MySpace.com - Or, the Whale - SAN FRANCISCO, California - Rock / Country / Indie - www.myspace.com/orthewhale

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Or, the Whale
Rock / Country / Indie

		"Workin' On Our Night Moves" SAN FRANCISCO, California United States Profile Views: 85848 Last Login: 7/8/2008
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Contacting Or, the Whale

MySpace URL:

http://www.myspace.com/orthewhale

Or, the Whale: General Info

Member Since	12/13/2005
Band Website	orthewhale.com
Band Members	Alex Robins Matt Sartain Lindsay Garfield Justin Fantl Jesse Hunt Julie Ann Thomasson Photos by Michael Garlington. Tim Marcus
Influences	epic battles betwixt marine life
Sounds Like
Type of Label	None

Upcoming Shows

Jul 31 2008

9:00P

Doug Fir Lounge with Power of County and Bark Hide & Horn

Portland, Oregon

Aug 1 2008

9:00P

Broadway Rock Hall

Coos Bay, Oregon

Aug 2 2008

9:00P

Tractor Tavern with Eef Barzelay (of Clem Snide) and Conrad Ford

Seattle, Washington

Aug 3 2008

3:00P

Music in the Mountains Festival with Finn Riggins, Kris Doty, Low Fi, and many others

Garden Valley, Idaho

Aug 3 2008

8:00P

Visual Arts Collective with Finn Riggins, Craters of the Moon, Golden Spun, and Chase Pagan

Boise, Idaho

Aug 5 2008

9:00P

Urban Lounge with Kid Theodore and Calico

Salt Lake City, Utah

Aug 6 2008

8:00P

Hi-Dive with Hello Kavita, Snow Piano, and Hawks of Paradise

Denver, Colorado

Aug 7 2008

7:30P

Santa Fe Brewing Company with The Old Main and Bellemah

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Aug 8 2008

9:00P

Plush with The Swim and The Solace Brothers

Tucson, Arizona

Aug 9 2008

8:00P

Modified Arts with Peachcake and The Silent Comedy

Phoenix, Arizona

Aug 10 2008

8:30P

The Casbah with The Silent Comedy and Hotel St. George

San Diego, California

Aug 11 2008

9:00P

The Prospector with Paperplanes and more TBA

Long Beach, California

Aug 12 2008

8:00P

The Echo with The Idaho Falls, Leslie and The Badgers, and Caleb Nichols (Port O’Brien)

Los Angeles, California

Aug 14 2008

9:30P

Sophia’s with Two Sheds

Davis, California

Aug 15 2008

9:00P

The Great American Music Hall with The Federalists and Emily Jane White

San Francisco, California

Or, the Whale's Latest Blog Entry [Subscribe to this Blog]

OTW Interviews on Amoeba.com and Crawdaddy! (view more)

Live on Good Morning America Tomorrow (5/13)!! (view more)

Radio Show Songs and Upcoming So Cal Tour! (view more)

Busy February ’08! (view more)

Top 12 of 2007 on the Bay Bridged! (view more)

[View All Blog Entries]

About Or, the Whale

"Light Poles and Pines" - Or, the Whale's first full-length album available HERE!

"A reference to Moby Dick and a testament to the roots of what making music is all about, San Francisco seven-piece Or, the Whale, is kicking up dust along the West Coast and spreading the gospel of honest music.... Seeing this band play live is touching, invigorating, and downright fun."
- West Coast Performer Magazine

"Brandishing four Grand Ole Opry–worthy vocalists — frequently harmonizing to thrilling effect — as well as three other accomplished musicians, Or, the Whale throw one hell of a barn dance."
- San Francisco Bay Guardian

"The group has been together now for approximately two years but they sound as if it’s been two decades.....Clever alt-country, Americana, roots rock, indie pop, and alternative tunes are all mangled together for one sound that is bootstrapping and dynamite."
- Smother Magazine

