Song Spotlight: Smoke and Mud
About 8 years ago..
Keri and I were in Upstate New York, doing the best we could. We had a tiny apartment in a nice neighborhood we loved. We walked to the library, grocery store. We were very very tight on money, but loaded with other things, the kinds of things needed for songwriting.
I woke with this melody in my head. I heard a cowboy dustbowl howl. I heard lots of religious setting stuff. I heard strife. I heard The Great Depression. 6/8 blues, harmonies, Southern Gothic imagery. It’ s a fun zone.
We wrote it really quickly. By 4 pm the same day we started, we were done. I had a demo already. One of those quick ones.
I like this song, but I am not religious. That’s fine.
I still like this song, for what it is worth. I don’t like religion. I don’t even like Jesus. I don’t like prayer. I don’t like church. But it doesn’t matter here. All that is setting and it is real to the period, genre. Sometimes in order to sound real, I may have to delve into things I am not into. Also, Keri and I were both raised religious, at least with one parent. It’s as much a part of our background as it is this main character’s. The religion in this one doesn’t bother me. Setting.
That one harmony….
From the beginning, Smoke and Mud has had a harmony that howls like a creak in the door of a quiet house. I think this harmony part seals the deal sonically for me. I am not sure what is going on with me with this harmony. But I like it. It isn’t the same without it.
Where to listen.
We have an unplugged version over on Bandcamp, and we have the full band collaboration over on Subvert as well as Bandcamp. I can’t tell you which I like more, just depends on the day. I hope you like both.
Fun facts:
Fun fact: David Crosby heard this on Twitter back in the day and said, “Not my thing.” That’s okay. I have seen folks cry to it with my own eyes. May not have been David’s thing. But it is somebody’s. I am fine with that.
Fun fact: Definitely our most popular song online. Locally, it seems to be “The Crab Song” that gets all the love. I love that I have made songs folks like. Don’t care which ones they pick. This is, of course, if you aren’t counting “Rain on Christmas,” our sad Christmas tune. That is played radio around the holidays every year. It is the gift that keeps on giving.
There’s lots of cool things with this one.
Maybe you like a mean Southern Gothic setting. Maybe you like Dustbowl and Great Depression era vibes. Maybe you are the right kind of Country or Americana fan. Maybe you like blues, harmony, danger moods. Whatever the case, just know we are tickled if you like our songs. Thanks so much.
Kelly Kintner