"Open up inside / See what you will find / I think that I’d recognize / A different set of eyes..."
The sly progressive funky art punk flash bang grenade of "Tightrope", by genre-fluid North Carolina quartet Whoop, is something to behold, something to revel in, a sound that feels birthed from such a wide array of styles and generations that it slaps you hard in the face. I know it is amazingly different cast against (so called) modern music because no comparative group comes to mind. The best I can do, that my ears and breath of knowledge, can come up with is a collision of 80's indie ( new wave) artists like The Motels or Romeo Void or No Doubt cross cut against contemporary artists like Kiss The Tiger or Secret Shame or Surfbort, or maybe more accurately, an amalgam of all of those artists and even more.
Tonally, the raw sensibility with such jammy, tightly wound musicality is super engaging from the onset. The snappy, fuzzy guitar rhythm (with a wicked downbeat), the boomy bass lines and energetic surfy drum beats creates a killer funky jam band framework for Fallon Roberts' vocal countenance with equal parts of stand offish feminine power and flashy wild abandon at the very same time. The feeling is part alt rock, dramatic art surf punk that feels like the theme song for a twisty indie spy caper of sorts.
"Tightrope" easily kills, a tour de force of blendo indie rock that resonates in timeless ways. It exists on the Whoop’s third album "Time to Talk"!
LINER NOTES (excerpted / bracketed):
[A nuanced, visceral mélange of nineties rock and indie-pop, sunny reggae, and earthy R&B, Time to Talk (Porcelain Records) marries innate talent and youthful joy to experience and eloquence, its rare emotive resonance free of studio gloss.]
“We definitely tapped into something special with this one,” said effervescent vocalist Fal. “ It felt like we all were ready to experiment with our sound in a way we haven’t before. This record feels like we stopped guessing and started going for it.”
[In an era of Auto-Tune and AI, Whoop remains defiantly organic and spontaneous. With their Grammy- and Juno-winning guitarist/producer Steve Bigas (Daniel Lanois, Ziggy Marley, Taj Mahal) at the helm, they recorded Time to Talk mostly live, at full volume, onto tape. No headphones or click tracks were used, and only tambourine and backup vocals were overdubbed. The results are refreshingly intimate and honest, with succinct song structures and sometimes stream-of-consciousness lyrics shaping a primal, disarmingly human experience.]
“Music is supposed to bring people together, shake things up, cause a ruckus, and make a mark,” said Fal. “I always want Whoop to leave a lasting impression on minds, hearts, and ears.”
North Carolina quartet Whoop, alt rock, blendo rock, indie rock, new wave, R&B, 3rd full length album "Time to Talk", singer / musician Fallon Roberts, Grammy / Juno winning guitarist / producer Steve Bigas,
-Robb Donker Curtius
LYRICS
I’m walking on a tightrope
Tightrope for you
Im walking on a tightrope
Open up inside
See what you will find
I think that I’d recognize
A different set of eyes
Well nothing ever
Can keep me from this
Taking my time
Sweet time with my bliss
And my state of mind
You’re walking on tightrope
T-tightrope
You’re walking on a tightrope
T-tight
Just tell me what you really need
I’m walking on a tightrope
Tell me what you really need
Oh oh oh I’m walking on a tightrope
T-tight
Just tell me what you really need
I’m walking on a tightrope
Tell me what you really need
Oh oh oh I’m walking on a
I know it’s hard to believe
Sometimes I guess that’s just the way that things go
And it may be hard to see
But you can’t seem to keep your eyes off me
LYRICS
I’m walking on a tightrope
Tightrope for you
I’m walking on a tightrope
Tightrope for you
I’m walking on a tightrope
I’m walking on a tightrope
Tightrope for you
Im walking on a tightrope
Open up inside
See what you will find
I think that I’d recognize
A different set of eyes
Well nothing ever
Can keep me from this
Taking my time
Sweet time with my bliss
And my state of mind
You’re walking on tightrope
T-tightrope
You’re walking on a tightrope
T-tight
Just tell me what you really need
I’m walking on a tightrope
Tell me what you really need
Oh oh oh I’m walking on a tightrope
T-tight
Just tell me what you really need
I’m walking on a tightrope
Tell me what you really need
Oh oh oh I’m walking on a
I’m walking on a
Tightrope
Tightrope
I’m walking
I’m walking
On a tightrope
I’m walking
On a tightrope
I know it’s hard to believe
Sometimes I guess that’s just the way that things go
And it may be hard to see
But you can’t seem to keep your eyes off me
Nothing ever
Can keep you from this
You’re taking your time
Sweet time with my bliss
And my state of mind
Can keep you from this
You’re taking your time
Sweet time with my bliss
And my state of mind
You’re walking on tightrope
T-tightrope
You’re walking on a tightrope
T-tight
T-tightrope
You’re walking on a tightrope
T-tight
Just tell me what you really need
I’m walking on a tightrope
Tell me what you really need
Oh oh oh I’m walking on a tightrope
T-tight
I’m walking on a tightrope
Tell me what you really need
Oh oh oh I’m walking on a tightrope
T-tight
Just tell me what you really need
I’m walking on a tightrope
Tell me what you really need
Oh oh oh I’m walking on a
I’m walking on a
Tightrope
I’m walking on a tightrope
Tell me what you really need
Oh oh oh I’m walking on a
I’m walking on a
Tightrope
Walkin on
Walkin on a
On a tightrope
Walkin on
Walkin on a
On a tightrope
Walkin on
Walkin on a
Walkin on a
On a tightrope
Walkin on
Walkin on a
On a tightrope
Walkin on
Walkin on a
Just tell me what you really need
I’m walking on a tightrope
Tell me what you really need
Oh oh oh I’m walking on a tightrope
T-tight
Tell me what you really need
Cuz I’m walking on a tightrope
Tell me what you really need
Oh oh oh I’m walking on a
I’m walking on a
Tightrope
I’m walking on a tightrope
Tightrope for you
I’m walking on a tightrope
I’m walking on a tightrope
Tightrope for you
The Chicken Wheel will take you to the AP Go Fund Me- and any amount is so appreciated!
