The Mauch Chunk Opera House, 14 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe, presents a free show at 8 o'clock this evening featuring the Whigs.

Stars of late-night television, the Athens, Georgia-based Whigs visit the opera house to demonstrate the reason for all that popularity. The hard rock trio has visited David Letterman's show four times, Jay Leno twice, and have appeared on Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon.The Whigs' fifth album, "Live in Little Five," an homage to their Georgia roots, is a recording at one of their favorite Atlanta venues.Following several opening slots on Kings of Leon tours, the Whigs clearly learned a thing or two from their rockmates, and will bring some of their blazing, wall-of-sound, neo-college rock to the opera house.It's not often that an audience gets pure rock 'n' roll. It's as if bands are doing everything but rocking 'n' rolling, but the Whigs clearly do not fit in that category.They gladly take a page out of the Spinal Tap book and turn the volume up as loud as can be, before smoking through their brand of straightforward garage rock.They know what they're doing onstage, and enjoy every last minute of it. When frontman Parker Gispert takes the stage, it seems like he leaves it all there through his guitar and vocals.With the help of Timothy Deaux's crystalline bass playing and the skilled handiwork of drummer Julian Doro, there is an unmistakably permanent backbone to a Whigs set.The Whigs have put together solid records for the better part of a decade. Deaux joined the band to tour their second album, "Mission Control," and ever since his arrival, the Whigs have always delivered impressive studio material and an enduring, consistent live show.Also this weekend, Canadian folk music duo Dala performs at 8 p.m. Friday.On Saturday it's the Eagles tribute band, Eaglemania.Showtime is 8 p.m.Tickets are available on the opera house website,

www.mcohjt.com, by visiting Soundcheck Records in downtown Jim Thorpe or by calling 570-325-4009.