Noah and the Whale, a band best known in the states for the catchy “5 Years Time” song in a Saturn commercial, performed at The Variety Playhouse a few weeks ago. The venue was generously filled, but it was clear that the pit was the place to be. College girls in floral patterned dresses with their camera in tow lined up against the stage to witness the brooding and boyish good looks of lead singer Charlie Fink. Behind the pit was standard theater seating and along the sides were tables with patio seats for guests who wanted to enjoy the show with a beer and slice of pizza from the concession stand.
The Canadian band Bahamas opened for Noah and the Whale. Songwriter Afie Jurvanen sang lead vocals and played guitar. Two female backup singers and a drummer accompanied him on stage. The breezy electric guitar and drums maintained a slow tempo throughout the set. Their sound was was fitting for swaying on a starry night on the beach. Jurvanen’s singing voice had a smooth, pretty boy Southern drawl, but his speaking voice clearly came from up North. As for the backup singers, the two women were able to muster the soul and power of a church choir. Bahamas closed their set with an ode to buck teeth (“I thank the Lord above for blessing you with hockey teeth”) and a cover of Wreckless Eric’s “Whole Wide World.”
The boys of Noah and the Whale kicked off their set with a rocking rendition of “Give a Little Love.” Throughout the night, the stage lights hit lead singer Fink and violinist Tom Hobdon at just the right angle so that their shadows were cast on either sides of the walls. It was probably an accident, but the effect added a fascinating element to the night. Fink’s deep and almost forlorn vocals contrasted with the upbeat tempo of most of their songs. When the drummer, Michael Petulla, was having electrical difficulties, the crowd was treated to “I Have Nothing,” an acoustic song that was not on their set list.
After playing through a couple of what Fink called the “romantic part” of their set, he removed his jacket to signify the “party part” of the night. They got the crowd riled up with “5 Years Time” and “Shape of My Heart,” in which Hobdon truly got to show off his fiddling skills. Noah and the Whale’s last song, “The First Days of Spring,” was jam-packed with emotion through heavy drums and lively guitar.
Bahamas and Noah and the Whale were the perfect pairing. Bahamas eased the crowd into the night through sweet ballads, and Noah and the Whale exploded onto the stage with infectious energy. Witnessing their back to back performances was not a bad way to spend a rainy Wednesday night.
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