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Northern Whale taking 'Flawed' sound to Vegas
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
Northern Whale’s latest release is “The Flawed Album,” but don’t let the name fool you.
The new CD is a sure-footed collection from the Youngstown-based alt-rock band that is on the verge of a breakout (to purchase, check iTunes and other download services).
Northern Whale’s members — Jake Capezzuto (vocals, keys, percussion), Scott Davis (guitar, vocals), Brandon Fisher (guitar, drums, vocals) and Jake Stephens (bass, keys) — are all either 18 or 19 years old. But the act’s songwriting and polish belies its age. And with haunting, jangly guitars and soaring keyboards, Northern Whale is clearly dialed in to the smart-sounding indie-pop zeitgeist.
It’s also getting noticed.
In March, the quartet will head to Las Vegas for five nights of gigs.
A booking agent for clubs on the famed Strip liked what he heard and booked the act to play two shows a night at the Common Wealth and the Linq from March 11-16.
“We’re hoping for plenty of exposure since we play two shows a night for five nights,” said Capezzuto. “Hopefully, we’ll pick up more fans.”
It’s a good week for a trip. The band members will be on spring break and Sin City should be hopping, with the NCAA basketball tournament getting under way.
Capezzuto said he’s pleased with how the new album turned out, especially compared with previous efforts.
“We’ve definitely taken some big strides forward,” he said.
The band was trying to capture the flawed but free spirit of its own youthfulness on the upbeat disc. “Our inspiration came from the idea of youth and being young,” said Capezzuto. “We look at right now as the best years of our lives, so we wanted to try to capture that in our music.”
Northern Whale released two EPs before the current project: “Sailor of the Seven Seas” and “Reckless,” both from 2013.
Before heading to Vegas, the band will perform at a record-release show Saturday at Suzie’s Dogs and Drafts in downtown Youngstown.
Capezzuto said the show will be a five-hour dance party.
“Being that it’s our only show before Vegas, we don’t plan to disappoint,” he said.
Also performing at the show, which was put together by Jimmy Martin of the Jimmyfro Show, will be Spirit of the Bear, Colorblind and Cardboard Cutouts.
“All are young, college and high-school bands from the Youngstown area, and we are all friends through playing past shows together,” said Capezzuto. “It’s going to be a fun, exciting, energetic night.”