Live Review: Violent Soho, The Smith Street Band - The Hi-Fi

You'd be forgiven for thinking The Smith Street Band were headlining tonight given the state of the bouncing mosh, their dedicated fans singing along with the lovable local lads' every word. With 3051 (their North Melbourne postcode) stickered proudly to their amp, the boys peddle an accessible brand of earnest, Aussie rock that's uplifting but not saccharine.

Sweaty frontman Wil Wagner, whose beanie hangs laxly from his guitar strap, is a total champ and utterly endearing. Perhaps this friendliness is what prompts an ecstatic crowd surfer to throw his cigarettes at Wagner during Ducks Fly Together's well loved lyric, “got ciggies”. 

During fan favourite Young Drunk, Wagner stops the show abruptly due to a fainting mosher, asking for space to be cleared for her – what a gent! Much like at a footy match (a Community Cup callback perhaps?) applause intensifies as she's assisted by The Hi-Fi staff. The gratifyingly off-kilter number is thankfully resumed, with a pseudo band member taking Wagner's guitar for the last chorus, allowing him to jump triumphantly into his adoring crowd. Their set ends with electricity in the air.

"Smoke 'em if you've got 'em."

Anticipating the arrival of our headliners, the lights drop and a demonic red glow focuses our attention on the stage, but before Violent Soho appear we're treated to their intro tape: Rage Against The Machine's Killing In The Name. It does the trick of revving up the masses – a little too much in the case of some testosterone-laden individuals. The band make their entrance and smash opener Dope Calypso in a perfect display of sludgy stoner-rock and stop-start dynamics.

Often championed as the saviours of 'rock', this sentiment doesn't really account for the smatterings of grunge, punk and emo influences that make Violent Soho's sound so contagious. Their powerfully noisy performance comprises several gems from last year's much-touted Hungry Ghost album: the blood-boiling thrashfest Covered In Chrome, the underrated but equally smouldering Liars and the worship-worthy Saramona Said. Guitarist James Tidswell channels a '70s rockstar throughout with his long locks and helpful, “Smoke 'em if you've got 'em,” advice, which is duly taken.

When the lights switch on to signal show's end, all appears to be over. A shaggy, beer bong-wielding member of their entourage has other ideas, however, and hits the stage to insist upon more. After what feels like the longest and most hopeless encore wait on record, Violent Soho return. Not playing Muscle Junkie seems cruel and unusual (and may have resulted in a few internal “Fuck you! Fuck you!”s), the gentler OK Cathedral does the trick of winding down this leg of the band's sold out tour, leaving punters envious of ticketholders who've yet to witness the Soho brilliance.