The Smith Street Band Explained

The Smith Street Band
Alias:Wil Wagner & The Smith Street Band (2010–2011), Lee Hartney Sex Drive
Origin:Melbourne, Australia
Genre:Punk rock, indie rock, folk punk, pub rock
Years Active:2010–current
Label:Jackknife Records, Poison City Records, Asian Man Records, SideOneDummy Records, Uncle M Music, Banquet Records, Pool House Records, Specialist Subject Records
Associated Acts:Wil Wagner, Wil Wagner & Friends, Bomb the Music Industry!, Being Amazing!!, Apologies, I Have None, The Go Set, The Hawaiian Islands, Kill Whitey, Jeff Rosenstock
Current Members:Wil Wagner
Lee Hartney
Michael "Fitzy" Fitzgerald
Jess Locke
Matt Bodiam
Past Members:Tom Lawson
Jimi O'Loughlin
Chris Cowburn
Lucy Wilson

The Smith Street Band are an Australian rock band from Melbourne, Victoria, in which the titular Smith Street can be found. The band have released five extended plays and six studio albums, No One Gets Lost Anymore (2011), Sunshine and Technology (2012), Throw Me in the River (2014), More Scared of You than You Are of Me (2017), Don't Waste Your Anger (2020) and Life After Football (2022).

History

2010–2011: Early history

The band formed in 2010, composed of singer/lyricist/guitarist/keyboardist Wil Wagner, guitarist/backing vocalist Tom Lawson, guitarist Lee Hartney, bassist Jimi O'Loughlin and drummer/backing vocalist Chris Cowburn. Initially named Wil Wagner and The Smith Street Band — an allusion to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band — the band changed its name in 2011 to signify a change to a whole-band songwriting style.[1]

Their debut EP, South East Facing Wall, was released on Jackknife Records in January 2011 and was reissued in 2013.[2] The band's debut album, No One Gets Lost Anymore was released shortly after, in July 2011, on Poison City Records. Both albums received critical acclaim in Melbourne.[3]

2012–2015: Poison City Records years

In 2012, the group announced their Young Drunks tour to promote their new album, Sunshine and Technology, which ran from January through March, with Bomb the Music Industry! and The Bennies as support acts.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

In March 2013, Wagner announced All Tomorrow's Shoeys, a three-day music festival held at Hobart's Brisbane Hotel. Curated by Wagner, the festival included Luca Brasi, The Bennies, Grim Fandango and Lincoln Le Fevre.[9] Later that month, the band participated in the "Tram Sessions" program that involves the recording of live performances on Melbourne tram routes. The program organisers explained: "One day we asked ourselves, hmm, if only there was a band name encapsulated an iconic Melbourne street which also happened to be along an iconic Melbourne route who had a typically route 86 sound... And then it came to us. The Smith Street Band!"[10]

In August 2013, the Don't Fuck with Our Dreams EP was released. The EP's title track was inspired by the events prior to a show from the Young Drunks tour in Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia, in which the guitarist from The Bennies was the victim of a near-fatal stabbing. The song was performed to end the band's show at The Fest event in Gainesville, Florida, US in late 2013.[11]

In June 2014, The Smith Street Band announced Jeff Rosenstock from Bomb the Music Industry! would produce their third album, being recorded in July 2014 in the small town of Forrest, Victoria.[12] The album is titled Throw Me in the River and was released on 31 October 2014.[13]

In January 2015, the band released an EP titled Wipe That Shit-Eating Grin Off Your Punchable Face, which was inspired by the actions of then-Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and his government, particularly its stance on asylum seekers.[14] The EP was released on 7" vinyl and as a download, with proceeds from its sales until the end of February going to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.[14] The song directly impacted sales of the band's album Throw Me in the River, which rose to number 105 on the Australian Albums Chart.[15] At the end of January, the band toured across Australia on the 26-date Get High, See Everyone tour alongside PUP, Great Cynics and Apart From This.[14]

2016–2021: Pool House Records, More Scared of You than You Are of Me and Don't Waste Your Anger

In November 2016, the band premiered "Death to the Lads" on Triple J, as the first single from their then-forthcoming album. A series of shows were announced as a promotional tour for the single, with bands The Nation Blue, Grim Rhythm and FOREVR.[16] The single made it to #21 on Triple J's Hottest 100 for 2016. The following day they announced that they would be leaving Poison City Records to start their own label, Pool House Records.[17]

In February the band sent out a series of birthday cards directing fans to a website which went live on Valentines Day and debuted the second single, "Birthdays", as well as officially announcing their fourth studio album, More Scared of You than You Are of Me, confirming that it would be released through Pool House Records and produced by Jeff Rosenstock.[18] Exclusive retailer should be Specialist Subject Records, an independent record label and shop based in Bristol, UK. The album was promoted by Triple J in April as their feature album,[19] and a number of solo shows by Wil Wagner around the country, officially being released on the 7th. The band performed the entire album in full at a launch party, which was livestreamed via Facebook.[20] An Australian album tour was announced with A.W., Ceres and Joyce Manor.

