The Smith Street Band have just returned from their time off in a big way, letting us in on their upcoming fourth album with a new single and video, ‘Birthdays’.
It’s the second track we’ve heard from the album, now revealed to be titled More Scared Of You Than You Are Of Me, with recent single ‘Death To The Lads’ also set to make an appearance when the record drops on April 7 through the band’s shiny new label Pool House Records. The album will be their first full-length since 2014’s Throw Me In The River, and ou can pre-order a copy through the label now, including vinyl.
New track ‘Birthdays’ begins earnestly, as all great Smithies tracks do, and details a “chance meeting on a pier in Hobart” with sadly romantic overtones. The video tells a distressing tale, too, adding pathos to the lyrical narrative through the most emotion-pricking robot since Wall-E.
The robot also hints at the touch of synth that, although a subtle addition, is a new move for the band – as is the guest vocal appearance from Melbourne folk-pop artist Jess Locke.
The songs were recorded well away from Melbourne’s Smith St, instead being pieced together by a talented crew in a studio in Stinson Beach, California. The LP was produced by longtime collaborator Jeff Rosenstock, engineered by Jack Shirley (Joyce Manor, Deafheaven, Hard Girls), mixed by John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., The Hold Steady) and mastered by Greg Calbi (Bob Dylan, Ramones, Bruce Springsteen), so it was in very, very safe hands indeed.
Frontman Wil Wagner is squeezing in a huge solo tour that kicks off tomorrow in Brisbane and wraps up very shortly on the 26th, and then we imagine he’ll be right back in action getting ready for the new release. Check out the new track and Wil’s solo dates below.
Wil Wagner Solo Tour
With Laura Stevenson, Ian Graham & Iona Cairns
Wednesday Feb15 – The Zoo, Brisbane
Thursday Feb 16 – Great Northern, Byron Bay
Friday Feb 17 – The Small Ballroom, Newcastle
Saturday Feb 18 – Uni Bar, Wollongong
Sunday Feb 19 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
Tuesday Feb 21 – The Melba Spiegeltent, Melbourne
Wednesday Feb 22 – The Melba Spiegeltent, Melbourne
Thursday Feb 23 – The Melba Spiegeltent, Melbourne
Friday Feb 24 – Badlands, Perth*
Saturday Feb 25 – Mojos, Fremantle*
Sunday Feb 26 – Ed Castle, Adelaide *
*Laura Stevenson not playing WA/SA
Tickets on sale via Poolhouse Records