https://www.whooptheband.com/
https://www.instagram.com/whooptheband/
https://open.spotify.com/track/4K6HwG2HQ0tOFnV8oPGc1z
https://whooptheband.bandcamp.com/
Formed in 2020, Whoop developed out of Friday night jams in Bigas’ barn studio near Raleigh. While Bigas, whose ‘90s alt-rock band King Clancy landed a major deal with DreamWorks, is a lifelong lover of classic tones who surrounds himself with curated vintage gear, his bandmates were GarageBand/Soundcloud kids. Yet this ostensibly unlikely crew gels through mutual appreciation of each other’s contrasting, complimentary sensibilities and a shared love of letting music throb and breathe, free of overthought or overproduction.
Whoop’s joyous yet introspective eponymous debut album emerged to rave reviews just a year after they formed, followed by the acclaimed Just What? in 2023. Their vibrant live shows, which have included Carolina Indie Fest and NC State Fair, further cemented their chemistry and collective instincts, all building towards the huge leap forward that is Time to Talk.
“We normally start with a single idea and build off that until it evolves into a vibe,” explained bassist Nick (Whoop is completed by drummer Will). “Fal then takes that vibe and sings the first thing that comes to mind. Later, we chop up the best parts to form outlines for songs.”
From the deliciously lived-in opening riff of first track “Make A Move,” Time to Talk is swaggering testament to musicality in the wild, with force-of-nature Fal pouring Wet Leg sass into tough-yet-tender performances that veer between rap-adjacent rants, tremulous soul, and finely grained pop. Poised and charismatic, her vocals are as much about attitude and vibe as they are notes, words, and cadence. “Take A Ride” craves escape from the everyday, its refrain swooning somewhere between early Sheryl Crow, prime-time Pretenders, and a gum-free Go-Go’s. Meanwhile, “Tightrope” is a smoldering, New Wave-y warning buoyed by ecstatic backing vocals and choppy guitar, imploring choruses framed by sparse, reggae-rinsed verses.
“Music is supposed to bring people together, shake things up, cause a ruckus, and make a mark,” said Fal. “I always want Whoop to leave a lasting impression on minds, hearts, and ears.”
I’m walking on a tightrope
Tell me what you really need
Oh oh oh I’m walking on a tightrope
T-tight
Tell me what you really need
Cuz I’m walking on a tightrope
Tell me what you really need
Oh oh oh I’m walking on a
I’m walking on a
Tightrope
I’m walking on a tightrope
Tightrope for you
I’m walking on a tightrope
I’m walking on a tightrope
Tightrope for you
The Chicken Wheel will take you to the AP Go Fund Me- and any amount is so appreciated!
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://www.whooptheband.com/
https://www.instagram.com/whooptheband/
https://open.spotify.com/track/4K6HwG2HQ0tOFnV8oPGc1z
https://whooptheband.bandcamp.com/
Formed in 2020, Whoop developed out of Friday night jams in Bigas’ barn studio near Raleigh. While Bigas, whose ‘90s alt-rock band King Clancy landed a major deal with DreamWorks, is a lifelong lover of classic tones who surrounds himself with curated vintage gear, his bandmates were GarageBand/Soundcloud kids. Yet this ostensibly unlikely crew gels through mutual appreciation of each other’s contrasting, complimentary sensibilities and a shared love of letting music throb and breathe, free of overthought or overproduction.
Whoop’s joyous yet introspective eponymous debut album emerged to rave reviews just a year after they formed, followed by the acclaimed Just What? in 2023. Their vibrant live shows, which have included Carolina Indie Fest and NC State Fair, further cemented their chemistry and collective instincts, all building towards the huge leap forward that is Time to Talk.
“We normally start with a single idea and build off that until it evolves into a vibe,” explained bassist Nick (Whoop is completed by drummer Will). “Fal then takes that vibe and sings the first thing that comes to mind. Later, we chop up the best parts to form outlines for songs.”
From the deliciously lived-in opening riff of first track “Make A Move,” Time to Talk is swaggering testament to musicality in the wild, with force-of-nature Fal pouring Wet Leg sass into tough-yet-tender performances that veer between rap-adjacent rants, tremulous soul, and finely grained pop. Poised and charismatic, her vocals are as much about attitude and vibe as they are notes, words, and cadence. “Take A Ride” craves escape from the everyday, its refrain swooning somewhere between early Sheryl Crow, prime-time Pretenders, and a gum-free Go-Go’s. Meanwhile, “Tightrope” is a smoldering, New Wave-y warning buoyed by ecstatic backing vocals and choppy guitar, imploring choruses framed by sparse, reggae-rinsed verses.
“Music is supposed to bring people together, shake things up, cause a ruckus, and make a mark,” said Fal. “I always want Whoop to leave a lasting impression on minds, hearts, and ears.”
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