The Lucksmiths – Smokers in Love

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So act surprised, it’s been a while since The Lucksmiths came calling.
Despite breaking up, The Lucksmiths
…

One of my favorite love song is called “Smokers in Love” by the Lucksmiths. The song is the lead track on their EP Staring at the Sky (the title is taken from their song “The Golden Age Of Aviation”, which appeared as the last track).

The Lucksmiths have written some of the smartest and wittiest songs I’ve ever heard, and I’m sort of sad that they are no longer a band.

The Lucksmiths at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (06/18/2001)

Setlist

I first ‘discover’ the band via a penpal who made me a Lucksmiths MiniDisc. That as in the late 90s, so I’ve been a fan of their music for quite a while. I own many of their singles, but picked up a ton more when I saw the band at 7th Street Entry on June 18, 2001. Normally I don’t remember who open up for the band, but that night The Ladybug Transistor was the opener.

As you can see from the setlist that I stole, they did all the hits for me at the time: “Music to Hold Hands To”, “Untidy Towns”, “Under the Rotunda”,
“T-Shirt Weather”, “Tmrw vs Yday”, and, of course, “Smokers in Love”.

I caught the Lucksmiths again at 7th Street Entry on 07/24/2003 when they toured for Naturaliste, which they did a ton of songs from that album (“Midweek Midmorning”, “Camera Shy”, etc). The encore, I believe was only one song: “Broken Bones”, and “The Year of Driving Langourously” (per fan’s request).

Anyway, I still love The Lucksmiths, especially in the Summer, when I go bicycling and just put on their music on my headphones and spend the day with them.

If you like what you’ve heard, you can purchase some Lucksmiths music over at lostandlonesome.com.au.

Below are lyrics to my favorite Luckies love song, “Smokers in Love”:

“Smokers in Love”

In the early morning when you wake each other up

Coughing like you might not make the afternoon

You keep the curtains closed and you carry off a conversation

But you both know that it’s still far too soon to say…

you’ll be okay

You keep the curtains closed and you hide behind the newspaper

You got yourself some nicotine, in the nick of time

And even though the weekend doesn’t really make much difference

You spent Thursday on your backside, whistling “Friday On My Mind”

… super-supine

Happy and hungover on the first day of October

Struggling to remember the last night of September

In the early evening, then you crack each other up

Laughing ’til you’re practically bent double on the floor

Amidst a sea of empty bottles, crockery and coffee cups

Using anything for ashtrays, drinking drinks you can’t afford

… and you’re still bored

Cartography For Beginners

Lost & Lonesome / Matinee Recordings

Update: Fans who are just discovering the Luckies, good news for you, there is a ‘greatest hits’ double disc compilation called Cartography For Beginners out now. Track listing were compiled by the band members and organized by year.

Disc 1: 1993–2000

1. Cat in Sunshine 2. Weatherboard 3. Tree 4. Jewel Thieves 5. Shine On Me 6. Macintyre 7. Frisbee 8. Caravanna 9. Under the Rotunda 10. Guess How Much I Love You 11. Smokers in Love 12. The Golden Age of Aviation 13. Untidy Towns 14. The Art of Cooking for Two 15. Southernmost 16. A Downside to the Upstairs 17. The Cassingle Revival 18. T-Shirt Weather

Disc 2: 2001–2009

1. Synchronised Sinking 2. The Great Dividing Range 3. Self-Preservation 4. The Year of Driving Languorously 5. Camera-Shy 6. Take This Lying Down 7. Midweek Midmorning 8. Stayaway Stars 9. After the After Party 10. A Hiccup in Your Happiness 11. The Chapter in Your Life Entitled San Francisco 12. Sunlight in a Jar 13. Fiction 14. The Town and the Hills 15. A Sobering Thought (Just When One Was Needed) 16. California in Popular Song 17. Get-to-Bed Birds