The Afghan Whigs and Mercury Rev left no doubt that bands deep into their career can remain fresh, creative, and powerful rather than being merely content to rehash old glories while mining outdated work. Both bands effectively meshed the past with the current in front of a packed Showbox Sunday evening. I go back a good bit with both acts and was struck by their ability to integrate early material with current work while maintaining consistency throughout their sets.
I saw the Afghan Whigs a number of times back in the 90’s shortly after the band had signed to Subpop and relocated to the Pacific Northwest. They were frequent flyers at RCKCNDY and other now long-gone clubs in and around Seattle. The band both fit in nicely alongside and stood slightly apart from the then nascent grunge scene. No torn flannels and long johns for Greg Dulli, the lead singer and leader of the Afghan Whigs. Duli and his crew dressed a bit slicker than a lot of their peers (polo shirts and slacks? oh my!) and incorporated soul, R&B, and other black pop music idioms and influences into their driving guitar attack. The current tour marks the 40th year of the band’s existence (albeit with a lengthy hiatus in the early aughts). The Whigs have 10 albums under their belt and are on the cusp of delivering another. One would be hard pressed to find a more consistent catalog among recording acts of similar tenure.
The Whigs opened strong with ‘Parked Outside’ from 2014’s ‘Do the Beast’, countered with the harrowing ‘I’m Her Slave’ from ‘Congregation’ (1992), and drove it over the fence with ‘Light As a Feather’ from 2017’s excellent ‘In Spades’, all before Dulli paused to greet the audience. The band played a blistering 90 minute set drawing from all but their earliest album. While only Dulli and bass player John Curley remain from the band’s early days, the drum, lead guitar, and guitar/keyboard seats have all been filled with outstanding, complimentary players. Lead guitarist Christopher Thorn (Blind Melon) was of particular note.
Buffalo’s Mercury Rev have been active for 37 years and have 10 albums to their credit. 1998’s ‘Deserter’s Songs’ garnered the most critical praise and highest sales of the band’s career but one could reasonably argue that each successive album has exhibited additional proof of Mercury Rev’s continued growth and evolution. Their well-received set Sunday evening spanned the entirety of their career while feeling cut from a consistent sonic and thematic cloth. Mercury Rev lays on the reverb which, paired with their hushed and elliptical vocals, goes nicely with their trippy light and smoke effects. During some of the more extended instrumental sections I found myself being pleasantly reminded of mid period Pink Floyd. That’s a destination I’m always happy to visit.
While the Afghan Whigs and Mercury Rev are two entirely different beasts, I can’t help note that they seem to employ a similar approach to recording. Not content to revisit their past glories (although they certainly scratch that itch as well), both bands continue to create new music while evolving and refining their aesthetic. I would argue that this refusal to laurel rest allows each band to remain fresh and relevant. Whatever the reason for their continued excellence, I can’t argue with the results. 1,000 happy (and loud) fans at the Showbox last night seemed to agree with me.
