Live Review: Pete Murray, Ben Wright Smith

26 August 2017 | 1:06 pm | Tobias Handke

"Continuing his push as one of Australia’s most underrated singer songwriters of the past couple of decades."

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Melbourne’s own Ben Wright Smith impresses with a selection of indie-folk influenced tunes to start things off. Singing and playing the acoustic guitar while his cohort leads the way on the electric, there’s an old school feel to Smith’s tunes. The lack of percussion and bass don’t detract from Smith’s appealing arrangements and soothing vocals. 

Touring in support of his latest album Camacho, former rugby player turned recording artist Pete Murray receives a warm reception as he saunters on stage. Camacho opening track Only One gets things underway as Murray takes the audience on a ride through his stacked back catalogue spanning almost 15 years. In a jovial mood Murray spins a number of tales between songs, revealing Give Me Your Love is about a one night stand turning into a relationship and Take Me Down about being involved in a romance you know isn’t going to last. He teases a rendition of fan favourite So Beautiful early before bridging into Bail Me Out, believing the crowd “will leave” if he plays his biggest hit too early.

Despite possessing a voice with limited range, Murray manages to connect with fans through a combination of relatable lyrics, catchy hooks and his easygoing nature. Informing the audience camacho means “the act of cool", Murray encourages everyone to dance while pointing out his new album will help you get laid if you’re going through a rough patch. While slightly cheesy, it’s all part of Murray’s good guy persona that sees women screaming his name and men singing along. 

New tracks such as Connected, Long Ride and the subdued Home – dedicated to recently deceased producer Anthony Lycenko – dominate proceedings, but it’s the radio hits form yesteryear that get the crowd swaying. Lines and Class A are pop-rock thumpers, Feeler features a fantastic guitar solo and both Better Days and So Beautiful turn into mass crowd singalongs. A couple of guys raise their lighters during Take Me Down before Always A Winner allows each member of Murray’s band to strut their stuff solo. 

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After a short interval Murray and co return and rip through an extended and well-received version of Opportunity. The radio friendly hit Free has everyone grooving before Murray ends with the sobering Heartbeats, continuing his push as one of Australia’s most underrated singer songwriters of the past few decades.