The Afghan Whigs - Stylus, Leeds 19.08.2026
The Afghan Whigs
The Afghan Whigs are out celebrating not only the release of a new album which could very well land on many peoples album of the year list but also 40 years of making music as a band in one form or another.
Tonight at Leeds Stylus is the first date of the UK tour and there’s a keen sense of anticipation in the air as the basement venue fills up and are suitably warmed up by long time Whigs pal Ed Harcourt. A short but lush set including 'Shadowboxing' and a wonderful cover of Mark Lanegans 'One Way Street' sets the scene for what’s to come.
The backline cabs and kick drum are all decorated with the flamingos from the cover of the latest album 'Soft Core' and draped with strings of fairy lights providing a dark dive club like atmosphere as the band take the stage surrounded by haze and a blue back light and launch into 'Parked Outside'. The snare and kick drum beat take your face off as the three guitars come in with that riff that has so much swagger and dirty sleaze it should come with a warning or an age restriction!!!
It’s all about celebrating the history though as Greg Dulli announces they will be playing tracks from every album except the debut and he is certainly a man of his word as for the next 90 minutes they visited each one much to the delight of the fans packed in to the room.
With John Curley as always by his side on bass Dulli took us to 'Congregation' and 'In Spades' for 'I’m Her Slave' and 'Light As A Feather' both grooving the way only the Whigs do mixing soul R&B fuzzed out rock guitars and dark themes.
'House of I' from the new album 'Soft Control' sounds huge live with its intricate drum pattern leading into a distorted Stones like vibe getting all the feet on the floor moving.
Whilst some songs were being aired for the first time in decades or the first time live being from the new album it was one particular cut from 'Black Love' that had yours truly dancing like no one else was there! When I last saw the band they played a beautiful stripped back version of 'Going To Town' but tonight it was back in all its funky body moving glory! I swear this is the greatest Prince song that Prince didn’t write!!
When Dulli takes his seat at the piano and hits the first notes of 'The Deepest Part Of The Darkest Shadow' I get the chills as his plaintive vocal hits all the feels at once. I’m reminded of two of my lost favourites Andrew Wood an Shawn Smith (who briefly worked with the Whigs) just by the piano refrain alone and I stand smiling trying not to cry.
The 22 song set is a glorious look at the bands past, present and hopefully future. They end the night with an epic 'Into The Floor' / 'Miles Iz Ded' and I have to hastily exit to make sure I’m not stranded in Leeds as the last train back on a Saturday is stupidly earlier than a weeknight!
It’s nice to see they’ve been changing the set slightly each night since this first one shining the light on other brilliant slices of the soul noir that has been at the heart of The Afghan Whigs for the last 40 - see you at the 50th or sooner.
Photos & Review - G's Gig Shots
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