Rolling Stone Australia — June 2017

T

he first thing you need to
know about Wil Wagner, the
frontman for the punk-infused
Melbourne outfi t the Smith Street
Band, is that he’s in a good place, and has
been for much of the last year. The sec-
ond thing is that before then he defi nitely
wasn’t. “It was a hugely traumatic time for
me,” notes Wagner, referring to a relation-
ship that imploded in slow, slashing motion
over many traumatic months. The third
thing is it’s all documented on More Scared
of You Than You Are of Me, the band’s blaz-
ing new album.
“The album basically tracks a relation-
ship,” explains Wagner, waiting for his cof-
fee outside a café in Footscray, his local
patch in Melbourne’s inner-west. “The fi rst
song is about when I realised I was in love

or making a self-deprecating admission.

On stage the 26-year-old and his band-

mates – Cowburn, guitarist Lee Hartney,

and bassist Michael Fitzgerald – evaporate

the gap between band and audience.

Wagner’s music, like his life, is meant to

be shared. He brings “100 per cent raw hon-

esty” to any situation, stresses Cowburn,

and that’s one of the reasons that the group,

formed in 2010, has become a touchstone

act for a growing number of fans. When the

national tour for More Scared of You Than

You Are of Me, the Smith Street Band’s

fourth studio album, reaches Melbourne

this month they’ll be playing two nights at

the city’s 2,500 capacity Forum Theatre.

Wagner’s so excited that he keeps detouring

to walk past the ornate venue every time he

goes to band rehearsal.

withaperson,andthelastsongisaboutthe

fi rst person I was with after that person. It’s

defi nitely very specifi c and awkward for my

friends who know both of us.”

“This album is really a piece of catharsis.

Wil had quite a lot to get off his chest,” the

quartet’s drummer, Chris Cowburn, later

adds. “He’s feeling happy about life and the

decisions we’ve made. To be brutally hon-

est that wasn’t the case for Wil and Smith

Street for the two years prior, so it’s good to

see my friend doing great.”

Wagner’s barrel-chested frame suggests

a willingness to embrace others and his en-

thusiasm is infectious. Thirty seconds after

making your acquaintance he’ll be raving

about Lil Yachty, one of his favourite rap-

pers and a fellow act with Smith Street at

July’s Splendour in the Grass music festival,

32 | Rolling Stone | RollingStoneAus.com Ju ne, 2017

R&R

Wil Wagner and the Smith Street Band had to weather

a traumatic few years to arrive at their new album

BY CRAIG MATHIESON

Growin ains

IAN LAIDLAW