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Imagine you’re in a movie (or real life!), and you find your way into a bistro late at night. Perhaps you’ve had a rough day and need to escape reality. You grab a drink and a small dish and are alone at a table under dim lights. The sound of chatter is washed out by the live band a few feet in front of you which provides an emotional sense of comfort and warmth, making you forget any problems that you left outside.

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That is the kind of experience music from Handsome and the Humbles gives to listeners.

I had the pleasure of previewing the band’s upcoming EP, “400 Cigarettes,” and it was a visual, soothing experience from beginning to end.

Handsome and the Humbles is currently made up of vocalist and guitarist Josh Smith, guitarist Josh Hutson, drummer Chris Bratta, and bassist Russ Torbett. With two albums under their belt, the band is no stranger to the East Tennessee music scene and self-describes their sound as Americana and roots rock.

The six new tracks I analyzed had enough variety to develop a solid and thoroughly enjoyable EP.

“Wyoming” kicked things off with perhaps the most unique sound from the six-track collection. I quickly became reminiscent of my childhood, certain sounds reminding me of the rural areas I grew up in and churches I attended countless “singings” at. The song had an underlying sad tone but remained comforting throughout. I was impressed by the overall professional sound and composition, and Smith’s vocals made this introduction track a distinguished start to the EP.

“All Those Pretty Things” followed with an instant change in tone. This one immediately felt more personal. It told a story that I got lost in. The instrumentals created a rhythm easy to tap your foot to, and a prominent stretch of guitar was the cherry on top.

The title track, “400 Cigarettes,” is, in my opinion, the strongest of the six songs, and the reason behind how I described the band’s sound in the beginning of this review. It has a beautiful melody and exudes such strong emotion. HATH has successfully created a cinematic experience with this song and EP overall, and I hope to hear this track live or in some type of media in the future.TEXT

The fourth track takes a bit of a turn and is a live recording from a radio session. “If I Could,” gives new listeners, like myself, a taste of Smith’s raw vocals, which are just as strong as the studio-recorded ones. Like in the second sample, the lyrics tell a story. This band is obviously one that can be enjoyed acoustically or with a full band, which gives them a lot more possibilities when it comes to future releases.

“Good Morning From Nashville” turns things back around to a more upbeat arrangement. The instruments and vocals build up over the song’s 3 minutes 16-second runtime. The prominent background voices and percussion are a strong addition to this EP, and while this track may also have an underlying emotional message, it creates a sense of hope and happiness which gives a whole new life to the sound we’re just getting used to. The range is impressive.

Handsome and the Humble’s upcoming EP ends with a sixth track titled “Self Defense,” and I believe it was a satisfying choice to close out a new record. It’s catchy and does a good job at leaving you wanting more. It’s definitely a song that I can picture people swaying to at a live show in the summer. I enjoy noticing the supporting band members and background vocals, and that is prominent in this track.

Overall, HATH should expect nothing but praise for their upcoming release. I am happy to have been introduced to their music through this review, and I can’t wait to hear about their future endeavors and projects.

Credits:
All songs written by: Joshua Mikhael Smith (ASCAP)
Tracks 1, 5, 6 recorded at Castle Greyscale, Knoxville, TN
-Engineered by Kris "Tugboat" Killingsworth (Thrift Store Cowboys)
-Mixed by Kris Killingsworth and Daniel Markham (Thrift Store Cowboys)
Tracks 2, 3 recorded at Brimstone Recordings, Helenwood, Tennessee
-Engineered and mixed by Odell Brummett 
Track 4 recorded at Josh's Mom's House, Clinton, TN for Roots Down Session (Rootsdownradio)
All songs mastered by Odell Brummett at Brimstone Recordings

Members:
Josh Smith- vocals, acoustic guitar
Tugboat Killingsworth- drums, percussion on 1,5, 6
Chris Bratta- drums, percussion on 2,3
Madison Miles- background vocals on 5
J. Tom Hnatow (actually recorded on a Ringo Starr record!!)- Pedal Steel on 1
Tyler Huff- Bass (former member)
Josh Hutson-  Guitar on 2,3,5,6 
Jason Chambers-Guitar 2,3 (former member)

“400 Cigarettes” will be released on February 4th on all major music streaming platforms.

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