The Afghan Whigs at Shepherd's Bush Empire

The Afghan Whigs

Ed Harcourt

Shepherd's Bush Empire, 24 September 2026

It's been far too long since I last saw the Afghan Whigs live but with the release of a new album (Soft Control) and, like The Jayhawks, celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, I knew I had to see Greg Dulli and the boys on this tour, and I'm so glad I did because this was an absolute blast of a show.

Mark Lanegan Tribute at the Roundhouse

Mark Lanegan: 60 - A Celebration

Roundhouse, 5 December 2024 

As soon as this tribute concert celebrating what would have been Mark Lanegan's 60th birthday was announced, I knew I had to go. I would never see Lanegan live again, but at the very least I could see some of his friends and peers sing some of his songs and say goodbye to one of my favourite ever artists that way. Fortunately for me I was lucky enough to grab a ticket, as it sold out right away.

My Favourite Albums Of 2020

13. Tanya Donelly & The Parkington Sisters

12. Bonny Light Horseman - Bonny Light Horseman

11. Courtney Marie Andrews - Old Flowers

10. Isobel Campbell - There Is No Other...

9. Laura Marling - Song For Our Daughter

8. Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud

7. Ren Harvieu - Revel In The Drama

6. Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters

5. Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher

4. Greg Dulli - Random Desire

3. Margo Price - That's How Rumors Get Started

2. Neil Young - Homegrown

1. Kathleen Edwards - Total Freedom

New Dulli

Tonight I was supposed to be seeing Greg Dulli live but with the lockdown due to Covid-19 understandably everything is cancelled. Who knows when we'll all be able to go to a concert again and write about it here but it's a sacrifice I'm more than happy to make to ensure we all remain safe. In the meantime I'll be listening to Dulli's excellent new solo album Random Desire, and watching his brilliant video homage to Bob Fosse (I watched Fosse/Verdon TV series too, Greg) made for the fantastic track, Pantomima.

Merry Christmas!

Best Gigs Of 2016

I didn't go to as many gigs this year but there were still plenty of highlights for me from some old favourites, a few legends and some acts, new and old, who I had never seen before. Probably the most unusual was film director/composer John Carpenter at Troxy, whose mix of electronic soundtracks and visuals was pretty incredible. Meanwhile, Bat For Lashes' themed show showcasing her concept album The Bride was theatrical, warm and brilliant; Margo Price made me fall in love with her thanks to her no-frills traditional country and Low brought their Christmas record to life for me in ways I didn't expect. On top of that I got to meet Greg Dulli, one of my heroes, and to see Neil Young play with his new band, Promise Of The Real,  featuring Willie Nelson's sons. Not bad at all. I hope 2017 has lots of good things in store too.

10. Lush at the Roundhouse

9. Cyndi Lauper at Hammersmith Apollo

8. Greg Dulli at the Union Chapel

7. Neil Young & Laura Marling at the O2 Arena

6. Angel Olsen at Koko

5. Warpaint at the Roundhouse

4. John Carpenter at Troxy

3. Bat For Lashes at the Union Chapel

2. Low: A Christmas Performance at Union Chapel

1. Margo Price at The Scala

Greg Dulli at the Union Chapel

Greg Dulli

Union Chapel, 9 February 2016

So, tonight Greg Dulli told me he liked my hat. He could have been making fun of me but I like to think he was genuinely being nice. It's not often these days I do the signing thing or even want to meet the musicians I like, but I made an exception for Dulli because he's been such a huge part of my life and thankfully, he didn't disappoint: he was as charming and funny as I always suspected, and of course nice enough to at least pretend to like my hat.

The Afghan Whigs at Koko

The Afghan Whigs
Koko, 4 February 2015

I think one of the reasons I love going to see Greg Dulli so much, no matter which band he's playing with (and there has been a few), is just to witness his little dance moves as he groves along to each song. This is a man not immune to a hip wiggle, a shoulder shake, even a Beyonce-esque wagging finger (accompanied of course with a attitude-filled pout). I can't deny it's amusing and makes me break out in a big grin but it's also kind of what makes Dulli so cool, in the same way that when Jagger struts around the stage, it's funny but awesome too.

