Noah and the Whale Screen New Film

When Noah and the Whale's Charlie Fink needed to express his feelings about his breakup, it seems that music just wasn't enough. The UK band's frontman wrote and directed a film, 'The First Days of Spring' -- the title of the band's latest album -- which was screened at New York City venue Pianos on Sunday night.

Inspired by Fink's own past heartache, the 45-minute movie follows a man who experiences loss when he's young and carries that heartache throughout his life. "We didn't promise you a comedy, but it was a beautiful film," the evening's host, ex-MTV correspondent John Norris, told the audience.

Although the film uses music from Noah and the Whale's current record, Fink made sure to make it so the movie would not have to rely on the album and vice versa. "It wasn't entirely narrated by the album," Fink said. "I didn't want this to be R. Kelly's musical."

With a modest budget, the feature used a cast of unknown actors, a few friends and even band members -- former Noah and the Whale drummer Doug Fink makes a cameo as well as bassist Matt "Urby Whale" Owens and fiddler Tom Hobden. The financial limits created a very restricted shoot, but it made for easy editing. "You have to be regimented," Fink said. "You can't shoot scenes that aren't going to be there ... And specific scenes were already paired with certain music motifs."

Although the band will be spending the rest of the year promoting the film and current record, they did reveal ideas for the next album. "We'd like to do a proper rock record," Fink said. "But who knows how it will turn out.

Noah and the Whale will be playing a three-show stint at New York's Mercury Lounge starting Monday before heading to Europe to tour with Phoenix.