East Nashville artists Kim and Scott Collins, who make music as The Smoking Flowers, have revealed "Let's Get Happy" featuring Deer Tick's John McCauley, the second track off their forthcoming acoustic album Snowball Out of Hell. "
The acoustic album, set for release on June 21st, follows 2018's rock-oriented Let's Die Together; both albums will be released together as a deluxe double album digitally and on vinyl. Both albums were conceived during Kim's battle-and later triumph-over an aggressive form of breast cancer; the cancer is in remission today due to only using holistic and alternative methods and to adopting a raw food diet (no chemotherapy, no radiation, no hormones). In the wake of this journey, Kim and Scott took life by the reins and hit the road in their vintage Volvo 240 station wagon, touring across America and Canada for three years. With this life-altering experience to draw upon and years of intense touring under their belt, the couple then tapped even deeper into their raw rock, punk and folk roots in the composition of their companion albums Let's Die Together and Snowball Out of Hell. The urgency present in these recordings is undeniable, a true story of love and triumph. "Let's Get Happy" follows the album's first single, "(Still) Here For You Now," an acoustic reimagining of "Here 4 U Now," a track from Let's Die Together.
With influences that range from Led Zeppelin to Gillian Welch, and The Ramones to Neil Young, The Smoking Flowers' chemistry is palpable as Kim dances between strings and percussion while Scott plays electric and acoustic guitar, and harmonica--she delivers her own sensual, simmering vocals, while his is the voice of a feisty, gin-battered, heart-on-sleeve, hardscrabble troubadour. The Collinses, who founded charitable organization The Treasure Chest, continue to be activists and advocates for holistic and alternative medicine and healing. Their music and lives have been an influence on many East Nashville artists, being early pioneers of the now popular underground scene.
The Smoking Flowers On Tour:
April 6 - Red Dirt Anniversary Fest - Opelika, AL
April 13 - The 5 Spot - Nashville, TN*
April 23 - The Hi-Tone - Memphis, TN*
April 24 - Harte's Saloon - Evergreen Park, IL^
4/25 - Gibson Music Hall - Appleton, WI^
4/26 - McAuliffe's Pub - Racine, WI^
5/23 - Sly Grog Lounge - Asheville, NC
5/24 - Scruffy City Hall - Knoxville, TN
5/25 - Smithe's Old Bar - Atlanta, GA
*w/ Bones of J.R. Jones
^ w/ Blackfoot Gypsies
Photo credit: John Botkin
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