Noah and the Whale: Last night on earth spent at Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Noah and the Whale were at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire for the final part of the Last Night on Earth tour – the ultimate album released by the London band in 2011. A teenage-style cheering crowd and an awesome setting with video installations onstage was a good start to the event. Life is Life carried on the same wavelength opening the dances to the hour and a half live performance. Touching bits, emotions and reminiscences of the past three albums, Noah and the Whale get through their entire collection of soulful tunes, finally expressing the joy and happiness of a “new life that it feels like heaven…”

No new songs for Noah and the Whale tonight, but none seem to care. The live set is presented as a revival of the past five year’s work of the band. From the early poetic composition of Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down, through the tormented and beautiful First Days of Spring, Last Night on Earth is still considered the main “guest” of the night, but the past can’t be faded away, can it?

A bunch of nodding heads, dancing fans and hugging couples keep on staring at Charlie Fink with his fellow music partners. Clapping hands don’t stop echoing and the band skilfully engage in exchanging different musical instruments on the stage, while a projection of their performance, shot in fish-eye lenses, kicks off on the back scenario of the stage. 

The live set goes with the flow as clean and precise folk-rock sounds get mixed with the sincere poetry of the lyrics (Old Joy) and the recreation of a full orchestra sound (Love of an Orchestra). Famous tunes are indeed played to satisfy the demand. The song 5 Years Time carries on for five minutes as the members of the band all get named and officially presented onstage. Their song L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N. gets the entire Shepherd’s Bush Empire insanely happy. 

First Days of Spring, the cherry on top for this ending tour, plays the goodbye part of the Last Night on Earth soulful performance and Noah and the Whale once again succeed in pointing out their excellence, lyrically and musically speaking.

Giulia Frigieri