Athens, Georgia rock trio the Whigs recorded their first album, 2005’s Give ‘Em All a Big Fat Lip, on eBay-bought equipment in a borrowed frat house with no air-conditioning in 110-degree heat — and still managed to make Rolling Stone’s Ten Artists to Watch as an unsigned band. But we’re pleased to tell you that the hard-touring Whigs are in a fancy (and presumably climate-controlled) Los Angeles studio right now, recording their label debut with producer Rob Schnapf, best known for his work with Elliott Smith. And the Whigs — who signed with ATO Records last year — aren’t feeling too much pressure. “It’s not like, you know, when Pearl Jam released their second album,” says frontman Parker Gispert. “No one knows who we are, so it’s okay. And it’s the first time we get to really go record, so we’re pumped.” Like the Whigs’ previous work, the new album should mix garage-y rockers with slower, keyboard-driven tracks — but we’re guessing the whole thing will sound bigger this time. Check out some old songs on the Whigs’ MySpace page, or get a sneak peek at the upcoming album with this excerpt of their Bonnaroo performance of the new song “Right Hand on My Heart.”

Photo: Rahav Segev / Retna