Nashville duo Kim and Scott Collins, known as The Smoking Flowers, are bringing a heady melange of rock, blues, country and some serious Southern Gothic attitude to the Down and Over Pub, 2535 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., tomorrow night.

The husband-and-wife team of singer-songwriters aren't just talented: they've also been through a lot together. Kim was diagnosed with breast cancer last year just before the release of their new album "2 Guns," which was put on hold while they faced the illness together.

Now that Kim is thankfully in remission, the couple talk with OnMilwaukee.com about their music, their love - and, of course, "Laverne and Shirley."

OnMilwaukee.com: How did you guys meet and start playing together? Were you a couple first, or the other way around?

Scott Collins: Definitely a couple first. In a whirl-wind kind of way. We were engaged the night before I had ever even seen Kim perform live on a stage. We'd played for each other acoustically around the house, that sort of thing, but not together nor were we involved as musicians. Shortly after we were married, though, that changed quite drastically, as Kim joined the alt-country-rock band I had with my brother. Being the multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire that she is, and unparalleled as a harmony singer, it was a dream. We quickly realized that it was good for our relationship to be able to tour together, as well. Not having to be apart like some musician couples deal with. After years of casually playing pretty acoustic songs together around the house, at parties (and) amongst peers, and getting responses like "Why aren't you guys doing THIS?" we finally took the plunge. And from the first live show we ever did as The Smoking Flowers at The Basement in Nashville, we and the audience both knew there was some deep stuff going down. There was both spark and fire.

OMC: How does your relationship as a married couple translate into your music?

SC: In more ways than you can count. Our art, relationship, and friendship are so intermingled at this point in our lives that we really almost view what we do as a lifestyle, a true way of life. It extends all the way into things like the causes we support, how we eat or meditate, our attitudes on travel and our practices and beliefs in alternative and natural health. The whole thing is what we are, and the music undeniably reflects that. Our music has probably become the biggest branch on the tree of our marriage, but it is still just one part of the tree nonetheless.

OMC: Can you talk about "2 Guns" and what went into production and songwriting? You recorded it in your home?

SC: Everything on '2 Guns' was written and arranged at our East Nashville home. The album was tracked on 8-track 1-inch tape at a studio called Playground Sound in the Sylvan Park neighborhood of Nashville. Hands down our favorite studio in town. It really feels like home there at this point. Adam Landry co-produced it with us (Deer Tick, Middle Brother, Sally Ford, Diamond Rugs). Almost every song was fully recorded live. Several tracks on the record were the first take. We've pretty much only tracked analog for over a decade now, but we took it to another level on this record. Stuff like vocals going down live in the same room with the drums. It makes for greatly unique audio sonics and is much fun at the same time.

OMC: I saw online that the single "Something I Said" dropped July 23 - are you guys excited?

KC: Very much so. And the world premiere of the video for 'Something I Said' hits the web July 23 as well. We want to thank American Songwriter for doing the exclusive premiere.

OMC: If you wouldn't mind, could you talk about what it was like to face Kim's cancer together? How is Kim's health now? Is it good to get back to touring?

KC: Of course, we never thought we'd be facing something like cancer together so early on in our lives. It's not something you can prepare for. It was such a shock to us because I have lived my whole adult life living a very conscious and mostly healthy lifestyle. We quickly learned that cancer doesn't discriminate, however. I have to say that Scott was the most amazing "cancer buddy" I could have ever imagined. I mean, I knew he would step up, but he blew me away with how much love, energy and support he gave me. I really don't think I could have done it without him. I chose the holistic approach in battling my breast cancer. Yes, the oncologist wanted me to do chemo and hormones, but I refused. My whole adult life has set me up for this moment. I have always led a natural healing lifestyle, so why would I stop now when my life depended on it?

So after 6 months from the time of my diagnosis with a very thought-out personalized protocol, my blood work was coming back showing no cancer activity. I can say I am now cancer-free! But I still follow most of my protocol today, a year and a half after my diagnosis. I will likely be doing this the rest of my life to keep it from returning, but it has made me a better person through and through. I started a blog to share my natural choices and info with others on "The Warrior and The Wishbone." We have choices in treatment beyond the Big Pharma's plan and most people don't know where to start. It's scary for sure, no matter what route of treatment you take. I consult women now who are looking for alternatives to what their Western doctors are offering. I am no doctor, mind you, but Scott and I feel it is important to share the information that we painstakingly took the time to research and learn.

Since Scott and I took all of last year off from our music to focus on my healing, it's been so amazing and inspiring to get back out there on the road and put out a new album. And we are doing it with a vengeance!

OMC: Lastly, have you guys ever been to Milwaukee before? Anything you're excited to see here?

KC: Yes, we've been to Milwaukee, I think twice before. It has been a few years, though. One thing we are excited to see again is Faust Drums shop! Isn't the Laverne and Shirley Brewery here?