The band consists of Charlie Fink (vocals, guitar), Doug Fink (drums 2006-2009), Tom Hobden (fiddle), Urby Whale (bass), and Fred Abbott (guitar/keys 2009- ) and after a few singles, released their debut album, Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down in August 2008. Emmy The Great sang for short periods with the band and the brass accompaniment on the CD is provided by Jon Carvell (trombone) and Sam Kinrade (trumpet). Lillie Flynn (sister of singer Johnny Flynn) and Rebecca from Slow Club have also filled the role of female vocalist during tours. Until mid-2008, Laura Marling was a member of the band and performed with the band as her schedule from her solo touring allowed and performed the background vocals on the band's debut album. Marling left the band shortly after ending her romantic relationship with Charlie Fink several months after the release of Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down.
They have been compared to Neutral Milk Hotel, Bonnie Prince Billy and Belle & Sebastian, and the band cite both punk rock and folk as influences.
Their name is a marriage of the title of one of the band's favourite films, The Squid and the Whale, and the director of said film's name (Noah Baumbach). They are also avid fans of the film director Wes Anderson, who helped produce The Squid and the Whale alongside Baumbach; the group's e-mails, and many of their MySpace blog posts, are signed "Sic Transit Gloria", a phrase frequently used in Anderson's film Rushmore.
The band performed on Jeremy Warmsleys internet television show, Welcome to our TV show, and have made several appearances at festivals including Leeds, Cambridge Folk Festival, Latitude, SXSW, V Festival and Glastonbury. They also plan on playing a mini US tour, most likely around their Lollapalooza performance, though the dates have not been officially announced. They are currently scheduled to play Coachella 2009 on the Friday date.
In May 2008, the group's side-project, The A Sides, performed a one-off show at The Push Club.
The band's debut album, Peaceful, the World Lays me Down, was released on 11 August 2008 The release got to Number 5 on the Official UK Album Chart and has received a mainly positive critical response.
From January 2009 onwards, the band started work on their second full length LP, entitled The First Days of Spring. Along with the album release, Charlie Fink made a film that runs the entire length of the album, also entitled The First Days of Spring. The band decided not to feature female backup vocals on their second LP. The album was released on 31 August 2009, a little over a year after their debut.
"The First Days of Spring" is the first single release from the album of the same name and is available for download from the band's website. A second single entitled "Blue Skies" was released in the summer of 2009,after the song got its first airplay on Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show on 22 June 2009.
The band played the 2009 Reading and Leeds Festivals on the main stage, as well as a variety of other venues on their current tour.
On 28 August 2009, Doug Fink, brother of lead singer Charlie Fink, announced he would be leaving the band to pursue a career in medicine. The announcement was made days before the imminent release of their second album The First Days of Spring. At the same time, a new member Fred Abbott was brought in on second guitar/piano and Doug was temporarily replaced by former Pull Tiger Tail drummer Jack Hamson.
On 30 September 2009, BBC News reported that the band's equipment including guitars, bass instruments and their drum kit, were stolen from a car park near the Club Academy in Manchester, England. The theft occurred on the night of 29 September 2009. The equipment was recovered in late December 2009.
Their song, "Give a Little Love" was used in an episode of Cougar Town titled "Here Comes My Girl" which first aired on November 25, 2009. Another of their songs, "Blue Skies", was used in an episode of One Tree Hill titled "Some Roads Lead Nowhere" which first aired on December 7, 2009.
In January 2010, it was announced that Noah and the Whale was to be heading to the recording studio soon to prepare their third album, for which the band is considering the title Old Joy.
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