The Afghan Whigs at the Electric Ballroom

The Afghan Whigs
Ed Harcourt
Electric Ballroom, 15 July 2014

It was a pleasant surprise to see Ed Harcourt announced as the support act for tonight's show especially since he could easily pack the Electric Ballroom out on his own. He's a longtime pal of Greg Dulli though and they've played together many times over the years, so I guess that's why, also given the amount of new material in his set tonight I would imagine it's also a good no-fuss testing ground for his new songs. I actually had seen Harcourt before but years ago, back when his first album, the Mercury-nominated Here Be Monsters, came out. I did really like that album at the time (still do in fact) and I remember him being a great live act but I must admit I haven't really kept up with his music since then. It surprised me to discover that he's released five more albums since then and produced and co-wrote Sophie Ellis-Bextor's latest album, Wanderlust, so he's obviously been doing alright without me.

The Afghan Whigs' Algiers video

From the new album, Do The Beast, out on 15 April.

The Afghan Whigs at Koko

The Afghan Whigs
Oupa
Koko, 19 August 2012

Damn Dulli. I really don't know how you do it. 

There was a moment during tonight's show, during the instrumental middle of Fountain & Fairfax (the above clip) where it sounded so perfect and special that I felt myself close to tears. Given all the hundreds of shows I've been to and how few times that has actually happened to me, probably only three or four times in all, that should give you some idea of how incredible and moving and fun this gig was.

The Afghan Whigs live return

Performing the song See And Don't See. So good to have them back.

The Afghan Whigs are back...

The good news is one of my favourite ever bands is reuniting and playing a gig in London. The bad news is that I can't make it to the show. I just hope they'll announce a few non-festival dates later in the year because I would love to see them again. In other crappy news, another of my heroes, Lindsey Buckingham, whose solo show I have been waiting years to see, has cancelled his first ever UK solo tour because his guitarist has hurt his back. All in all this has been a pretty depressing December so far.

Gig Memories: Afghan Whigs at Subterania

The Afghan Whigs
Subterania, 25 August 1998

Years back because I used to go to a lot of similar gigs I would see quite a few of the same faces at them (this still happens to a lesser degree and now they tend to be older than me for some reason!). One guy I used to chat to was a moody, quiet type who had hung out with The Breeders and met Kurt Cobain. My best friend hated him but he would always be worth talking to because he would always recommend great bands I didn't know. One time, appalled that my favourite band was Dinosaur Jr ("I can't stand that guy's voice!"), he told me I should listen to The Afghan Whigs instead.

Gig Memories: The Afghan Whigs at Reading, 1994

On the weekend of the Reading Festival, here's an unreleased track by the still oh-so-awesome Afghan Whigs played at Reading in 1994. I was there in the crowd, it was a fantastic show. I met Greg Dulli that day, who was breathtakingly handsome back then, tanned and slim and oozing sex appeal. He told me his sister's name was also Sharon and gave me a kiss on the lips. Good times indeed.

Dulli and Lanegan at the Royal Festival Hall

An Evening With Greg Dulli & Mark Lanegan
Jimmy Gnecco
Duke Garwood
Royal Festival Hall, 19 July 2009

"I've been found out," quips a particularly well-fed-looking Greg Dulli when amid the screams for Lanegan as they walk on stage, comes a lone "Duuuuuuulllliiiiii". Appropriate really given that this show, more than any others recently, saw The Twilight Singers frontman take back the spotlight from the domineering presence of Mark Lanegan, unafraid to overshadow his deep-voiced best pal.

Dulli & Lanegan at the Union Chapel

 

An Evening With Greg Dulli & Mark Lanegan

Duke Garwood

Union Chapel, 19 January 2009

Anyone who knows me can tell you I have a long time love affair with Mr Dulli, the dashing larger than life (literally these days) former frontman of The Afghan Whigs, current Twilight Singer and one half of The Gutter Twins. He was once described as "the Dean Martin of grunge" but Greg is way more sassy than that, unafraid to cut down hecklers with a single witty line and shake his booty, funky-style, that's part Prince, part embarrassing dad at a wedding. The collaboration with his best pal Lanegan has been a long time coming, and certainly worth the wait on record, but live so far the results have been mixed due to Lanegan's towering, silent stage presence that prefers to let his booming voice make up for the lack of any charismatic chats or interaction with the audience.