Live Review: The Smith Street Band, Bec Sandridge, Press Club

Saloon Bar in Launceston hosted one of their biggest nights of the year tonight, as The Smith Street Band made their way down for a sold-out show.

Press Club kicked things off with a massive bang. It's a bummer more people didn't make it in early enough, because the band were on fire. Vocalist Natalie Foster's energy was hypnotic, moving around the stage, getting close and personal with the small few that were at the barrier. Bec Sandridge was an odd choice for the second act. There wasn't much singing along at this point, but there were certainly a whole lot more people watching. Ending with I'll Never Want A BF, Sandridge said her goodbye.

The room went from a bunch of modest fans to an absolute wild sea of them as The Smith Street Band prepared to take the stage. The anticipation in the jam-packed room was getting bigger by the minute, as eager fans flocked to the floor, vying to get close to one of the most loved bands. Opening with Tassie-themed banger Birthdays, the crowd sang back every word. Surrey Dive and Song For You followed and just when you thought the room couldn't get any louder they played I Can't Feel My Face.

Compared to the energy levels of past performances from The Smith Street Band, and the oh-so-mighty energy Press Club brought, the band were all quite stagnant, but no one seemed to mind. Frontman Wil Wagner teased covering The Front Bottoms' song Skeleton before rousing far more excitement by slipping into Young Drunk.

There's something special about the bond between Tassie and the Smithies, it doesn't have to be said, we can all feel it. Wagner did anyway, explaining that he's got a piece of his heart in Tassie. Another ultra-sweet moment was when he shouted out local Launceston act The Sleepyheads by changing some lyrics and singing "Listening to rubber, disturbed water and The Sleepyheads on the radio" in Surrender.

Wagner was a sweaty, smiling mess as he explained that they were "going to leave the stage and pretend we're not doing two more songs".

Passiona and Death To The Lads ended the night, a bittersweet moment for everyone involved as the band said goodbye to Launceston. The audience persisted for more, chanting Wagner's name over and over, once again proving the unconditional love and passion the town has for The Smith Street Band.