PHOTOS BY SUSAN HENNESSEY

New Yorkers pride themselves on their chameleon-like ability to adapt to any situation, but last night (Dec. 4) at downtown haunt the Knitting Factory, Athens, GA-based trio the Whigs put a cross-section of the Big Apple's concertgoers in their place -- one of snooty subdue. Strolling onstage clad in a mix bag of Goodwill specials, the Whigs kicked out a rusty rendition of "Like a Vibration," the opening track from their forthcoming sophomore LP Mission Control, as a crowd heavily weighted in industry types stood idle. Received with uncertainty, the band's raucous sonic soon fell into place as the Whigs found stride in third tune, "Hot Bed," as frontman Parker Gispert's throat warmed, scraping each vocal chord as he belted and moved in tomahawk-like unison with his guitar.

Strolling through "Violet Furs" and "Don't Talk Anymore," both off debut Give Em' All a Big Fat Lip, it was clear the Whigs' blithe yet musically precise and heated set had the upper hand on the tame audience, shaming New York's inability to let their hair down and rock out. "You guys are a quiet crowd," pronounced Gispert, soon met with the cross-armed, black-clad spectators' singular cheer. Responding, the towering, ragamuffin frontman nearly ate the microphone in a gaping roar and racked his six-string viciously through new track "Nothing is Easy" as drummer Julian Dorio plowed out piston-chugging rhythms in atomic time, and bassist Tim Deaux snapped in tense jerks. Jaws dropped, and chatter hailing the show ensued, but those on hand failed to embrace the moment -- it's called fun, people. The Whigs: 1 New York: 0. 

We Asked: The Whigs were formed at the University of Georgia, recorded their debut in a frat house, and are often credited for continuing the "college rock" sound of bands like Superchunk. That said, what band defined your college experience?

Name: Sophia Steinberger
Age: 18
Hometown: Vienna, Austria
Occupation: Student
"Hmmm, the Redwalls at the moment, but I just started college."

Name: Rachel Weinick
Age: 19
Hometown: Whitehouse Station, NJ
Occupation: Student
"Josh Rouse."

Name: Jessica Hayden
Age: 24
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Occupation: Temp
"Death Cab for Cutie."

Name: Kat Zipper
Age: 21
Hometown: Queens, NY
Occupation: Production assistant
"Rilo Kiley."

Name: Andy Stewart
Age: 26
Hometown: Dayton, OH
Occupation: HR assistant
"Tori Amos, sadly. I went to an art school."

Name: Martin Harwood
Age: 24
Hometown: Athens, GA
Occupation: Landscape architect
"Modern Skirts, they're from Athens, too."

Name: Miriam Rich
Age: 25
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Occupation: Assistant editor
"Belle and Sebastian."

Name: Ben Dickinson
Age: 26
Hometown: Wheaton, IL
Occupation: Director
"Radiohead's Kid A, but I listened to a lot of Bowie, too."

Frontman Parker Gispert taming the crowd / Photo by Susan Hennessey

Multi-instrumentalist Tim Deaux exercising his six-string chops / Photo by Susan Hennessey

Gispert up close and personal / Photo by Susan Hennessey

Demonstrating classic hip-lock, Gispert thrashes / Photo by Susan Hennessey