Blake Noble

Australian Blake Noble moved half way round the globe to Seattle just ten months ago and the self professed “Underdog,” found many a kindred spirit to help him release his second solo album. The eight track ,mainly instrumental album draws upon Noble’s unique percussive guitar style that picks up where long lost legend Michael Hedges left off; but don’t be fooled this is not “New Age,” music rather a funk rock, jazz, world music fusion for this century.

The opening track “Tsunami,” begins with the guttural moan of the aboriginal Didgeridoo then soon launches into a whirling dervish as Noble is joined by his rhythm section of Isaac Castillo on upright bass, and the rambunctious drumming of Heather Thomas. Nevada Violinist Tim Snider soars above the trio adding the perfect melancholy counterpoint to the frenzy below. Vocalist Cody Beebe then joins Noble in paying tribute to his new found home in the Seattle styled rocker “Truck,” which also features some devastating electric bass playing from Eric Miller. The aggressive rhythms and touches of Middle Eastern flair quickly bring to mind Sound Garden and Alice in Chains in their 1990’s heyday.

A fine string section adds color to the pastoral ballad “Michelle,” taking us through the dramatic love story told in song. Noble guides us on a tour of his native land with the next two selections; evoking visions of waves crashing on the shore in “Perpetual Leader,” then burns up the creosote following the sun across the desert plain on the driving “Rainbow.” Beebe returns to deliver tender vocals on a tale of lost love in “North Carolina,” as Noble weaves a spell with arpeggio and hammer-on guitar lines. The country two step of “Around The World,” feels like something from the Zac Brown Band, if they went to Australia that is. The album closes with the tribal chant of “Waitomo,” and bridges the distance between the natives of North America and New Zealand in a dancing fury.

Blake Noble truly takes us on a globetrotting escapade on his album Underdog; we return cleansed and full of spirit previously unknown. - No Depression - The Roots Music Authority

In ten short months, Blake Noble has made quite the impact in the Pacific Northwest. This Australian born percussive guitarist and didgeridoo player has been sought out and featured on local TV and radio shows such as Evening Magazine, New Day Northwest, The Bob Rivers Show, and The Marty Riemer Podcast. They have been the first to see the story in this solo performer, and also the first ones to recognize incredible talent when they see it.

Exactly a year after arriving in Seattle, Blake Noble will be releasing his sophomore album on June 14th at Nectar Lounge. Since he quit his job in Australia four years ago, Blake has been pushing full steam ahead. It only escalated when he moved his life to the other side of the world in pursuit of his dream; to make music for the masses, and to do it in such a way that hadn't been done before.

Blake plays a 12-string guitar like a drum kit, while simultaneously hitting bass lines and finger picking funky guitar riffs; he also plays the oldest wind instrument on earth, the didgeridoo, along with a stomp-box and occasionally various effects pedals.

At his release show, he will be playing with the full band that’s featured on his album. The musicians making appearances on various songs are Cody Beebe (vocals), Tim Snider (electric violin), Eric Miller (bass), Isaac Castillo (upright bass), and Heather Thomas (drums).

This is someone who truly is an inspiring musician. Even the legendary Lee Oskar (who is one of the greatest harmonica players in the world, and who’s played with the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley) has recognized his talent and asked Blake to collaborate with him in his recent show at The Triple Door. Bob Rivers also asked if he would play with his band at the Emerald Queen Casino. - examiner.com

Blake Noble’s newest music video release: “Perpetual Leader,” sounds like pot of mixed new age and acoustic. Initially, I was surprised that despite the fact that there are no lyrics, the music video can still convey such a strong ambience. Noble and his team certainly made the best with what they had, utilizing the rural landscape that gave the feeling of desolation and loneliness; but it wasn’t sorrowful. It seemed to convey a willfulness to survive and make the best of a post-apocalyptical world. The video reminded me a bit of the movie “I am Legend” which, if you’re not familiar with the movie, also has similar themes (maybe more severe and threatening). They even have similar dogs!
The part of the video I found the most unique was the fact the scene where he is playing the guitar on his lap in front of the campfire. I really enjoyed how every emphasis he strummed on the guitar also had a (drum-like?) accent to it as well. The fire as well added to the drama of the scene.

