The Doors Forum

NOAH & THE WHALE

The vocal work reminds me a bit of Lou Reed in spots, or Kinks, or ...what about you?
U.K. INDIE folkrockbluegrass--always with a twist of fun

Tiny Desk concert--live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efiBs11W1Ps





Noah & The Whale are an English band from Twickenham, London, England formed in 2006. The band consists of Charlie Fink (vocals, guitar), Tom Hobden (Violin/keys), Matt Owens (bass guitar), Fred Abbott (guitar/keys), and Michael Petulla (drums).


History

Early years and Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down (2006–2008)

After the release of a few singles the band's debut album, entitled Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down, was released on 11 August 2008. The release made it to Number 5 on the official UK Albums Chart and has received positive critical reviews. Emmy the Great sang for short periods with the band, while the brass accompaniment on the CD is provided by Jon Carvell (trombone) and Sam Kinrade (trumpet). Lillie Flynn (sister of singer Johnny Flynn) and Rebecca Taylor of Slow Club have also filled the role of female vocalist during tours. Doug Fink, brother of singer, Charlie, originally played drums but left to pursue a career as a doctor. Until mid-2008, Laura Marling was a member of the band and performed with them as much as her solo touring schedule allowed. She also performed the background vocals on the band's debut album but left the band several months after its release.

The First Days of Spring (2009)

From January 2009 onwards, the band started work on their second full length LP, entitled The First Days of Spring. Along with the album release, Charlie Fink wrote and directed a film that runs the entire length of the album, also entitled The First Days of Spring. Fink decided not to feature female backing vocals on their second LP due to the painful but inspiring departure of Laura Marling to pursue a solo career. Her separation from the band did however inspire a change from their traditional sound, signaling a new direction in the band's music and lyrics. The album was released on 31 August 2009, a little over a year after their debut. Three days prior to the release Doug Fink, brother of lead singer Charlie, announced he would be leaving the band to pursue a career in medicine. At the same time Fred Abbott was brought in on second guitar/piano and Doug was temporarily replaced by former Pull Tiger Tail drummer Jack Hamson.

"The First Days of Spring" was the first single release from the album and was made available for download from the band's website, while the first official single entitled "Blue Skies" was released on 24 August 2009 after the song received its first airplay on Zane Lowe's Radio 1 evening show earlier in the summer.

The band played the 2009 Reading and Leeds Festivals on the main stage, as well as a variety of other venues on their current tour.

On 30 September 2009, BBC News reported that the band's equipment including guitars, bass instruments and their drum kit, were stolen from a car park near the Club Academy in Manchester, England.[6] The theft occurred on the night of 29 September 2009. The equipment was recovered in late December 2009.

Their song, "Give a Little Love" was used in an episode of Cougar Town titled "Here Comes My Girl" which first aired on 25 November 2009. The single "Blue Skies" was also used in an episode of One Tree Hill titled "Some Roads Lead Nowhere" which first aired on 7 December 2009. The song was also used in an advertisement for the critically acclaimed film The Descendants.

The song "The First Days of Spring" was used as the track of the YouTube documentary "The Gay Rights Movement" from Ryan James Yezak in January 2012. The clip reached over 2 million views.

Last Night on Earth (2010–present)

In January 2010, it was announced that Noah and the Whale were heading to the recording studio soon to prepare their third album, for which the band was considering the title Old Joy, however, in an interview with the website SoonerMusic.com, lead singer Charlie announced that the album would be called Last Night On Earth. On 3 December 2010 the band released a track from the upcoming album on their official website, titled "Wild Thing". The first official single from the album, "L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.", was released on 23 January 2011, peaking at number 14 in the UK Singles Chart. Last Night on Earth was released on 7 March 2011 through Mercury Records.

In 2011 the song "Waiting for My Chance to Come" was used in the series finale for the UK teen drama Skins.

The song "Give It All Back" was released on YouTube on 25 November 2011.


In January 2013, the band announced that they will be releasing a new album, entitled 'Heart of Nowhere' on May 6 2013, along with a 4 show 'residency' at London's Palace theatre. A short film will accompany the new album.

