# Smoke (American band)

Smoke was a band from the Cabbagetown neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia that dissolved in 1999 with the death of writer/singer Benjamin. Benjamin was the subject of Peter Sillen and Jem Cohen's documentary Benjamin Smoke (2000).

## History

The group formed during the demise of the Opal Foxx Quartet, starting with Benjamin on vocals, Bill Taft on cornet and banjo, Brian Halloran on cello, and Todd Butler on guitar. Coleman Lewis and Tim Campion later joined on guitar and drums, respectively, followed by Will Fratesi on drums. Their last show was New Year's Eve, 1998. Benjamin died January 29, 1999.
Bill Taft and Will Fratesi went on to form Hubcap City, who are still active in the Atlanta area.
Former guitarist Coleman Lewis died from a heroin overdose in May 2014.

## Discography

* Pretend 7" (1993, Colossal Records)
* Pretend
* Dirt
* Heaven on a Popsicle Stick CD (1994, LongPlay Records)
* Hole
* Awake
* Freak (Winn's Song)
* The Trip
* Hank Aaron (lyrics by Dana Kletter)
* Luke's Feet
* Beeper Will
* The Pond
* I Do
* Ballet
* Guilt
* Abigail
* Curtains
* Another Reason To Fast CD (1995, LongPlay Records)
* Trust
* Friends
* When It Rains
* Clean White Bed
* Shadow Box
* Dream
* Fatherland
* Train Song
* Debbey's Song
* Chad
* That Look
* I Don't
* Snake

### Compilation appearances

* ? CD (1992)
* Smoke - Dog
The lineup on this song was Benjamin, Bill Taft, Brian Halloran, and Todd Butler. This CD was a benefit compilation.
* Radio Oddyssey Volume 2: The Georgia Music Show CD (1997 Altered Records/Ichiban)
* The Rock*A*Teens - Black Ice
* The Continentals - Please, Please
* Pineal Ventana - Dark Cloud
* DQE - Mermaid And The Sailor
* No. 1 Family Mover - Hey Soul
* Bob - Ants
* Velvet Overkill Five - Pillow Talk
* The Goodies - Live On WRAS-FM
* Tweezer - Sucking Midgets
* Marcy - Driver
* Heinous Bienfang - Stay Behind The Cones
* Babyfat - Redd Lobster
* Frontstreet - Scandinavian Pamphlet (Sex Book)
* 17 Years - Doing Wrong
* Smoke - Hamlet
* Benjamin - Big Daddy Story and Other Saucy Tales
* Rudy's Rockin' Kiddie Caravan CD (1997 Bloodshot Records)
* Susie Honeyman - Bus
* Schoolly D - This Old Man
* Smoke - Old Joe Clark
* Calexico - The Man on the Flying Trapeze
* The Waco Brothers - Them Bones
* Giant Sand - Blow the Man Down
* Anne Richmond Boston - What Can the Matter Be?
* D. L. Menard & the Louisiana Aces - J'ai Passe Devant Ta Porte?
* Zydeco Elvis - The ABC Song
* Sally Timms - Hush Little Baby
* New Orleans Klezmer All Stars - Nokas for the Kinder
* The Chiselers - Playmate
* The Rock*A*Teens - She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain
* Moonshine Willy - Skip to My Lou
* Kelly Hogan - The Great Titanic
* The Black Mama Dharma Band - A Frozen Road
* Mekons - Oranges & Lemons
* New Kingdom - John Henry
* Rob Gal - Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
* Blacktop Rockets - Froggy Went A-Courtin'
* Vic Chesnutt - Home on the Range
* The Grifters - The Muffin Man
* Hidden Tracks] CD (2000, Daemon Records)
* Kick Me - Arms
* Smoke - Midnight
* DQE - Ivytwine
* Parlour - The Cold Snap
* Kick Me - Black Coat
* Kick Me - Blue Midnight
* Parlour - Baby Doll
* Bill Taft & Neil Fried - Old West
* Smoke - Pretend
* Palookaville - Seventh Day
* Long Flat Red - Eighty-Six Days
* Railroad Earth - Keep Seeing That Soul
* Kick Me - Lucky Nights
* The Hollidays - Miles Away