With the ruins, the (seemingly) self-built camp fire, the baggage and the guitar strapped on his back and ready to go, it fit very well with the music video and the theme of determination and survival. Perhaps viewers can even adapt to their own modern lives, can’t be as bad as what’s being conveyed in the MV right? - somuchgoodmusic.com

SSG Music is proud to be premiere Blake Noble’s second single of his highly-anticipated sophomore album, Underdog. “Truck” takes on a vastly different styling and vibe than Noble’s previous works, with a tongue-in-cheek humor throughout the video. The single features Cody Beebe (from Cody Beebe & The Crooks) on vocals, which lends to a more rock-centric tone. The video was shot around Yakima, WA and the scenery really depicts the Eastside of the state quite well.

Noble premiered his first single “Perpetual Leader” off Underdog on SSG last year, on December 21 to be exact. The date has special meaning to Noble, whose previous album was aptly named Music For The End Of The World, so he thought it would be fitting to premiere it on the end of the Mayan calendar.

Noble has a Kickstarter campaign that has roughly 35 hours left, if you enjoyed either of “Perpetual Leader” or “Truck” then perhaps throw a few dollars his way and pre-order Underdog. - SSG Music

SSG Music is proud to be premiere Blake Noble’s second single of his highly-anticipated sophomore album, Underdog. “Truck” takes on a vastly different styling and vibe than Noble’s previous works, with a tongue-in-cheek humor throughout the video. The single features Cody Beebe (from Cody Beebe & The Crooks) on vocals, which lends to a more rock-centric tone. The video was shot around Yakima, WA and the scenery really depicts the Eastside of the state quite well.

Noble premiered his first single “Perpetual Leader” off Underdog on SSG last year, on December 21 to be exact. The date has special meaning to Noble, whose previous album was aptly named Music For The End Of The World, so he thought it would be fitting to premiere it on the end of the Mayan calendar.

Noble has a Kickstarter campaign that has roughly 35 hours left, if you enjoyed either of “Perpetual Leader” or “Truck” then perhaps throw a few dollars his way and pre-order Underdog. - SSG Music

(June 14, self-released, blakenoblemusic.com): The second album from Australian multi-instrumentalist Noble, Underdog finds the Seattle transplant further exploring his knack for intricate arrangements and world sounds. While his first album was entirely instrumental, this second effort shows him a more dynamic man, utilizing a full band, a string section, and guest vocalist Cody Beebe on three tracks. The result is a wave of experimental noise you’re not hearing from anyone else. - Seattle Weekly

You’ve never heard anything quite like the percussive didgeridoo blues of Blake Noble before. On June 14th, exactly a year after moving to Seattle from his native Australia, Noble releases his sophomore album, Underdog, at the Nectar Lounge. On it, he seems to strike the perfect balance of loud and intricate without sacrificing one for the other. The first track “Tsunami” sets the tone for the album. Just like the titular tidal wave, the track explodes into an all-encompassing wall of sound.
Most of the album is instrumental. Not everyone can pull this off. His music at times seems to tell stories that most bands and musicians can’t convey on their best days. One exception to the instrumental nature of this album is the first single, “Truck.” The song features guest vocals from Cody Beebe. Other musicians making appearances throughout the album include Tim Snider (violin), Eric Miller (bass), Isaac Castillo (upright bass) and Heather Thomas (drums).
Other highlights include the uplifting melodies of “Michelle,” the didgeridoo soaked “Perpetual Leader,” and the racing guitar of “Around the World.”
Noble will be playing with the full band featured on his album when he hits the stage at the Nectar Lounge this Friday. If you don’t want to wait until then you can listen to some of the new tracks on www.blakenoblemusic.com or catch his recent feature on Seattle’s Evening Magazine. - Back Beat Seattle

It’s funny how things work out, like, how sometimes you’re an Australian musician living in a tent when a woman comes to your small town and likes your music (and likes you) so she becomes your girlfriend and your publicist.

And then she goes back home to the United States when her visa expires and starts working for other musicians, but she’s still your girlfriend so she hooks you up with one of her best clients, who secures your first stateside gig. Just the classic story, you know?

