Is 2014 going to go down as the most interesting year in the history of Triple J’s Like A Version segment? In the last few months there’s been killer transformations by Karnivool and Arctic Monkeys, and even a full-blown backlash over an acoustic Rage Against The Machine cover.
Now we can add beloved Melbourne locals The Smith Street Band to that ‘most intriguing’ list, following their appearance on Triple J’s covers series this morning, re-imagining a signature tune of fellow Melbournite: Courtney Barnett.
After giving a characteristically heartfelt performance of their original tune, ‘Ducks Fly Together‘ (from their Don’t Fuck With Our Dreams EP), the four-piece treated listeners to their re-tooling of Courtney Barnett’s breakout tune ‘History Eraser’. Frontman and chief songwriter Wil Wagner discussed his friendship with the Melbourne local turned internationally renowned Aussie ambassador.
“I used to bum around with Courtney way back when, and now it’s crazy,” Wagner told Breakfast fill-in hosts Veronica Milsom and Lewis Hobba, mentioning that she used serve brews at Fitzroy’s Blue Tile Lounge. “I was in the Tube in London and there were these big pictures of my friend Courtney … it’s awesome and she is killing it.”
Honouring their mate, Wagner and his Smith Street bandmates re-tooled the laconic guitar rock of ‘History Eraser’ into a passionate, slow-burning crescendo while retaining Barnett’s original dreamscape lryrics; except replacing the line “I’ll sing you a Triffids song” with a shout-out to their Posion City label buds, The Bennies.
The Smith Street Band also revealed that they have begun recording of a new album, tracking drums at Melbourne’s Sing Sing Studios, before heading off for a month-long trip to a ‘cabin in the woods’ to finish their new album (“Bon Ivering,” as Hobba joked on-air). The forthcoming full-length follow-up to the group’s critically acclaimed 2012 album Sunshine & Technology will be released October/November; “knock on wood,” says Wagner.
Next month, The Smith Street Band embark on a sold out national tour with grunge disciples Violent Soho, and given the antics the Brisbane four-piece got up to on their Groovin The Moo tour, we’d personally love to see a follow-up video tour diary with Wil Wagner and co.
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Violent Soho Australian Tour 2014
with special guests The Smith Street Band & Luca Brasi
Wed 2 July – The Bakery | Perth (18+) – SOLD OUT*
Thu 3 July – The Bakery | Perth (18+) – SOLD OUT*
Fri 4 July – The Gov | Adelaide (Lic AA) – SOLD OUT*
Sat 5 July – The Hi-Fi | Melbourne (18+) – SOLD OUT*
Sun 6 July – The Hi-Fi | Melbourne (18+) – SOLD OUT*
Tues 8 July – Manning Bar | Sydney (18+) – SOLD OUT**
Thu 10 July – Manning Bar | Sydney (18+) – SOLD OUT*
Fri 11 July – Manning Bar | Sydney (18+) – SOLD OUT*
Sat 12 July – The Hi-Fi | Brisbane (18+) – SOLD OUT*
Sun 13 July – The Hi-Fi | Brisbane (18+) – SOLD OUT*
Wed 16 July – The Gov | Adelaide – SOLD OUT**
Thu 17 July – The Hi-Fi | Melbourne (18+) – SOLD OUT
Fri 18 July – The Hi-Fi | Melbourne (18+) – SOLD OUT
Sat 19 July – The Hi-Fi | Melbourne (18+) – SOLD OUT
*Luca Brasi Not Appearing
**Smith St Band Not Appearing