"Or the Whale may live in the Bay Area of San Francisco, but their music belongs to the country as a whole. This is the sound of a mythic America, where dreams can be followed, where lives can be changed and where friendship means everything. Light Poles and Pines is an album to fall in love with and for all the right reasons. It’s as American as Mark Twain and every bit as charming and nostalgic as his writing. Prepare to have your heart warmed."
- Incendiary Magazine

"Some would say that they're a country band playing rock and roll and some would say they're a rock and roll band playing country. it doesn't really matter, because they embody the best aspects of both genres while avoiding the cliched trappings of either."
- Instrumental Analysis

"Light Poles is syrupy thick in rich harmonies and a yearning swoon that makes it impossible to ignore."
- PopMatters -

"A well-seasoned stew that would put a smile on the faces of Wilco and Neil Young fans as well as devotees of bands like The Hold Steady and The Weakerthans."
- The Distillery Blog

"What is so clear listening to Light Poles And Pines is that this is a young band with tremendous potential. A lot of the musical ideas don't feel entirely fleshed out, but remain engaging and thoroughly enjoyable, and most importantly, just plain fun."
- Celestial Biscuit

"At first listen I though this may be one of those alt-countryish things that is pleasant enough but that I could really take or leave. But turns out it's almost indescribably great, so I guess I'll take it."
- PURGe

"Soaring vocal harmonies convey stories of good times and heartbreak over textured melodic instrumentals that reference a number of familiar and comforting musical elements from folk, rock, and Americana, fused together into a uniquely sublime blend that feels less anachronistic than timeless."
- Aji Signal

"Like any co-ed ensemble worthy of your stereo, Or, the Whale make it sound so natural and easy that you can’t help but think of how much fun it must be to be in their band."
- Reviewer Magazine

"This impressive debut from Or, the Whale declares a promise and brands themselves, with a hot iron, as representatives of the true revival of modern Americana. These guys have clearly been sifting and have apparently found gold. Lucky for us, they're willing to share the wealth."
- Delusions of Adequacy

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Biography

Or, the Whale is the band that if ever caught off guard by an onstage power outage would say, “Fuck it,” pull in tighter, and play and sing harder and louder than you’d hoped for in the first place.

Sure, the San Francisco-based band harbors seven members, so you could argue for strength in numbers. But writing off the impression that they inevitably leave isn’t so easy; with such a diverse group of musicians, there’s no shortage of skill and influence. Some members toured in punk bands, others played roots and funk music, and still another tested her pipes as a chamber music vocalist. At first glance, their histories seem random. But weave those experiences together and you get a sound you can feel.

Or, the Whale’s songs range from danceable, rhythm-charged country-rock ditties with swaggering bass lines and articulately stomped-out drums to indie pop-rock tunes with bopping piano, snapping drums, and loops of finger-plucked guitar that explode into electric riffs to add fuel to fervent vocals. Slow it down and throw in some four-part harmonies, vibrant organ passages, and rippling pedal steel, and songs escalate into thoughtful ballads.

When it comes down to it Or, the Whale’s music can fly spirited and boisterous or topple lonely and bereaved. Hell, sometimes it does all those things in one song. Stories of hope and longing emerge from soothing, stirring vocals and twangy rock instrumentation. The latest evidence of this is on their first full-length album, Light Poles and Pines.

At times, Light Poles and Pines is omnipotent and epic (“Life and Death at Sea”), painfully reflective (“Rope Don’t Break”), or both (“Fight Song”). On “Life and Death at Sea,” defeated, raspy lead vocals sink under a whining pedal steel until pulled up by a rousing harmony. The two voices blend and are joined for a powerful chorus that valiantly leads the song back into the light of hope. And really, that’s the secret behind Or, the Whale’s draw: their songs are honest, intelligent, musically compelling reflections that act like the light off of a beacon, shining over the darkest, choppiest waters.
-Melanie Roberts

I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4

Or, the Whale's Friend Space (Top 24)

Or, the Whale has 4122 friends.

