Concert Review

Artist: Noah And The Whale 
Venue: Phoenix Concert Theatre 
Date: November 8th, 2011

Reviewed and photographed by Sarah Rix

TORONTO – Tuesday night saw England’s Noah And The Whale at the Phoenix, playing to a young and excitable crowd. The five-piece indie folk band was charming and well received and played songs from their three albums, with a particular focus on 2011’s Last Night On Earth.

Entering the stage after the musical introduction of “Paradise Stars” played over the club’s PA, they launched into the toe-tapping “Give A Little Love”, a song off of their 2008 debut, Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down. Wistful on record, the song was much livelier in-person. It was a theme much of Noah And The Whale’s set played off of and it helped their on-stage presence exponentially.

The band’s lead vocalist and guitarist Charlie Fink carried this stage presence very well, liberally throwing around hand gestures. Fink, for the record, dances like one expects of a skinny English white guy. I’d argue this is a good thing. Also helpful was the fact the band—and roadies—were dressed to the nines. Take note, other artists: it’s always a bonus when the entire band is wearing well-fitted suits.

“It’s a great pleasure to be back in Toronto. It’s our second time back here this year,” said Fink about six songs through the band’s set. Loud, screaming females greeted him—another prominent theme of the night. Of course, it wasn’t quite at the level of Beatles hysteria. Or even close. But it’s understandable with Noah And The Whale much too serious in their musicianship and far too folk-themed for that. You have to think the screams of appreciation were more directed at the songs than the adorableness, though they do have that too.

Fiddle and keyboardist Tom Hobden, bass guitarist Matt Owens, guitarist and keyboardist Fred Abbott and drummer Michael Petulla were well-rehearsed and used the stage well, moving around and throwing in the appropriate head swings. The instrumental breaks were polished and appreciated, especially in “The First Days Of Spring”, the last number of the night that saw the club’s giant disco ball spinning and lit up. Also well done were the harmonies. In 2011’s “Waiting For My Chance To Come”, the choruses were beautifully maneuvered.

But it wasn’t all great. For one, it was a short show, clocking in at about an hour and 15 minutes. As well, the start of 2008’s “Jocasta” sounded off—both tempo wise and in timing. The “romantic” mid-section (as Fink referred to it) dragged, though the set was thankfully revived by the “good times” section.

Fink, referring to the night’s full moon, said, “I don’t know what that means but I know it means good things for the good times section,” before launching into “Tonight’s The Kind Of Night”.

The highlights at least outweighed the bad. “Life Is Life”, “5 Years Time”, the highly catchy “L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.” and the aforementioned “Tonight’s The Kind Of Night” were easy highlights of the set. Above all else, the five members of Noah And The Whale proved they work well together and seem highly aware of who they are as musicians. They’re welcome back to Toronto whenever they’d like.
 

Setlist
Give A Little Love
Just Me Before We Met
Life Is Life
Give It All Back
Shape Of My Heart
Rocks And Daggers
Love Of An Orchestra
Blue Skies
Wild Thing
The Line
Our Window
Tonight’s The Kind Of Night
5 Years Time
Jocasta
Waiting For My Chance To Come
L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.
Old Joy (encore)
The First Days Of Spring (encore)

Thanks to Live Nation.

Catch Noah And The Whale on tour in the U.S. and Canada in November:
Nov. 14: Minneapolis (First Avenue) / Nov. 17: Seattle (Neptune) / Nov. 18: Vancouver (Venue) / Nov. 19: Portland (Wonder Ballroom) / Nov. 21: San Francisco (Great American Music Hall) / Nov. 22: Anaheim (House Of Blues)

Written by :

Sarah