Melbourne rockers The Smith Street Band have shared a new politically scathing single, directed at the Australian government. The single, released digitally and on 7″ (pictured above), is titled Wipe That Shit-Eating Grin Off Your Punchable Face, and its artwork features a Shaun Thatcher painting of Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
According to the band, the song is about an issue they’re fiercely concerned with — “Our government’s dehumanising stance on refugees and the empty promises of our current government in general.” They add, “Hope you’re listening Tony Abbott.”
“Were we supposed to feel hope, when you said you’d stop the boats?” sings Wil Wagner on the track. “‘Cos that’s some fucking evil shit, politicising killing kids.” Listen to the new track below.
A second new song God in the Name of the Father is featured on the flipside of the 7″. Both songs were recorded in Forrest, Victoria, during the Throw Me In The River recording sessions and will be available digitally from The Smith Street Band and Poison City bandcamp sites from 9am tomorrow.
The track’s release comes as the Melbourne act are due to take the stage at the Corner Hotel’s annual Australia Day fundraiser event. They will play alongside The Bennies, Joelistics and more to raise funds for The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, The Refugee Council of Australia and Oxfam.
The band have announced that they and their label Poison City Records will donate all of the proceeds from the track’s digital sales until the end of February, and a large part of the 7” sales, to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre – Australia’s leading support organisation for asylum seekers. All the profits from records sold at the Corner Hotel on Australia Day will also be donated.
Following their Australia Day show, The Smith Street Band will kick off their massive 26-date Get High, See Everyone Australian tour at the end of January. See those tour dates below.
Listen: Wipe That Shit-Eating Grin Off Your Punchable Face
The Smith Street Band – Get High, See Everyone Tour
With special guests PUP (Canada), Great Cynics (UK) & Apart From This
Saturday, 24th January 2015
Railway Hotel, Darwin (TSSB only)
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Wednesday, 28th January 2015
Musicman, Bendigo
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Thursday, 29th January 2015
Barwon Club, Geelong
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Friday, 30th January 2015
Karova Lounge, Ballarat
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Saturday, 31st January 2015 – SOLD OUT
The Hi Fi, Melbourne
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Sunday, 1st February 2015
Northcote Social Club, Melbourne (Under 18s)
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Wednesday, 4th February 2015
Sol Bar, Maroochydore
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Thursday, 5th February 2015
Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Friday, 6th February 2015
The Hi Fi, Brisbane
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Saturday, 7th February 2015
Crowbar, Brisbane (Under 18s)
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Sunday, 8th February 2015
The Northern, Byron Bay
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Wednesday, 11th February 2015
Coffs Hotel, Coffs Harbour
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Thursday, 12th February 2015
Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Friday, 13th February 2015
Metro Theatre, Sydney
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Saturday, 14th February 2015
Factory Theatre, Sydney (All Ages)
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Sunday, 15th February 2015
Magpies, Canberra (All Ages)
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Tuesday, 17th February 2015
Mariners, Batemans Bay
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Wednesday, 18th February 2015
The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Friday, 20th February 2015
Party in the Paddock, Burns Creek, Tasmania
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Saturday, 21st February 2015
Railway Hotel, Fremantle
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Thursday, 26th February 2015
Prince of Wales, Bunbury
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Friday, 27th February 2015
Rosemount Hotel, Perth
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Saturday, 28th February 2015
The Gov, Adelaide
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
Sunday, 1st March 2015
The Gov, Adelaide (All Ages)
Tickets: The Smith Street Band
