Though there isn't an earworm like 'Freeway'- that endlessly replayable, interstate love song from Vile's 2008 Constant Hitmaker LP- Smoke Rings isn't that kind of listen. But here, Vile has acknowledged limits in length for the sake of depth. In the past, 'Peeping Tomboy' may have sunk halfway through its bridge, while single 'In My Time' probably would have lost its way mid-jam. Rather than stitch loop to loop to loop, Vile's given every marvelous, carefully placed layer all kinds of room to aerate. He's still cycling between strummers and fingerpicked mazework, but the battery of pedal effects is mostly gone. Sonically and compositionally, Vile allows us the space to do that. We're eavesdropping on the most private of dialogs. I got friends, hey wait, where was I, well, I am trying.' Although he stretches those last two or three notes, it doesn't feel like he's singing. Between the two seismic chords of 'Ghost Town' this album's bulldozing climax, Vile wonders aloud, 'think I'll never leave my couch again, because when I'm out, I'm away in my mind. Vile's lonesome brand of melancholia is still communicated both plainly and unassumingly enough to be missed, but its that sense that he seems to be talking only to himself that lends these songs such magnetic pull. Well I'll tell you right now, you best believe that I am.' And he can yank your heart out, as he does a number of times here, perhaps most memorably amid the celestial fingerpicking of 'Baby's Arms', when he tries convincing himself that, he'll 'never ever, ever be alone.' But he's actually always alone here. He can be quick, as on the strong-jawed, electric groove of 'Puppet to the Man', when he opens, 'I bet by now you probably think I'm a puppet to the man. What we learn is that Kurt Vile has a lot to say. The conversation's grown far more engaging. As hinted at by last year's Square Shells EP, a 'stepping stone' to where we are now, the sonics and vocals have been spit-polished to shimmer- every sonorous detail can now be heard in full, and Vile's voice has taken on a new, mountainous presence in the center of each song. They also appear here.) It was a jump to the relative big leagues that, despite its cleaner approach, offered more in the way of promise than focus. (Additionally, he brought his sometime touring band, the Violators, into the studio to help fill out those songs that required more brawn.

But 2009's Childish Prodigy, his Matador debut, found Vile wiping off some of the grimy, decidedly 'lo-fi' film that had fenced off much of his work up until that point. In the past, though, Vile's words have been written off as mumbled, unintelligible, and listless- a criticism made all the more reasonable given the crude recording techniques he employed. We are also having an OFFSET SMOKER custom made for the new trailer.But to listen to Kurt Vile is to hear him in conversation with himself: That can be said of his ultra-wry lyrical observations just as much as the elliptical, brick-by-brick architecture of his songwriting. We definitely have some work to do, but are so excited to take this to a new level. This food trailer had an amazing brick oven pizza cooker installed, but was sold prior to us closing the deal. That being said, we stumbled upon an awesome food trailer. As you know, if you hang around the BBQ community long enough they will convince you that you are capable of anything. We have decided to take this to a new level. Our passion for BBQ, fellowship, our community & mental clarity continues to be the driving force behind everything we do! The team at Smoke Ring BBQ knows that every cook counts, and we either WIN or we LEARN!! Living in Texas, we have a natural appreciation for the craft that surrounds THE TEXAS BRISKET!! After ruining a “few”, the journey to Brisket perfection was underway & continues on that same back patio!! We’ve since added several more Traeger's as well as a Yoder Smoker.

That being said, my outlet/therapy sessions begin!! I have always enjoyed cooking outdoors and have a long family history of some gnarly Pit Masters, but couldn't find the time to dedicate myself to producing a product like my family has for so many years. I was standing in the middle of my back patio needing an outlet. I have struggled with mental health my entire life, some of this is a result of an accident that took my right leg when I was 17.(Clinically diagnosed w/ PTSD-Anxiety-Depression-ADHD.you name it), and the pandemic wasn't a good place for me to be. Smoke Ring BBQ was born on our back patio during the pandemic-2020.

The smoke ring menu