The Smith Street Band w/ The Nation Blue @ The Triffid, Brisbane - 24/11/2016

​After a full on year touring around Australia, United States and Europe The Smith Street Band boys are back in Aus and on tour, with a brand spankin’ new single Death to the Lads and an album set to be released early next year it was undoubtedly going to be a good night. For anyone whose been to a Smith Street Band gig before you know it’s one where you can jump around and scream your lungs out to the lyrics of every song, their sell out show at The Triffid was no different.
 
Getting the crowd amped for an eventful night was The Nation Blue performing a set filled with great energy and head banging hooks. The crowd was rowdy and full of anticipation before The Smith Street Band took to the stage, they opened their set with new single Death to the Lads where words were sung back to the band with equal enthusiasm to classics such as Surrender and Throw Me in the River that would be seen later in their set. During multiple points of the performance the crowds collective voice took over that of Wil Wagner’s with their songs becoming more like chants.
 
The performance revealed just how relatable these songs truly are to every participant in the crowd, as the band connected to the audience through Ducks Fly Together and Young Drunk. Their set also included two new tracks off their upcoming album which although maintained the authentic and anthem like Smith Street Band sound a new level of maturity could be heard. It was a sweaty set filled with passion, energy and honest expression that could be seen throughout their entire live performance.
 
The Melbourne band begun wrapping their set up by playing I Don’t Wanna Die Anymore and I Can’t Feel My Face before ensuring the crowd there would be no encore. Playing The Arrogance of the Drunk Pedestrian as the last song of their set, whatever direction you looked you could see members of the crowd singing back to the band who looked equally as wrapped to be up on stage playing to the sell-out audience. The band gave the crowd exactly what they wanted, a gig filled with blood, sweat, tears and great Australian music from a great band. Now all that’s left to do for us is wait for the release of their upcoming album which will no doubt bring more great tracks and live performances.

Reviewer: Natasha Bruce 
Photography: Josh Cummings