Foxing’s Conor Murphy Announces New Smidley Album Murphy Horse: Hear “Capstone” (Feat. Lucy Dacus)

Last year, the ambitious St. Louis emo adventurers Foxing announced an indefinite hiatus and played their farewell show. While Foxing were active, frontman Conor Murphy made a handful of side-project records under the name Smidley. Foxing might not be active anymore, but Murphy is still going with Smidley. Today, he announces a new album called Murphy Horse and shares its lead single, which happens to feature indie star Lucy Dacus.

For Murphy Horse, the follow-up to 2022's Here Comes The Devil, Conor Murphy effectively turned Smidley into a full band, with Foxing bassist Brett Torrence on guitar, as well as bassist Mitch Renfrew and drummer Jack Middeke. Joe Reinhart mixed the record, and Ryan Schwabe. It's got guest appearances from NNAMDÏ, Shinra Knives, Japanese Breakfast's Adam Schatz, and Manchester Orchestra's Brooks Tipton, along with Lucy Dacus.

Lead single "Capstone" is a strutting, percussive party jam that's all about romance. Conor Murphy sings that he's been all over the world and had all kinds of experiences, but "loving you has been the capstone of my life." Lucy Dacus adds her soothing tones to the chorus and then gets a verse to herself, and it's a lot of fun to hear her sing something this uptempo. As it happens, Smidley will tour with Dacus later this year, and also with Ratboys. Below, check out the "Capstone" video that Murphy directed, the Murphy Horse tracklist, and Smidley's tour dates.

TRACKLIST:
01 "Corpse Flower" (Feat. Shinra Knives)
02 "Capstone" (Feat. Lucy Dacus)
03 "Murphy Horse"
04 "Love In Every Direction"
05 "Today Was A Wash"
06 "Friendly's"
07 "People Like You"
08 "Robin Egg" (Feat. NNAMDÏ)
09 "Nearer To You"
10 "Old Things Never Die"

Murphy Horse is out 9/25 on Royal Mountain.

Brett Torrence