Morning:
14°c
Some fares could fall by more than a third when Oyster is extended to every national rail station in London, it has emerged
More...
New Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of it
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Theatre
A smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusion
Cock
Restaurants
Kitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave
Kitchen W8
Too long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effects
This is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flaws
Alex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factor
London,
André Paine's rating
Reader rating
“We’re Noah and the Whale,” yawned frontman Charlie Fink, and his sleepy introduction did not suggest a man who relishes live performance. But he did a fine job of transferring their impossibly lovelorn second album, The First Days of Spring, to the stage.
The Twickenham band, fired up from the opening older favourite Give a Little Love, were all the more impressive considering their original instruments had been stolen a few days earlier in Manchester. Their folk-flavoured music also had to compete with some irksome audience chatter, which Fink handled with reasonably good humour.
“I know that often during the quieter songs, the temptation is to discuss how much you’re enjoying the concert,” he said, suggesting the alternative was to “enjoy the concert while it happens and discuss it afterwards”.
In response, the audience’s exaggerated shushing still couldn’t silence the conversation. But ultimately it couldn’t detract from the power of epic, spacious tunes such as Blue Skies, Stranger and the album title track.
Fink’s faraway look throughout the set suited these sad songs, which chronicle his break-up with the singer Laura Marling. However, there was musical versatility amid the downbeat lyrics: jagged guitar solos, jaunty violins and cosmic rock wig-outs.
Their early hit 5 Years Time prompted a pleasing singalong during the encore, but sounded almost childish after the new tunes. Even those who spent the evening gabbing at the bar must have worked out that Noah and the Whale have made a huge creative leap forward.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
