CODY ARRIVES IN AN UNEXPECTED MANOR

THE Smith Street Band’s national album launch tour rolls into Hobart tonight, with Californian pop-punk group Joyce Manor and Melbourne mates Ceres leading the way.

Barry Johnson (vocals, guitar) and Chase Knobbe (guitar) started Joyce Manor as an acoustic duo in late 2008, before recruiting Matt Ebert (bass) and later Jeff Enzor (drums) to help bring their short, raw songs to life.

In 2011 Joyce Manor released their self-titled debut album to widespread critical praise, before punching out 2012’s Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired (featuring nine songs in 13 minutes) and 2014’s Never Hungover Again (10 songs in 20 minutes).

Now Joyce Manor are in Australia to promote their fourth album, Cody.

The album was produced by Rob Schnapf (Elliott Smith, Kurt Vile, Guided by Voices), who taught Johnson the knack of stretching one-minute songs into three-minute songs, and introduced the band to a real recording studio for the first time.

The result was the group’s most powerful yet professional-sounding record to date.

Ceres, meanwhile, are launching their new single, Stretch Ur Skin, which features The Smith Street Band’s Wil Wagner and is only available to buy at these shows.

The track is one of three contained on an exclusive limited-edition vinyl release, also titled Stretch Ur Skin.

The other two tracks were recorded last year as Ceres — Tom Lanyon (vocals), Sean Callanan (guitar), Grant Young (bass) and Frank Morda (drums) — made their second album, Drag It Down On You.

Joyce Manor, Ceres and Los Angeles-based singersongwriter Allison Weiss support The Smith Street Band at a licensed all-ages show at Hobart’s Odeon Theatre from 7pm tonight.

Tickets are $51, go to www.oztix.com.au for bookings.