Greg Dulli and his Afghan Whigs are back with “Soft Control.” The new Whigs record is a strong collection of material that stands solidly amongst the existing catalog of v2 Whigs albums, with big rockers, piano ballads, and tape loops neatly nestled against guitar feedback. It also brings stellar guitar work, a new drummer and features Dulli’s vocals in a way you haven’t heard them previously.
2026 is also being claimed as the 40th anniversary for this particular band of brothers, and it is indeed 40 years since the original ensemble first formed: Dulli alongside bassist John Curley (still present and accounted for), guitarist Rick McCollum, and a succession of drummers across the decades. The current lineup features Dulli, Curley, musical Swiss Army Knife Rick T. Nelson, guitarist Christopher Thorn and new drummer Bryan Lee Brown.
