Nova Scotia rockers Social Smokers Club have treated us to a preview of their upcoming album The Woods with the release of the album’s first single, “Bards with Beards.” Written by band members William Tyler Robbins and Jack Murtha when they were finishing up high school, the track has finally taken form as an ode to those who live for themselves.
“The song is about being misunderstood because of the passions we have in life,” says Murtha. “We should never change the way we live because of how someone else tells us to live life, but to always be true to ourselves and the things we love.”
The lyrical narrative provides a lovably quirky conduit for such a message as well. The song is about a young musician who wonders about what awaits him after death, believing he’ll be turned away at Heaven’s gates by God for being too stoned when he dies. Evidently, he couldn’t care less since he followed the music and lived life the way he wanted to.
Not to question how Rabbie Burns spent his off-hours, but the track does take on a certain lilt. The band employs a very laidback yet groovy atmosphere to go with its vaguely flamenco guitar and subtle synth.
The band is greatly looking forward to their upcoming release. “We’ve been finished the record since before we put out ‘Speak into the Dark’ on Halloween,” says Robbins. “It brings a lot solace to know people will hear it soon.”
The Woods drops March 15th, and you can catch Social Smokers Club be playing at the T-Room in Halifax on February 28th, followed by a Maritime Tour from March 26th to April 1st, with venues yet to be determined. The band will also be hosting their release show at the Seahorse Tavern in Halifax on April 5th.