With influences that range from Led Zeppelin to Gillian Welch and The Ramones to Neil Young, The Smoking Flowers are a powerhouse band built around the undeniable chemistry between Kim and Scott Collins. Kim sings with a sensual, simmering voices and dances between drums, accordion, acoustic guitar, mandolin, harmonica, shimmering tambourine, while Scott plays electric and acoustic guitar, harmonica, and sings like a feisty, hardscrabble troubadour. The Collins’ music and life have been an influence on many “East Nashville” artists, as they were early pioneers of that now-popular underground scene. Their last full-length, 2 Guns, is a ferocious musical document that eerily foreshadowed a battle the couple would soon encounter after Kim was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer that she eventually fought into remission. In the wake of this experience 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 straight. With this life altering experience to draw upon, and three years of intense touring under their belt, the couple tapped even deeper into their raw rock, punk, and folk roots in the composition of their newest album – Let’s Die Together.
The undeniable urgency present in these recordings cannot be faked, and Let’s Die Together is a true story of triumph that paints a picture of a couple that lives together, writes together, plays together and simply loves life together. “There are not enough words to describe the intrinsic chemistry Kim and Scott Collins possess,” writes The Repertoire. “The duo, better known as The Smoking Flowers, have discovered what some duos spend their entire careers trying to find: a fascinating marriage between artistic talent and subtle sensuality that pierces the attention of anyone in the same room as them. The Collinses have devoted their entire lives to music, and the second their wild feet touch the stage they exude just how tenured they truly are.”
“Often beautifully ragged; sometimes beautifully haunting; many times beautifully goofy-grinned and/or playful, pleading, or pledging – but always beautiful.” -Relix
“A duo unafraid to take fascinating, artistic risks… a dark country gem. If what you’re after is country music given a poetic, punk-rock kick, then look no further than The Smoking Flowers.” -Maverick Magazine
RIYL: Deer Tick, Brandi Carlile, The Civil Wars, The Black Keys, Shovels and Rope, Jack White
Recommended Tracks: Track 1, “Young and Brave,” Track 3, “Here 4 U Now,” Track 4, “Woodland Avenue,” Track 7, “Street Fight,” Track 12, “Outlive Me (Clean Version)”
FCC Warning: Track 5, “Outlive Me”
Label: Bandaloop Records
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