When Greg Dulli and The Afghan Whigs came by Morning Become Eclectic last year, they had been recently reunited for a tour and even recorded a new song.
Not a new Whigs song mind you, this one-off single was a cover of the 1970 song by Marie “Queenie” Lyons, “See And Don’t See”
At the time, it was their first recording in nearly five years and, as Dulli introduced the track live on MBE, he mentioned that he would play this song when he DJ’d noting that it had all the qualities for a “slow burner.”
The interesting thing about that statement is that the original version is a funked-out groove strut that is more Isaac Hayes than a 90’s rock ballad. Queenie, owns the track with her powerful and loud vocals. Just by hearing it once, you’re immediately trapped in her web as she walks around you, finger in the air, giving you the business.
When The Afghan Whigs took it on, they removed all the bouncy bass and drum lines, which gave their acoustic guitars more space to fill the chilly air.
Dulli’s voice sounds just as incredible as always and when you listen, you can understand how the icons of alternative rock were able to make a somewhat obscure funk jam their own.