In Blake Noble’s case, all of that actually happened. The woman was Seattle-based Michelle Bounds, who started her career as a publicist after finding Noble in the small resort town of Byron Bay on the east coast of Australia. The client she got after heading home to Seattle was Cody Beebe and The Crooks, the band fronted by Yakima native Cody Beebe that has become something of a player on the crowded Northwest roots-rock scene. Just about a year ago, Noble came to America, and Beebe helped arrange his first U.S. gig, a free show at 5 North in downtown Yakima.

I looked up Noble at the time and found footage of him playing percussive 12-string guitar at a festival in Australia. Here’s what I wrote in that week’s On magazine: “The term ‘percussive guitar’ isn’t really strong enough for what Blake Noble does. ... But since ‘attack guitar’ isn’t really a recognized genre and you’ve got to call it something, ‘percussive guitar’ will have to do. But this is not a guy doing a bit of strumming while keeping rhythm by hitting the guitar with his thumb. This is a guy playing his guitar like a drum-kit, and it sounds fantastic.”

He’s played the Yakima Valley several times since, including a rave-reviewed set at the Beebe-founded Chinook Music Festival outside of Naches last year. Each show has gained him more fans, solidifying this odd little link between Yakima and an Aussie musician who lives in Seattle. On Saturday, Beebe will join Noble again as the latter releases his new album with a show at the 4th Street Theatre.

“It was almost exactly a year ago that I played that first show at 5 North,” Noble says in a phone interview from his home in Seattle earlier this week. “And now a year later to be playing the 4th Street Theatre, which is a hell of a lot bigger than 5 North, it’s kind of surreal.”

Frankly, it’s a better room for the sort of high-energy guitar work Noble does when he really gets going. Though he has a semiformal musical background — his mother taught piano, and he went through a whole orchestra’s worth of instruments as a youngster — he taught himself guitar. His style of banging relentlessly on the body of the guitar was incorporated out of necessity during his formative days busking around Australia and the East Coast of the United States.

“Sometimes I didn’t have the money to replace the strings on my guitar,” he says. “I play 12 strings, and I’d be down to four strings. I couldn’t really play anything with that little amount of strings. I had to start hitting my guitar like a drum.”

The result was something along the lines of how Richie Havens played in the ’60s or how Rodrigo y Gabriela play now. Then Noble added the didgeridoo, a traditional wind instrument developed by indigenous Australians, making his sound unique. He is the rare performer who can play essentially pop or rock-based music without any vocals and still hold an audience.

“That’s really what I wanted to do, something different from everyone else,” he says. “There are a million bands who sing and play electric guitar.”

That’s the sound that won him his fan base in Yakima and in Seattle, where he has played gigs at notable venues such as the Neptune Theatre, Tractor Tavern and the Triple Door. He expands on that sound with the new album, “Underdog,” which was recorded at Seattle’s London Bridge Studio. He’s got the backing of a full band, and Beebe sings on four of the tracks — a significant departure from Noble’s first album, 2011’s “Music for the End of the World,” on which he stuck to a strictly all-instrumental approach.

The song “Truck,” for which Noble released a video on his website earlier this week, is an example of one of those tracks. It’s much more of a straightforward rock song than anything on his last album. It has almost a Southern-rock feel that certainly is influenced by Beebe and The Crooks. It was “written for people in Yakima,” Noble says. And it should go over big here.

Mostly, he’s still an instrumental act. He does write songs with lyrics, and he does sing at home when he plays for friends, but he’s not comfortable enough as a singer to do it on stage yet.

“That’s just a personal issue that I have myself,” Noble says. “I was a drummer in a few bands back when I was growing up, back in the garage. I chose to be a drummer instead of a lead singer. I didn’t crave the spotlight. But I do want to play music and share music.”

And, as much as it looks like he’s lost in the music when he’s on sta - Yakima Herald-Republic

• Blake Noble doesn’t play the guitar like most people do. He attacks it like Richie Havens used to, just beating on it, turning it into a percussion instrument as well as a guitar. There’s a raw energy to his playing that makes that necessary, as though his energy can’t be fully expressed just by the strings. If you saw him open for Cody Beebe and The Crooks last month at The Seasons, you know he can stir an audience. - Yakima Herald

White, Oskar and Popper, along with a younger generation of cats like: Jake Nannery, Blake Noble, Cody Beebe and The Crooks and a twelve-year-old guitar phenom named Caspian Coberly wowed the Neptune crowd and helped bridge musical generation gaps in the process.

