Steve Smyth

Despite a horrific incident in late October that left Steve Smyth with a broken jaw after attempting to defuse an altercation he had witnessed, Smyth will be returning to the stage to do what he loves.

“I live for live shows, making a record is a wonderful experience and I’m blessed to be able to produce another one but live shows are really what gets me ticking,” says Smyth.

From a very early age music has always been a part of his life. He describes early memories of music playing at church and being able to, “Bash around on drum kits, pianos and guitars while everyone got tea and biscuits.”

Another extremely touching and heartwarming memory stands out as a pivotal moment in his life and musical career. “I remember waking up and walking down the hallway to see mum and dad dancing which was a beautiful moment for me to see without them knowing I was there,” he explains. “So from that moment on I wanted to be a part of music and make people feel that way.”

This tour is in support of Symth’s debut release for Ivy League Records Exits and prior to his injury was to see him and the band travel all across the country. As a true indication of his dedication, only four shows were cancelled so he could recover, with the others being rescheduled.

“Having grown up in rural and coastal towns myself it was big thing when somebody came to our town,” he continues. “So for me it was important to make sure we weren’t just hitting the capital cities but we were making sure we hit those out of the way areas that don’t usually get these shows as well. I kind of feel like I’m repaying a bit of a debt in some way touring these areas.”

Smyth’s live show come with quite the reputation as being mind-blowing and mesmerising. Add to this the unexpected layoff and this show has the potential to be one of the standouts of the year. When asked to describe his show he says, “I give everything to each song because it’s what they deserve. For the people to make the effort to come out to a show I think it would be disrespectful not to give 100 percent to the story and song. Every show has its own nuances and unique identity as it’s happening and I get to play off the crowd.” (JA)

Dec 9, Newtown Social Club, 387 King St, Newtown, $13, newtownsocialclub.com