After several years of relentless travel up and down the West Coast circuit, Oakland’s Smokers has finally completed their blistering 15 song debut album The Rat That Gnawed the Rope. Inspired by favorite bands like The Stranglers, Minutemen, and early Replacements, Andy Asp (Nuisance, The Pattern), Cyrus Comisky (Black Fork, Drunk Horse), Jim Nastic (Talk is Poison, Year Future) and Omen Starr (St. James Infirmary) met up with lead engineer Phil Becker (Pins of Light) at San Francisco’s historic El Studio to put together the songs that became The Rat. The sessions progressed swiftly, and sonically define the band’s tough but thoughtful compositions. Highlight tracks include the driving ‘The Irish Tenor,’ ‘East of Oakland,’ and the reflective Covid-era song ‘The Strand.’ Fans of garage rock, East Bay punk, pub rock, and vintage street rock will find something here in this succinct, powerful collection. Smokers have played with The Avengers, Jawbreaker, Samiam, Subhumans, Murder City Devils and countless others.