Seattle Wave Radio Jammin’ Challenge winner Jake Nannery (guitar, vocals & trombone) and his Wooden Nickel Brass Band (Mike West on drums & Ramon Salumbides on standup bass) kicked off the show with New Orleans funk inspired performance and brought a portion of the crowd to their feet with a spirited delivery.

Blake Noble, who relocated from the Land Down Under over six months ago, has been winning over Northwest music lovers since his arrival. He surely gained some new fans at PIF3 with some stunning acoustic guitar work, combined with his the Australian didgeridoo (a wooden trumpet-like drone pipe.) (See video below)

Noble’s performance was a fine compliment to the show and provided nice musical segues in-between set changes.

Roots rockers Cody Beebe and The Crooks (Cody Beebe on guitar and lead vocals, Eric Miller on bass / vocals, Aaron Myers on keys / vocals, Joe Catron on percussion & Chris Green on drums) stepped up next and rocked the room with their gritty and up-tempo sound. The band is in the process of finishing up the sophomore effort to be released later this year.

After Noble performed another number, Tsunami, Heart by Heart, featuring founding Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and founding members from Heart (Roger Fisher on guitar, Steve Fossen on bass and Michael Derosier on drums) along with guitarists Randy Hansen, Andy Baldwin, keyboardist Eric Robert (Geoffrey Castle / Vicci Martinez) and lead vocalist Somar Macek took fans down musical memory lane by treating them to a healthy portion of some Heart classics.

Blake Noble came out again and performed the Bundjalung, which gave him the opportunity to turn his guitar into a drum, showcasing his percussion skills.

Alan White with his band White (Robyn Noto on lead vocals, Steve Boyce on bass / vocals, Jon Sindleman on keyboards / vocals) & Karl Haug on guitar) performed several rock classics along with multi-instrumentalist Lynn Sorensen (Bad Company), drummer Jeff Kathan, Caspian Coberly, (who possesses the musical soul and technical proficiency of someone four times his age) and the incomparable Geoffrey Castle (See complete setlist below).

There were too many musical highlights to mention but seeing two of the greatest harmonica players in the world, Lee Oskar and John Popper do their thing together again was nothing short of spectacular. Oskar and Popper had an all out jam party out on stage while performing the WAR classic Lowrider. As if that wasn’t enough, the band launched into Blues Traveler's Carolina Blues, featuring Popper on lead vocals. Popper and Oskar traded harmonica solos back and forth while the band was locked right into the pocket.

For the finale, all of the participating artists came back out on stage for a rousing version of One Way Out from The Allman Brothers, ending the show with a celebratory tone. - examiner.com

While every one of the performers deserves some recognition, there were definitely a few who stood out. Blake Noble, who performed on the second stage, blew everyone away with unconventional chord progressions on a 12-string guitar while simultaneously playing the didjeridoo. His quick strumming and drumming on the guitar resembled a style made popular by Rodrigo y Gabriela and the low vibrations of the didjeridoo echoed through the open field. Noble deserves to be heard by many, and those who failed to make the trip away from the first stage definitely missed out. - Seattle Music Insider

Blake Noble has been preparing for Doomsday since 2011, when his debut album Music For the End of the World was released. When December 21, 2012 began creeping up and the talk of the Mayan calendar was all anyone could hear, Noble decided to take matters into his own hands. The Australian musician decided to create a post-apocalyptic music video to coincide with the End of the World.

“Perpetual Leader” is his first single off his upcoming sophomore album Underdog, which will be released in Spring 2013. The video follows Noble as a lone survivor in a post-apocalyptic world. The nomad carries his guitar, didgeridoo, and some basic camping equipment while he journeys to find other life, which he soon encounters. The nighttime performance in front of a campfire is gorgeous and the string arrangements in the song bring an ethereal tone alongside the didgeridoo. Noble’s percussive guitar skills are impressive, even more so around the climax of “Perpetual Leader”. If today was the last day of Earth, this is one song to go out listening to. - SSG Music

"When Blake Noble views his 12-string guitar, he sees not only the steel strings, but the whole percussive potential of the hollow body"
Kevin Bull, Reverb Magazine - Reverb Magazine

"When Blake Noble views his 12-string guitar, he sees not only the steel strings, but the whole percussive potential of the hollow body"
Kevin Bull, Reverb Magazine - Reverb Magazine

Bluesfest Busking competition finalist Blake Noble is back at The Rails for his final gig in Australia. With a large following, a brand new solo album, and gig offers from around the world, Blake is taking his music to the next level and leaving his hometown of Byron for one of America’s major music hubs - Seattle.

