Maxwell’s
New Jersey
Words & Photos by Abbey Braden

Whirlwind Heat: you might have heard the name but are you experienced? Get to know them, and now. Kind of like your BFF’s older brother back in the day- a little hot in a weird way, a bit wired, and totally off limits until that one night he gives you a ride home. Thanks to Maxwell’s cramped quarters and their hyper underaged crowd, I decided to show up to the Be Your Own Pet gig early, right as three guys straight outta Grand Rapids hopped on stage as openers. They looked innocent enough, pimping matching navy chinos and tees tucked into webbed belts, and kicks with no socks. My priorities shifted from the bar to the stage as drummer Brad Holland began duking it out with bassist Steve Damstra II. Seriously, these guys could be a two piece if needed (holla to Shy Child and Dead Combo!), so you can imagine how the addition of frontman David Swanson sends the equation over the edge. Ceasing his white-boy funk convulsions only to attack his Moog like a vegan gone cannibal for the weekend, these dudes whipped the crowd into a frenzy and proceeded to bring down the house with their stackable tracks.

Not for the faint of heart, I’ll admit Whirlwind Heat’s lyrics can dip into the juvenile section of the library- but their live set can’t be beat. The sperm donor anthem of 2006, “Gene Pool”, is catchy enough to coax some hip gyrations out of the most conservative audience member. I was swamped by fans that knew every twist and handclap, but all in good fun. When the bassline-driven ‘”Uptight” drove Swanson into the worm dance that fateful night, I knew I would queue up to them again. Handpicked by Jack White four years ago, their new album Types of Wood out on Brille features a (barely legal, natch) cover shot by Terry Richardson. Granted neither of these guys may be your cup of tea, but if anything their involvement in WWH is indicative of the sea of converts the band leave in their wake. Fasten your seatbelts.