Jon Pataky - Vocals, Keyboards, scared of large underwater things Collin Bailey - Accordion, Organ, Vocals, Shakey Things, Clapping, Hugs, Rei Robinson - Drums,Rhyming things with Gorilla, see also: Burger Time Kyle Colter - Theremin, Trombone, Turtlenecks, Acoustic Guitar, Floor tom, Creepy Mask, Windychimes, Vocals See also: Pistolbrides Dustin Meyer - Violin, Sandals with Khakis Jef McClimans- Bass Guitar, Panama Jack meets Calvin Klien Style Sense Dan Eberhardt- Electric Guitar see also: Lucky Shoreline
Influences
At Home:
Jes Kramer, Jake Stilson and the MiMiMis, GrrRopolis, Great Lakes Myth Society, Canada, Frontier Ruckus, Mason Proper, Annie Palmer, Nate Kalish and the Wildfire, Chip Fundy, The Hard Lessons,Man At Arms, Fields of Industry, Glowfriends, Chance Jones, Sensual Armed Forces, The Pop Project, Valentiger, The Fainting Generals, Invisible Mansion, Lights at Sea, Cookie Bumstead Sh! The Octopus, Matt Jones, Actual Birds, Lazy Genius
And any other band or fan that feels as good about the current Michigan climate as we do.
And Elsewhere:
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, ELO, The Arcade Fire, The Flaming Lips, Guided By Voices, Neil Young, Jonathan Richman (The Modern Lovers), John Williams, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, The Rock-A-Fire Explosion.
THE MIGHTY NARWHALEA Ship Without A Country, A Mast Without A Sail
The Mighty Narwhale is a seven-piece orchestral pop explosion based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The band originally emerged as a two-man, sixteen track recording experiment in the spring of 2005. A few months of passing around a single CD-R (featuring two demo tracks) caused a bit of a stir, and it soon became evident that these songs needed a much larger environment in order to thrive. In October of the same year, seven individuals gathered in a tiny basement to flesh out these tracks.
Almost three years to the day of the first practice The Mighty Narwhale released its first full-length, self-produced album, A Ship Without A Country, A Mast Without A Sail. The current lineup consists of Jon Pataky ( vocals, piano, organ), Collin Bailey (vocals, accordion), Kyle Colter ( vocals, acoustic guitar, trombone, theremin, percussion), William Daniel Eberhardt ( electric guitar), Jef McClimans ( bass), Dustin Meyer (violin), and Rei Robinson (drums).
The album acts as a guided tour through the Narwhale’s successes and failures, their shortcomings, and their quest to find a comfortable place in their lives to sit down and take a breather. Songs such as, ‘ Rosie, I’m Taking You Out,’ and ‘From Here to There, Eventually,’ find them dealing with a dying town and the need to find the nearest escape route; ‘ League of Tusks,’ trudges around like a fictional beast, and delves into the desire to forget a past that won’t be forgotten. The album closer, ‘ The Difference,’ finds them in a state of delusion and paranoia while struggling to decipher fiction from reality.
The band has received several laudatory write-ups in Michigan based publications, including Music Revue Magazine, Real Detroit Weekly, Grand Rapids Magazine, and the Kalamazoo Gazette; and has shown up on college radio programs from Chicago to Ann Arbor. As far as live shows go, the band has played with several notable national acts, such as The Danielson Family, The Rocket Summer, Mason Proper, Knife Skills, The Dodos, Dirty On Purpose, Arrah and the Ferns, Pit Er Pat, The Show Is the Rainbow, and Great Lakes Myth Society.
"[The Mighty Narwhale] deftly mesh orchestral textures and splendid harmonies amid pop sensibility and rock underpinnings, sometimes even creating theatrical passages that you feel like you can almost see while you're giving it a listen."
- The Grand Rapids Press
The Mighty Narwhale accepts Local Spin of the Year award
Buy Our Album From These Fine Online Retailers!
The Mighty Narwhale... Says Goodbye!'s Friend Space (Top 23)
The Mighty Narwhale... Says Goodbye! has 1487 friends.
Jon, went to concert with friends, tried to locate you without avail. Snuck ourselves in, were removed by angry bouncer man after 5 minutes. All-in-all, an unfruitful night during which I did not get to dance to lovely music OR buy a real-life physical copy of your music. The 4 concerts I have witnessed are just not enough, friends.
That last show was transcendent. It was a pleasure to perform with you during your brief career and a strange honor to share both your record release party and final show within a six month period. Best of luck in all future projects, friends. Northern Rock Hall of Famers all the way!
Dear Narwhales, I consider it extremely unfair that your LAST concert until the end of time is at a 21+ venue. Myself and friends would like to come, be we are all 19 and 20. This is cruel. I need some way to acquire a cd, so that I may not be narwhale-less until the end of time. I'm already finding that I have a narwhale deficiency, and it can not continue to get worse.
How is Chance Jones going to find another best buddy 7 person band? Goodness. Unfortunate, but do what you must. Fantastically amazing music regardless. Grand Rapids is losing a wonderful eccentricity.
Dear Narwhales, Why are you going away? Why are you saying goodbye, and having a final show? This is completely unacceptable. I demand that you produce at least 3 more albums before fading into the background and/or riding off into the sunset. Sincerely, Catherine
well, I know how it feels when a band breaks up. I really enjoyed watching and supporting you guys in Ypsi and GR. Bleh, I wanted you to do a show for Eagle Radio too :P
Well, although I can say that this makes me Pumpkin Furious, you guys will all make it From Here To There, Eventually. You have made The Difference, in my...Rosie? Thanks for the tunes, and most importantly the inspiration.
