[MUSIC/Acoustic ~ AUS ~ WORLD PREMIERE]
Tin Shed at The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Thu 29 Feb, 2024.
The Tin Shed at the Wheatsheaf Hotel is a perfect venue for the mainly acoustic sounds of Fred Smith and band. Fred has had a few different stages to his life as an ‘itinerant musician’, from folky to funny, to songs from his personal and close up view of Afghanistan, war and refugees and now back to the more personal with songs and social comment on our domestic lives.
This world premiere performance includes quite a few songs with visual elements – a video screen set-up with some great photos and graphics of some of the topics of his songs, from less than domestic bliss to tributes to a friend John Thompson, writer Helen Garner and songwriter Leonard Cohen. Fred released an album called Domestic back in 2021, but given the Covid times wasn’t able to tour and promote it. Here he is back with a new 2024 release Look, with similar domestic themes. Adelaide is front and centre – he is launching and introducing us to these writings with one of his favourite state bands (the South Australian version of Fred’s band), comprising Jen Lush (vocals and harmonies), Stevie Pederson (electric guitar and mandolin), Mark Seddon (bass) and Paul Angas (percussion and keyboard). The musicians on the stage have featured in Fred Smith gigs in Adelaide and surrounds for a few years now, so learning new songs and preparing chord charts in a mad rush just before a gig is something that they take in their stride – though you wouldn’t guess it from the great sound and tasteful accompaniment!
Those familiar with Fred’s work were in attendance in numbers at the Wheaty and we all thoroughly enjoyed joining in a few of the choruses and laughing at Fred’s banter and wit. Fred always has a story to tell to introduce his songs, often providing a little bit of insight into why or when a song was written. One of the particular gems was introducing the song Beautiful Girl, a song about his daughter, from when she arrived as a baby and Fred became a father. He’s introducing his wife Maryanne’s part in all this, suggesting that Maryanne was to give birth – ‘to his complete surprise as this was something she’d never ever done before’ … ah the mystery of life, but he song is a lovely capture of the emotions and protective love of a father. Or in the song Crisis the juxtaposition of troubling world events viewed from one’s lounge room with heading out for coffee only to find the café has run out of almond milk – hilarious!
Domesticity is a highly relatable song cycle. Fred reckons it’s a collection of love songs for middle-aged people, but really he writes with wit and heart that any and all can appreciate and enjoy, and he certainly isn’t afraid to laugh at himself along the way. Sure, it’s on the acoustic folk edge and certainly appeals to listener prepared to follow the lyric – sure to amuse! But it’s also musically satisfying, the rhythm section holding things together well with Stevie and Paul able to provide some sparkle with either lead guitar or lead keyboard breaks and solos along the way.
The best song-writing holds a mirror up to our lives and society, something no doubt true of all creative writing and Fred Smith exhibits this in spades – with songs that will resonate long after the gig has been and gone. Not to mention the opportunity to pick up one of his books, The Dust or Uruzgan or The Sparrows Of Kabul, besides an impressive selection of CDs and even the vinyl of his most recent release Look.
4.5 stars
Clayton Werner
Domesticity – A Concert By Fred Smith And Band continues at Stone Pony, Show Hall, Willunga, from 7:30pm on Fri 1 Mar.
Book at FringeTIX and adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.
#ClotheslineMag
#ADLfringe
Header Image courtesy of Geoff Dunn
The Clothesline Review...
Clayton Werner
Domesticity is a highly relatable song cycle; reporting from the home front.