On 26 May 2017 the band performed the opening show of their More Scared of You than You Are of Me tour, and debuted a new touring line-up; adding label-mate Jess Locke and musician/long-time friend of the band Lucy Wilson.[21]

In May 2017, the band premiered the video for their third single, "Shine", recreating AC/DC's video for "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" with the original director Paul Drane.[22]

In June 2017, it was announced that the band would be opening for Midnight Oil at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, alongside The Living End.

On 17 March 2018, Pool House Records held the inaugural Pool House Party festival at Coburg Velodrome in Melbourne, featuring label mates The Bennies and Jess Locke, local acts like Press Club, WAAX, and Baker Boy, and international guests Astronautalis and Signals Midwest.[23]

In February 2019, Wagner was accused of harassment and emotional abuse following the circulation on social media of emails and messages sent by him, with support acts subsequently pulling out of the band's upcoming national tour that was later cancelled.[24]

In April 2020, the band announced the release of their fifth studio album, Don't Waste Your Anger. The album became the band's first to peak at number one on the ARIA Charts.[25] In March 2021, the band released a live unplugged album which was made up of acoustic versions of previous Smith Street Band songs and a cover of Frightened Rabbit's song "Poke".

2022–present: Life After Football

In October 2022, the group announced their sixth studio album, Life After Football. The album was released on 25 November 2022.

Band members

Current members

Former members

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
AUS
[27]
No One Gets Lost Anymore 41
[30]
Sunshine and Technology
  • Released: 24 August 2012
  • Label: Poison City (PCR055)
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP
Throw Me in the River
  • Released: 31 October 2014
  • Label: Poison City (PCR100)
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP
18
More Scared of You than You Are of Me
  • Released: 7 April 2017
  • Label: Pool House (PHR002)
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP, streaming
3
Don't Waste Your Anger
  • Released: 17 April 2020[31]
  • Label: Pool House (PHR029)
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP, streaming
1
Life After Football
  • Released: 25 November 2022[32]
  • Label: Pool House (PHR044CD)
  • Formats: CD, 2×CD, digital download, LP, streaming
35
[33]

Live albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
AUS
Live at the Triffid
  • Released: 20 March 2020[34]
  • Label: Pool House
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
4
Viva La Rev
  • Released: 6 November 2020[35]
  • Label: Pool House
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
30
Unplugged in Wombat State Forest
  • Released: 5 March 2021[36] [37]
  • Label: Pool House
  • Formats: CD, DVD, cassette, digital download, streaming
11
[38]

EPs

Title! scope="col" style="width:23em;"
EP details
South East Facing Wall
  • Released: 27 January 2011, November 2018 (streaming)
  • Label: Jackknife Music (JKM#4)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Don't Fuck with Our Dreams
  • Released: 9 August 2013
  • Label: Poison City (PCR070)
  • Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl
Wipe That Shit-Eating Grin Off Your Punchable Face
  • Released: 26 January 2015[39]
  • Label: Poison City (PCR101)
  • Formats: Digital download, vinyl
Little Elephant Session
  • Note: Live session recorded at Little Elephant
  • Released: December 2016
  • Label: Little Elephant
  • Formats: Numbered vinyl
Little Elephant Session 2
  • Note: Live session recorded at Little Elephant
  • Released: December 2017
  • Label: Little Elephant
  • Formats: Numbered vinyl

Singles

YearTitleAlbum
2012"Young Drunk"[40] Sunshine & Technology
2013"Ducks Fly Together"[41] Don't Fuck with Our Dreams
2014"Surrender"[42] Throw Me in the River
2015"Something I Can Hold in My Hands"[43]
"I Scare Myself Sometimes"
(featuring Lucy Wilson)[44]
2016"Death to the Lads"[45] More Scared of You than You Are of Me
2017"Birthdays"[46]
"Shine"[47]
"Passiona"[48]
2019"I Am Nothing / Chips & Gravy"[49]
2020"Big Smoke"[50] Don't Waste Your Anger
"I Still Dream About You"
2021"Its OK"Unplugged in Wombat State Forest
2022"I Don't Wanna Do Nothing Forever"[51] Life After Football
"Life After Football"

