Live Review: Smudge, Chook Race

Chook Race casually provide simple, jangly indie tunes, the quirky three-piece fascinating the crowd with great hooks and effortless charisma.

Bassist Adam Yee announces, “Welcome to Manilow,” then Smudge launch into a grungy number. Continuing with a swift beat, indie-garage anthem Ingrown follows. The band gather pace and fluency, impressing enthusiasts. As they casually play the next tune, Yee has a cheeky grin from ear to ear, while drummer Alison Galloway bops her head while keeping good time. Frontman Tom Morgan is totally in his element. Smudge ooze gritty garage rock and boast a commanding presence. There’s some hearty cheers from the crowd and no time is wasted with idle banter. The next song finishes as quickly as it began. “Chop chop,” says Morgan as they continue with the spry song changes. Morgan plays a slick, ‘90s guitar solo and proudly announces, “That’s the closest I ever came to nailing that solo.”

Loosening up, the band members begin to joke around: Galloway teases Morgan, who whispers into the microphone, “Call 000, she’s tough”. After the next song’s conclusion, both Yee and Morgan begin to ramble and then Galloway keeps them in check, sternly stating, “Are you finished?” After a jerky start, Galloway provides the lead vocals for the next number. Morgan, whose presence is rather sluggish, does not match the energy of Yee and Galloway.

Now humbly taking requests, there is a shout for Tenderfoot. The punter’s wish is granted when Smudge play a coherent version of this song. With the gutsy opening lyrics, “I’m not fit to smell your shit”, Mike Love, Not War features next and it now seems Galloway is the only one having fun.

In good humour, Morgan begins a cover of The Frogs classic Homos, which comes across as funny and offensive at the same time. With delicate ballad The Outdoor Type, Morgan’s lack of energy and minimal singing works wonders, but the irony within the song’s lyrics (“can’t grow a beard”), may be lost on this Northcote crowd.