There’s plenty of country influence around these days, but few contemporary bands hit the sweet spot the way Tobacco City does, as evidenced on their new offering, “Bougainvillea.” The wry humor, the mundanity and the heartbreak all in equal measure make them real torch bearers for classic country songwriting the way I’ve always loved it.
In Chris Coleslaw’s words: “’Bougainvillea’ is my favorite song on the album. It’s another nostalgia trip about the time in your younger years when you are free to be stupid and silly with very little consequence. Those days of excess were wild and illuminating but eventually times have to keep changing but the view from the heights of those times never changes”
On Horses, the highly anticipated follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut, Tobacco City, USA, the band takes listeners on a nostalgic journey through the haze of youth, where time feels suspended and plans are nonexistent. The album’s lyrics conjure vivid images of small-town life—smoking schwag behind the grocery store, drinking cream from a gas station with your first love—capturing that carefree, uncertain time when the future felt distant.
The music channels the spirit of ’70s country with influences from legends like Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, bringing a timeless, uplifting energy to each track. At the same time, the lyrics intersect with modern-day themes, blending the beauty and innocence of youth with the harsh realities of life. Horses feels like a contemporary take on classic country, merging a nostalgic past with the complex world of today, all while remaining undeniably authentic and heartfelt.
What do you think of Tobacco City’s latest offering, “Bougainvillea”?