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Power of County

hello kavita

Conrad Ford

calico

two sheds

Finn Riggins

CANADA

JJ

WC Performer Magazine

Thread Productions

The Bay Bridged

View Or, the Whale's Friends: | |

Or, the Whale's Friends Comments

Displaying 50 of 777 comments ( View All | Add Comment )

Felecia and the Dinosaur	Jul 8 2008 12:15 AM im moving to atlanta in the fall. i plan on coming back to portland but im playin it by ear. i luff you guys too. im almost done with my album!!
Nancy	Jul 7 2008 4:58 PM i wish!!! but sadly no soFla dates on your calendar :(
marco	Jul 7 2008 12:00 PM Or, The Whale thanks for the vinyl ep that i received with the ordered cd's. Greetings from the Netherlands Marco
Low Red Land	Jun 29 2008 9:05 PM You bros and babes should work your night moves over to El Rio on July 4th for our big party. FREE BBQ, seven bands, day/night moves, etc. Starts at 2.
Felecia and the Dinosaur	Jun 29 2008 10:27 AM hey guys im movin back south in a few months and i would really love to do a show with ya before i move!
I'm a monster, every day is Holloween	Jun 24 2008 11:19 PM take me on tour w/ you!
Cécile	Jun 24 2008 3:32 AM I'm very sorry, for the very late review. Hope it'll help you a little bit. I saw that you don't accept html code in your myspace profile comments so rendez-vous on words-sounds.blogspot.com Kisses Cécile
Nancy	Jun 21 2008 8:37 AM good darn music,<3
OPEN LABS	Jun 18 2008 4:28 PM Our current MySpace Top 40 Feature is Animal Bands ... and you made the list. Thanks for being our MySpace Friend. Your friends @ Open Labs
the difference between	Jun 18 2008 8:20 AM stumbled upon you guys lastnite. wtf? so good.
Switchblade	Jun 17 2008 7:33 PM Please bring your lovely sounds and selves back to Reno, NV!
SALT & SAMOVAR	Jun 17 2008 8:12 AM Garfield! some day we'll do a show together. I forgot to write you when we played The Independent a few weeks ago. My B. Long live the Swamp. P.S.--The bass player of our band is from Nahant!
DAMAGE THE DREAM	Jun 15 2008 11:13 AM THANKS FOR THE ADD!!! YOU GUYS SOUND GREAT!!! COME OUT TONIGHT TO THE GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC HALL AND SUPPORT US AT THE REGIONAL FINALS OF EMERGENZA'S INTERNATIONAL BATTLE OF THE BANDS!!! ALL AGES SHOW.
RSN	Jun 14 2008 8:46 AM I'll be looking for you on your next trip north - finding CA musicians/bands that play the good stuff is the equivalent of finding gold once again in these here hills :D peace rsn
Edward Mikalski	Jun 9 2008 4:14 PM Hej ladies and gentlemen Just seen your video from the tractor .I would just loved to have been there .Thanks for a great 40 mins Best wishes Teddy in Denmark x
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)	Jun 7 2008 1:00 PM I hope you enjoy the t-shirt Julie. It is very soft. At least it wasnt my underwear that landed on your mic stand.
casey jo	Jun 7 2008 12:10 PM http://www.fuzz.com/sanfrancisco/news/entry/A-Great-Evening-with-Or-the-Whale-Pete-and-J Thanks again for everything. Good luck with future shows!
Jesse	Jun 6 2008 5:26 PM um, i'm sorry to get all girlgush on your myspace page, but you girls were such babes in your purple/magenta numbers last night! and of course--the music was incredible. i'm so proud of all yu'uns. xo
double L	Jun 6 2008 12:21 PM thanks for rockin' the independent! See you in August.
Pickwick	Jun 5 2008 11:07 AM howdy. great to meet you.
Band of Annuals	Jun 5 2008 8:36 AM hello darlings. can't wait to see you in slc! love, BOA
low-fi	Jun 1 2008 9:38 AM Hey guys, looking forward to playing with you at Music in the Mountains! I noticed you'll be at the VaC Sunday night as well, you'll love that place! Todd
Mikki