Awards and nominations

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.|-| 2013[52] |Sunshine and Technology| Best Independent Hard Rock or Punk Album| |-| 2015[53] | Throw Me in the River'| Best Independent Hard Rock or Punk Album| |-| 2018[54] | More Scared of You Than You Are of Me| Best Independent Hard Rock or Punk Album| |-

EG Awards / Music Victoria Awards

The EG Awards (known as Music Victoria Awards since 2013) are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.! |-| 2012| The Smith Street Band| Best New Talent| | [55] [56] |-| 2015[57] [58] | The Smith Street Band| Best Live Band| |rowspan="2"| [57] [58] |-| 2017| "Death to the Lads"| Best Song| |-

J Awards

The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.|-| 2017[59] | More Scared of You Than You Are of Me| Australian Album of the Year| |-

National Live Music Awards

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.

|-| 2016[60] | themselves| Live Act of the Year| |-| 2017[61] [62] | Lee Hartney (The Smith Street Band)| Live Guitarist of the Year|

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Smith Street Band - Interview. Kill Your Stereo. 24 November 2014. 24 March 2020.
  2. Web site: The Smith Street Band – South East Facing Wall 7" 2nd pressing out now!". Jackknife Records. 5 May 2013.
  3. Web site: THE SMITH STREET BAND – Sunshine and Technology album review. Wilson. Alex. 6 September 2012. The Music. 30 March 2013.
  4. Web site: The Smith Street Band announce 'Young Drunks' tour. ABC Online. 30 March 2013. 12 March 2012.
  5. Web site: Egging. Kiel. The Smith Street Band Australian Tour January–March 2013. Music Feeds. 30 March 2013. 3 December 2012.
  6. Web site: The Smith Street Band Announce 'Young Drunks' Tour. AAA Backstage. 30 March 2013.
  7. Web site: The Smith Street Band tour kicks off tonight. Bombshellzine.com. 30 March 2013. 31 January 2013.
  8. Web site: The Smith Street Band Announce More Shows, All Ages and Supports of Young Drunk Tour. Chucking a Mosh. 30 March 2013. 11 January 2013.
  9. Web site: All Tomorrow's Shoeys 2013 Lineup Announced. 5 March 2013. Tone Deaf. 3 May 2013.
  10. Web site: The Smith Street Band – Sigourney Weaver Tram Sessions. Tram Sessions on YouTube. Google Inc. 31 March 2014. Video upload. 24 March 2013.
  11. Web site: The Smith Street Band LIVE @ THE FEST 12 3 November 2013. Mike Plante on YouTube. Google Inc. 31 March 2014. Mike Plante. Video upload. 2 December 2013.
  12. Web site: Jeff Rosenstock to produce new Smith Street Band LP. PunkNews. 23 June 2014. 11 January 2013.
  13. Web site: The Smith Street Band release album details, more exclusive footage. FasterLouder. 11 August 2014. 7 August 2014.
  14. Web site: The Smith Street Band Tell Tony Abbott To 'Wipe That Shit-Eating Grin Off Your Punchable Face'. Music Feeds. Baroni. Nastassia. 12 January 2015. 17 January 2015.
  15. Web site: ARIA Albums: Meghan Trainor Title Is Australia's No 1 Album. Noise11. Cashmere. Paul. Paul Cashmere. 17 January 2015. 17 January 2015.
  16. Web site: The Smith Street Band Announce 'Death to The Lads' and tour Dates - speakertv. www.speakertv.com. 3 November 2016. 2017-06-04.
  17. Web site: The Smith Street Band. Facebook. 4 June 2017.
  18. Web site: BIRTHDAYS VIDEO. BIRTHDAYS. en-US. 2017-06-04.
  19. Web site: New on triple j: Smith Street Band nab feature album Music News triple j. www.abc.net.au. 4 June 2017.
  20. Web site: The Smith Street Band. www.facebook.com. en. 4 June 2017.
  21. Web site: Oh yeah! Surprise! We're a 6 piece now! Welcome to The Smithies, Jess Locke and Lucy Wilson!https://twitter.com/sleepyheadstas/status/867788049157038080 …. Band. The Smith St. 2017-05-25. @smithstband. 4 June 2017.
  22. Web site: The Smith Street Band Recreate Classic AC/DC Video for 'Shine' Clip. theMusic. en-GB. 4 June 2017.
