Welcome back to Unfiltered and Undiscovered, the show where we shine a light on the raw, real stories and blistering talent breaking through the noise. Today we’re hauling into Melbourne’s freight-train alt-country powerhouse, The Smith & Western Jury. Fronted by the powerhouse vocals and songwriting of Sam Lombardi, alongside guitarist Simon Torcasio and a killer rhythm section, this band has exploded out of punk and pop-rock roots into a desert-tinged, heart-on-the-sleeve sound that blends classic country twang with modern fire. Their debut album Hotel Texas dives deep into grief, health battles, love, loss, and hard-won resilience — recorded against medical odds in Texas with legendary producer Tommy Detamore. From lockdown-born anthems like "Have Mercy" to the cinematic new single "Lucky Stars," this is unfiltered Australian alt-country at its most authentic and addictive. In this episode, Curly, Braggy & Rossy chat with The Smith & Western Jury about the band’s journey from punk/pop roots to their rollicking, high-energy country sound. They open up about the personal stories behind Hotel Texas, health challenges, industry burnout, and what it takes to create music on their own terms. Plus, plenty of laughs, misheard lyrics, and a fascinating chat on how recording in Canada compares economically to Australia. Episode Highlights: The shift from punk and pop-rock backgrounds to creating their unique freight-train alt-country style Deep dives into the making of Hotel Texas and the raw emotions behind key tracks New music, touring life, and the Australian alt-country scene Recording cost comparisons (Canada vs Australia), creative process insights, and fun band banter This is a must-listen for anyone into authentic storytelling, genre-blending music, and rising Australian talent. A great chat with a bloody great band — full of laughs, resilience, and musical insight. Links & Where to Find The Smith & Western Jury: Stream Hotel Texas and new single "Lucky Stars" on Spotify, Apple Music, and all major platforms Follow: @thesmithandwesternjury on Instagram Official site: thesmithandwesternjury.com If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your mates. Drop your favourite country track or misheard lyric in the comments — we might read them out next time! Thanks for listening. Turn it up and keep discovering. 🤠🎸 #TheSmithAndWesternJury #HotelTexas #AltCountry #AustralianMusic #UnfilteredAndUndiscovered Support the show & grow with us: Like, comment, share with a fellow music nerd — it really helps independent pods like ours get discovered. Follow on YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts @ Unfiltered and Undiscovered Unfiltered & Undiscovered — Real talk. Fresh sounds. Zero filter. New episodes drop weekly. Thanks for listening and supporting independent music! 🎶 Unfiltered & Undiscovered – Real stories. Real music. No filters. Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: [@unfiltered.undiscovered] Visit our Hall of Fame to explore past and current inductees: https://unfilteredandundiscovered.com/hall-of-fame-unfiltered-undiscovered/ 👉 Don’t forget to check out our curated playlists spotlighting music with heart, intent, and stories worth hearing. Copyright Disclaimer: "The Unfiltered & Undiscovered Podcast features interviews and showcases with music artists, along with our Mystery Song Deep Dive segment, which is intended solely for educational and entertainment purposes. Any songs discussed or played during the podcast remain the property of their respective copyright owners, and no copyright infringement is intended." =============================================== Follow our Socials For all of our links- Socials, Platforms and Playlists https://my.linkpod.site/unfiltered Find our playlists on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube Music and Amazon Music https://unfilteredandundiscovered.com/spotify-playlists-hub/ Thanks for tuning in