Never failing to sell out Norwich’s biggest music venue, Noah and the Whale returned to the UEA LCR on Wednesday night to a capacity crowd in high spirits. On a night of strange coincidence, ex-Noah band member Laura Marling was performing an undoubtedly delightful show the other side of the city at Norwich Cathedral. Personally I had hoped for some kind of tearful reunion but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.
It’s been 10 months since the band released their 3rd album ‘Last Night on Earth’ and have been touring worldwide with it since. The band’s US Tour kicks off in a week in Boston after their three remaining UK dates in Southampton, Truro and Bristol.
Material from all three albums made up the mixed set list of Noah tunes with songs from ‘Last Night on Earth’ getting the lion’s share. Singles ‘L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N’ and ‘Tonight’s the Kind of Night’ were ever-popular with the crowd as were those that launched the band to fame in 2008 such as ‘5 Years Time’ and ‘Shape of My Heart.’
The less-folksy feel of the latest album at times jars with their earlier material but the band’s new-found pop sensibility in ‘Last Night on Earth’ is perfect for live consumption. ‘Life is Life’, ‘Just Me Before We Met’ and ‘Give It All Back’ proved to be sing-a-longs just as the singles have done in the past.
‘Blue Skies’ from the band’s sophomore effort ‘The First Days of Spring’ illuminated the venue and the crowd went home in no doubt that little had been left out of a greatest hits set list.