Discography


* Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down (2008)
* The First Days of Spring (2009)
* Last Night on Earth (2011)
* Heart of Nowhere (2013)

L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCHzicKq3W4

SHAPE OF MY HEART
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7Q2b2uTlHY

5 YEARS TIME
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8YCSJpF4g4

If I Die Tonight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbTL2Kw4RHY

Powerful stuff...

OUR WINDOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7YJHct_V0Y





Noah & The Whale consists of Charlie Fink (vocals, guitar), Doug Fink (drums 2006-2009), Tom Hobden (fiddle), Urby Whale (bass), and Fred Abbott (guitar/keys 2009- ) and after a few singles, released their debut album, Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down in August 2008. Emmy The Great sang for short periods with the band and the brass accompaniment on the CD is provided by Jon Carvell (trombone) and Sam Kinrade (trumpet). Lillie Flynn (sister of singer Johnny Flynn) and Rebecca from Slow Club have also filled the role of female vocalist during tours. Until mid-2008, Laura Marling was a member of the band and performed with the band as her schedule from her solo touring allowed and performed the background vocals on the band's debut album. Marling left the band shortly after ending her romantic relationship with Charlie Fink several months after the release of Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down.

They have been compared to Neutral Milk Hotel, Bonnie Prince Billy and Belle & Sebastian, and the band cite both punk rock and folk as influences.

Their name is a marriage of the title of one of the band's favourite films, The Squid and the Whale, and the director of said film's name (Noah Baumbach). They are also avid fans of the film director Wes Anderson, who helped produce The Squid and the Whale alongside Baumbach; the group's e-mails, and many of their MySpace blog posts, are signed "Sic Transit Gloria", a phrase frequently used in Anderson's film Rushmore.

The band performed on Jeremy Warmsleys internet television show, Welcome to our TV show, and have made several appearances at festivals including Leeds, Cambridge Folk Festival, Latitude, SXSW, V Festival and Glastonbury. They also plan on playing a mini US tour, most likely around their Lollapalooza performance, though the dates have not been officially announced. They are currently scheduled to play Coachella 2009 on the Friday date.

In May 2008, the group's side-project, The A Sides, performed a one-off show at The Push Club.

The band's debut album, Peaceful, the World Lays me Down, was released on 11 August 2008 The release got to Number 5 on the Official UK Album Chart and has received a mainly positive critical response.

From January 2009 onwards, the band started work on their second full length LP, entitled The First Days of Spring. Along with the album release, Charlie Fink made a film that runs the entire length of the album, also entitled The First Days of Spring. The band decided not to feature female backup vocals on their second LP. The album was released on 31 August 2009, a little over a year after their debut.

"The First Days of Spring" is the first single release from the album of the same name and is available for download from the band's website. A second single entitled "Blue Skies" was released in the summer of 2009,after the song got its first airplay on Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show on 22 June 2009.

The band played the 2009 Reading and Leeds Festivals on the main stage, as well as a variety of other venues on their current tour.

On 28 August 2009, Doug Fink, brother of lead singer Charlie Fink, announced he would be leaving the band to pursue a career in medicine. The announcement was made days before the imminent release of their second album The First Days of Spring. At the same time, a new member Fred Abbott was brought in on second guitar/piano and Doug was temporarily replaced by former Pull Tiger Tail drummer Jack Hamson.

On 30 September 2009, BBC News reported that the band's equipment including guitars, bass instruments and their drum kit, were stolen from a car park near the Club Academy in Manchester, England. The theft occurred on the night of 29 September 2009. The equipment was recovered in late December 2009.

Their song, "Give a Little Love" was used in an episode of Cougar Town titled "Here Comes My Girl" which first aired on November 25, 2009. Another of their songs, "Blue Skies", was used in an episode of One Tree Hill titled "Some Roads Lead Nowhere" which first aired on December 7, 2009.

In January 2010, it was announced that Noah and the Whale was to be heading to the recording studio soon to prepare their third album, for which the band is considering the title Old Joy (actually is called "Last Night On Earth").