A familiar maxim from Aesop, I believe, noted “A man is known by the company he keeps.” The same can be said of a musician or band. In the case of The Whigs, the surrounding company speaks highly about the Athens, Georgia rock and roll trio. Recent opening slots with Kings of Leon, Black Keys and The Hold Steady only solidify what a trio of impressive rock albums already tell us: The Whigs flat out rock.

Give ‘Em All A Big Fat Lip, the band’s 2005 debut, earned them a label slot on Dave Matthew’s ATO Records and the four-piece (Hank Sullivant eventually left to join MGMT and Colour Revolt) impressed with an immediate swagger and an attitude that said, “We’re not fuckin’ around.” Mission Control launched into orbit three years later with more of the same and a sign the band was around for good.

The band’s 2010 entry, In The Dark, laces the same sonic shoes and struts its stuff across the stage for a good 40 minutes. There’s not much in the way of inventiveness or imagination here, but that’s not The Whigs’ forte. Instead, In The Dark flaunts a few kick ass tracks amid some decent offerings to ensure their inclusion in any lengthy rock and roll conversation.

‘Someone’s Daughter’ sears with some incredible guitar work and well-placed distortion, instantly moving to the top of The Whigs best yet. The same guitar tones appear and blend ‘So Lonely’ with ‘Someone’s Daughter’ to create a great one-two punch near the album’s front end. It’s also here that Julian Dorio’s top-flight percussion is best showcased.

Solid vocal harmonies buoy ‘Automatic’ and create a lighter moment toward the final stretch. The title track yields to a sinewy bass line from Tim Deaux and is the only track on In The Dark that sounds like only three players are involved. It’s a testament to The Whigs’ ability to exude a storied rock and roll spirit and vigor that sounds much more expansive than it should.

In The Dark doesn’t explore and it refuses to invent. Instead, The Whigs are happy to simply inhabit the well-traversed roads before them, becoming a part of the rock and roll tapestry of the last few decades. A few more albums like their first three will guarantee inclusion into any long-term discussion of the subject.