  23. Web site: POOL HOUSE PARTY. POOL HOUSE PARTY. en. 19 March 2018.
  24. Web site: Singer Georgia McDonald Accuses Smith Street Bands Will Wagner of Harassment. The Guardian . 28 February 2020. 20 February 2020.
  25. Web site: SAINt JHN, The Smith Street Band Rule Australia's Charts . 27 April 2020. billboard.com . 27 April 2020.
  26. Web site: The Smith Street Band - Facebook. Facebook.
  27. Web site: Discography The Smith Street Band . australian-charts.com . 2 April 2020 .
  28. Web site: The Smith Street Band Discography . Discogs. 3 July 2023. 3 July 2023.
  29. Web site: The Smith Street Band - Discography . Spotify. 3 July 2023. 3 July 2023.
  30. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. 13 December 2021. 10 December 2021.
  31. Web site: The Smith Street Band Drop New Single + Announce Early Album Release. hysteriamag. 6 April 2020. 10 April 2020.
  32. Web site: The Smith Street Band Announce Sixth Album + Release Title Track "Life After Football". GC Live. 21 October 2022. 24 October 2022.
  33. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. 5 December 2022. 2 December 2022.
  34. Web site: Live At The Triffid . Bandcamp. 3 July 2023.
  35. Web site: Unplugged In Wombat State Forest . Bandcamp. 3 July 2023.
  36. Web site: Viva La Rev . Bandcamp. 3 July 2023.
  37. https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-smith-street-band-unplugged-tour-22241/ The Smith Street Band Expand 'Unplugged' Tour, Share New Single
  38. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. 15 March 2021. 13 March 2021.
  39. Web site: Wipe That Shit-Eating Grin Off Your Punchable Face - single. Apple Music Australia. January 2015. 2 April 2020.
  40. Web site: Young Drunk - single. AIRIT. August 2012. 2 April 2020.
  41. Web site: Ducks Fly Together - single. AIRIT. 14 June 2013. 2 April 2020.
  42. Web site: Surrender - single. AIRIT. August 2014. 2 April 2020.
  43. Web site: Something I Can Hold In My Hands - single. AIRIT. June 2015. 2 April 2020.
  44. Web site: I Scare Myself Sometimes - single. Apple Music Australia. 21 August 2015. 2 April 2020.
  45. Web site: Death to the Lads - single. Apple Music Australia. 4 November 2016. 2 April 2020.
  46. Web site: Birthdays - single. AIRIT. February 2014. 2 April 2020.
  47. Web site: Shine- single. Apple Music Australia. May 2017. 2 April 2020.
  48. Web site: Passiona- single. Apple Music Australia. 29 November 2017. 2 April 2020.
  49. Web site: I Am Nothing / Chips & Gravy - single. Apple Music Australia. 23 August 2019. 2 April 2020.
  50. Web site: Big Smoke - single. Apple Music Australia. 14 February 2020. 2 April 2020.
  51. Web site: The Smith Street Band Release New Single + Video 'I Don't Wanna Do Nothing Forever. Good Call Live. 27 May 2022. 27 January 2023.
  52. Web site: Final AIR Awards 2013 Nominations Revealed, $50,000 Prize Announced. tonedeaf. 1 October 2013. 20 August 2020.
  53. Web site: 1 Dads, Courtney Barnett Lead This Year's Independent Music Award Nominations. MusicFeeds. 7 September 2015. 20 August 2020.
  54. Web site: 2018 AIR Awards Nominees. 17 April 2018 . 20 August 2020.
  55. Web site: EG Awards 2012 Announce Nominations, Induct Weddings, Parties, Anything. Tone Deaf. 3 October 2012. 19 August 2020.
  56. Web site: The Temper Trap, Oh Mercy Win EG Awards. noise11. 21 November 2012. 19 August 2020.
  57. Web site: Previous Nominess. Music Victoria. 13 August 2020.
  58. Web site: Previous Winners. Music Victoria. 13 August 2020.
  59. Web site: The J Award 2017. Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2017. 15 August 2020.
  60. Web site: Nominees 2016. NLMA. 2016. 5 September 2020.
  61. Web site: NLMA reveal 2017 Nominees. NLMA. 9 October 2016. 5 September 2020.
  62. Web site: Winners 2017. NLMA. December 2016. 5 September 2020.