Noah & The Whale @ The FactoryTheatre, Sydney (02/08/2011)

Wed 3rd Aug, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Theatricality and showmanship are key factors of a Noah the The Whale performance, but the most striking aspect of the set is the unabashed candid honesty at the heart of it all. They are the rare breed of artists who excel at everything, but play it so cool that no one resents them for it.

The boys kick off by walking onto an open stage to the tune of their own little opening theme. Stage lights flicker, smoke snakes around their legs, and they boyishly jump and wave in acknowledgment of the cheering crowd. All smiles, they look like lads who’ve stolen their dads’ best suits and immediately launch into Give A Little Love, a solid track from their debut album.

The Noah and The Whale boys keep the crowd happy with favourites from their earlier records. Screams erupt at only the first few chords of Blue Skies. They announce the beginning of “the romantic part” of their set before playing the sexy, base heavy Wild Thing. As it turns out, their romantic sentiments stretch only as far as one raunchy song before Charlie tells us that they’re done with romance and eager to move into the party part of the set. No one complains. How can they when the band pump out a strong list of singles that beg to be danced to?

Shape of my Heart, 5 Years Time and Tonight’s the Kind of Night carry us through to an encore that appropriately leaves us with the upbeat and life affirming track, L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N, and both young and old file out of the theatre with the type of spring you only get in your step after a such a feel good performance.