Rarely do you see a solo instrumental guitarist captivate an entire crowd, but this is Blake’s specialty. Influenced by some of the worlds’ best guitarists such as Tommy Emmanuel and Andy Mckee, Blake has a created a unique and original style that has people talking. He plays his 12 string guitar more like a drum kit as he weaves beautiful melodies and harmonics with funky bass lines and mind bending guitar riffs simultaneously.

Blake is supported by gypsy rockers The Pit Club. The last time Blake and The Pit Club teamed up at The Rails, they packed the place, so get your spot early and grab a copy of Blake’s album ‘Music for the end of the world’. It’s as good as it sounds.
- The Echo

Hi Blake, tell me a little about your background..where you are from and what has brought you to Byron?

Hi Mandy. I am originally from Byron, but went to school in Port Macquarie. My family has been in this area for a long time. I travelled around the world for many years, mostly busking and conducting didgeridoo workshops in America and the UK. I come from a very musical family, and always had plenty of different instruments to play at home. My Mum is a piano teacher, so I learned piano my entire life, then moved onto violin, saxophone, didgeridoo, drums and finally I taught myself how to play the guitar. I have been focusing on guitar and drums/percussion for about 15 years now.

What do you bring to the stage when you are performing?

Hopefully something original. I am an instrumental percussive guitarist. I play a twelve string guitar that I frequently hit like a drum. Most people haven't seen that live before. Because I don't use lyrics, I attempt to draw the audience in by using just music, in an unusual way. My songs go from delicate harmonics and fingerpicking, to rapid percussive guitar and chunky rock riffs, in less than 5 seconds.

What did you set about to achieve with your new album?

I just wanted to share my ideas with people. I wanted to show people that a guitar is not just a guitar, and at the same time, I wanted people to truly listen to acoustic guitar with no vocals hiding all the subtle sounds that can be created. I wanted to push the guitar to it's absolute limits, while also pushing myself to my own limits, both physically and musically. The album is called 'Music for the end of the world'.

Tell me a little about the recording process? Who, where etc

I went to Melbourne to record with my good friend 'Ollie MC'. We crammed ourselves into his home studio, with his cat and a thousand leads going all over the place. We ended up spending the first week just adjusting microphone positions to find the right sound. It turns out it is quite difficult to record a guitar being slapped as hard as possible.

What song were you the happiest with?

Probably Bundjalung. It is my song for the traditional owners of this land that we live on. It is played in a style called 'lap tapping,' which is when I sit cross legged on the floor and lay the guitar in my lap - similar to slide guitar, but without the slide. I just closed my eyes and thought of Bundjalung country. I got it in one take and we hardly had to adjust anything during mastering.

What songs did you struggle with?

'Today is the Day' and also 'Shy but Deluxe'. They both have rapid fretwork that is extremely difficult to play, despite having wrote it.

When you are in the studio the choices you make are endless, how do you know when to finish?

Well, it was really interesting for me because when I play live, the only effects I use are the standard reverb and compression. Being in the studio was fantastic because we added a few cool delay effects and even some audio, featuring military speak and gunfire, wind and rain, things like that. In the past, I was always adamant that if you couldn't physically play it all at once, then you shouldn't do it. Ollie MC taught me that whatever is best for the song is exactly what you should do, so that is what we did.

What is the essence of your music?

That's a tough one. Creativity. Expression. Predominantly it is my belief that there are no bounds in music. Two years ago I gave up my day job, sold all my stuff, moved out of my apartment on the beach and moved into a tent at The Arts Factory hostel. I gave up everything I didn't need so that I could devote myself to music full time. Hopefully that comes across in my music.

What should we expect for your album launch at the Rails??

I've got an awesome support band, The Pit Club, getting people in the mood. Then I will be playing all the tracks off my album, plus a couple of new ones. It's a high energy live show, and really physically demanding. I've created my own genre which I call Percussive Acoustic Funk Roots. I encourage my audience to dance, shout and scream at any time during my shows. After all, it's music for the end of the world... - Mandy Nolan, The Echo.