an Attempt at Romantic

Nicotine Dolls

with special guest Wic Whitney

*Due to circumstances beyond our control, Nicotine Dolls at Delmar Hall is postponed. Rescheduled date TBD. All previously purchased tickets will be honored at the new date.*

Message from the band:
“Hey St. Louis,

I hate to even write this, but I woke up terribly sick and completely without a voice. I’ve tried everything to make tonight happen, but I can barely talk, let alone sing.

We’re going to have to postpone tonight’s show. I’m so sorry. I know a lot of you made plans and came a long way, and this is the last thing I ever want to do.

We’ll get a new date on the books ASAP, I promise.

Thank you for understanding and for always showing so much love. I can’t wait to make it up to you.”

M&G Upgrade Includes:

Early Entry 1 hour prior to doors
Photo with the band
Autograph
Please note you must have a GA ticket to purchase the M&G

Please Note: As the artist hosts all aspects of the VIP program(s), please note there could be alterations made at their sole discretion.

About Nicotine Dolls

Nicotine Dolls make the kind of music you can’t hide from. The storytelling is front-and-center, beckoning your attention like a dusty old novel you can’t put down until the last page. The vocals are gritty and honest, holding nothing back in fits of joy, regret, and safness similar to a phone call from one of your best friends at 3am. The instrumentation is equally punchy and nuanced, grafting rafter-reaching hooks on top of rich soundscapes. The moment the New York alternative quartet– Sam Cieri [vocals], John Hays [guitar], John Merritt [bass], and Abel Tabares [drums]– plug in, it’s as if a rush of collective emotion floods through the speakers.

Nicotine Dolls officially emerged in 2019 at the crossroads between its members respective paths. As the story goes, Sam met John Hays in 2015 during a Broadway tour. “I ended up there because I was getting evicted from my apartment, and my friend told me to try musical theater since you get a consistent paycheck,” he recalls. They instantly became best friends.

By this time, Sam’s journey had already twisted and turned from “leaving high school to become a musician, living in motels, playing Las Vegas, going to South Florida, and...

By this time, Sam’s journey had already twisted and turned from “leaving high school to become a musician, living in motels, playing Las Vegas, going to South Florida, and amassing all of these crazy ass stories.” Nevertheless, his newfound musical bond with Hays eventually attracted Merritt and Abel to the fold. The guys gained traction with the likes of “What Makes You Sad” which has received more than 13 million Spotify streams. The band’s cover of Tina Turner’s iconic “The Best” has surpassed 12 million streams. Collectively, music released to date, is nearing 50 million streams on Spotify alone.

Impressively, they attracted north of 1.7 million followers on TikTok, and nearly 900k on Instagram as well.

Nicotine Dolls have released a series of self-penned and produced singles and EPs, including the 2024 live EP Nicotine Dolls on Audiotree Live. After singing with Nettwerk Music Group, the band have been hailed by SPIN for their “vulnerability and determination,” calling Cieri a “charismatic, gravelly-throated powerhouse with the rasp of Bruce Springsteen and the emotion of Lewis Capaldi.”

Nicotine Dolls debut full length album (set for early 2025) is already gaining attention.

“This album has been my own internal attempt to be OK with wanting to love, and be loved in return,” he explains. “I wanted to be dumb and nervous and brave and scared and everything you drown in when someone looks at you in that way that derails the whole plan you had for your life. I live alone with my dog and I’m not saying I don’t adore that life, because I do (my dog is my sweet big boy Indiana). But I miss laughing with someone in the kitchen or falling asleep watching trashy TV. I pride myself on my independence, but I think I made this record as a way to admit to myself that having someone there…would be nice.”

About Wic Whitney

Since his breakout Tide Pools EP in 2017, he has steadily built momentum, following up with The Sunshine Couch EP, which featured the standout “Mama’s Song.” In 2023, “Matcha” racked up over 1.5 million Spotify streams and earned praise from Glide Magazine and beyond. He carried that momentum into 2024 with Afternoon Reflections and the standout track “Oolong.” Now, splitting time between Chicago and LA, he’s fine-tuning his upcoming 2025 LP, continuing to push his sound forward.

Wic would like to remind each person reading this Black lives matter, Trans lives matter, and your life matters. Now go drink a glass of water, take a moment for yourself, and call your mama.

Wic Whitney turns music into a dialogue—raw, honest, and full of perspective. Whether layering his words over rich hip-hop beats or smooth R&B soul instrumentation, he delivers stories that connect. The Arkansas-born, Chicago-based rapper, singer, and songwriter captures the essence of deep conversations, translating emotions and experiences into sound.

With millions of streams and a growing presence, he continues to carve his own lane. His 2024 EPs Afternoon Reflections and Another Round [Nettwerk Music Group] further showcase his artistry.