDT, and will receive one pair of tickets. Good luck!
[contesthopper contest=”92034″]
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The Whigs, Bobby Bare Jr., and Staying For The Weekend will perform Saturday, May 5 at The Basement East. The show is 21+, begins at 9 p.m. (doors at 8 p.m.), and tickets are available to purchase for $12-15.
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