The Smith Street Band will be coming to The Pavilion on Friday 1st November as a part of their Odds & Ends Tour. We were lucky enough to get Wil Wagner, lead singer, to answer some of our questions about their 15 years together as a band. 

Wil wrote the bands two most recent albums “Don’t Waste Your Anger” and “Life After Football” each written with a dichotomy of a more ‘sad orchestral’ vibe for one and a faster pop vibe for the other. Their influences have changed over the years from folk to punk to hiphop and the vast influences show in each album. “We all have very varied music tastes and I can hear our influences change when I listen back to older stuff.” 

Their seventh album doesn't yet have a release date but Wils is working hard writing two albums worth of ‘fun and fresh’ hits, only to pick his top 12 at the end. Maybe we will hear the ‘vault tracks’ later down the line!  

Even with their music evolving over the years, Wil reports a pretty consistent fan base “The people that connect with our music seem to really connect with it!.” They've seen tattoos of their lyrics, been involved in proposals and vows and even had a proposal at one of their recent shows in Brisbane, Wil calling the experience ‘surreal’.

Work life balance can be difficult for anyone, especially a touring musician. Wil welcomed his first daughter a year ago and says she's made a huge change in the dynamic around touring and home life. “I’d always been someone that loved being away and never really got homesick but that’s absolutely changed now! The hardest thing has been finding the time and necessary head space to write - I feel like I’m in Dad Mode all the time and it’s hard to switch from that to angsty song writer mode!” 

The band also supports each other to ensure they are all well taken care of when on the road. “We’ve been together so long and are such old friends at this point we all understand what each other needs to stay sane on the road!” 

On keeping his mental health a priority, Wil says “For me it’s getting enough sleep and not partying every night, if I can do that and get a good balance of time spent with the touring party and time spent by myself, I’m normally pretty ok! Also getting older helps. I have put so much time and work into being able to balance my music life and my mental health and I really feel like I’m in a good place at the moment.”

Although predicting the future of the music world is anyone's guess, Wil hopes the band will continue to make music 10 years from now adding, “most of us have kids now and I really love how involved they already are, I hope in 10 years they are running round backstage and causing a ruckus!”

In the odds and ends tour they will be coming to smaller towns and cities that are outside of the usual tour circuit. This was important for the band to reach these places that often get missed out on for live music, also adding “The crowds are also great when you get out of the major cities, enthusiastic and loud!”

Over their 15 years together, lead singer Wil Wagner found difficulty choosing a highlight but said ‘It’s very special, we’re so lucky to have been able to do this for so long. We’ve been able to see so much of the world and play at some pretty incredible venues and festivals!.... It’s been a hell of a ride so far!” 

As for their future legacy, he hopes for people to know their music as “honest, passionate and loud. And best heard live.” You can find out for yourself by getting your tickets at Moshtix for $55 general admission to see this Melbourn rock outfit, The Smith Street Band right on our doorstep. Check out the Smith Street Band on social media and your favourite music streaming platforms.