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Smoking Popes is an American punk band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1991. They play pop-influenced punk music with crooning vocals and sappy, romantic lyrics. The core of the group is composed of brothers Matt Caterer (b. 1968), Josh Caterer (b. 1972) and Eli Caterer (b. 1975).
The Caterer brothers were raised on rock ‘n’ roll and crooners like Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. In 1980 Matt got a guitar, Josh a bass guitar and Eli a drum set and they began to play together. Soon after, their eyes were opened to the world of the Ramones and punk rock. Other early musical influences included Mel Tormé, Tom Waits, The Replacements, The Smiths, early AC/DC, The Cars, and Dinosaur Jr.
In 1990 Matt and Josh, calling themselves Speedstick, got a gig at a party and played approximately 10 original punk-style compositions. About this time, Matt switched to bass and Dave Martens joined as drummer. Josh became an Elvis Costello fan and his style, accordingly, became more pop influenced. Speedstick recorded 10 songs in their first studio session, including “Brand New Hairstyle,” which would become a staple of the Smoking Popes repertoire.
They changed the band’s name, taking “Smoking” from Matt and Josh’s penchant for excessive cigarette smoking and “Popes” from the movie “The Pope of Greenwich Village.” (The band’s original name was simply the “Popes”, but it was decided to add the adjective to distinguish the band from the Chicago gang The Popes.)
The Caterer brothers were raised on rock ‘n’ roll and crooners like Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. In 1980 Matt got a guitar, Josh a bass guitar and Eli a drum set and they began to play together. Soon after, their eyes were opened to the world of the Ramones and punk rock. Other early musical influences included Mel Tormé, Tom Waits, The Replacements, The Smiths, early AC/DC, The Cars, and Dinosaur Jr.
In 1990 Matt and Josh, calling themselves Speedstick, got a gig at a party and played approximately 10 original punk-style compositions. About this time, Matt switched to bass and Dave Martens joined as drummer. Josh became an Elvis Costello fan and his style, accordingly, became more pop influenced. Speedstick recorded 10 songs in their first studio session, including “Brand New Hairstyle,” which would become a staple of the Smoking Popes repertoire.
They changed the band’s name, taking “Smoking” from Matt and Josh’s penchant for excessive cigarette smoking and “Popes” from the movie “The Pope of Greenwich Village.” (The band’s original name was simply the “Popes”, but it was decided to add the adjective to distinguish the band from the Chicago gang The Popes.)
Top Albums
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Destination Failure
Smoking Popes
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Born to Quit
Smoking Popes Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $6.99
- 7digital Search
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- Amazon $6.00
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The Party's Over
Smoking Popes Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $8.99
- 7digital $6.99
- iTunes $9.90
- Buy Album
- Amazon $10.98
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1991-1998
Smoking Popes Buy- Download Album
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Top Tracks
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Need You Around
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Megan
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Pure Imagination
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I Know You Love Me
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Let's Hear It for Love
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Star Struck One
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Pretty Pathetic
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| 8 |
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No More Smiles
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| 10 |
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Paul
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| 11 |
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Gotta Know Right Now
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| 12 |
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You Spoke To Me
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| 13 |
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Rubella
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Before I'm Gone
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I Was Right
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Shoutbox
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raise_it_up wrote:
Stop using ridiculous in the wrong context.. retard.
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jhpope wrote:
http://twitter.com/asianmanrecords/status/5266115959
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sipsy wrote:
I can't wait for Asian Man to repress these records! Hopefully it's sooner rather than later.
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epersales wrote:
SmoPo is ridiculous!
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mykel_f wrote:
how did i miss a new release last year? just discovered the oversight last night. already i can say Stay Down is sweet album.
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i2hymnocerous wrote:
I'm glad to hear these guys are getting a re-issue. Still proudly enjoying my Johann's Face print of Get Fired. That may be my most prized album in my collection.
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taylordvo wrote:
saw them yesterday and met josh. fuck yeah.
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FAskies wrote:
butter on a summer day
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tardybaker wrote:
I love the Popes, SOOO MUCH
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TARAjackson wrote:
sooooooooooo gooooooooooood
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TomorrowxImxYou wrote:
wrote the script on punk. Keep the albums coming guys!
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dcarroll777 wrote:
The new album is so good. Welcome back, guys.
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soulbleed wrote:
so many good songs, so little time. it's a shame this band has such a small following.
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mikeetcetera wrote:
bayside? really?
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steevloki wrote:
Wow, I've heard about these dudes before, but somehow didn't listen to any of their music until yesterday. Awesome stuff!
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MichaelKubaszak wrote:
saw them last night thoroughly awesome!
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taperjeangirl87 wrote:
i just love them
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joshuaxvx wrote:
Saw them in August. So good.
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dgilmourfan wrote:
so good. i'm glad bayside covered "megan" or i might never have heard about these guys.
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TARAjackson wrote:
I love them. When I got to see them about 2 years ago at The Great American Music Hall, it was amazing<333
Videos
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Events
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Dec
4
Laughing Prairie Dog Festival
Canopy Club, Urbana, IL, United States
2 shouts
| 29 attendees
Listeners
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teddyrubmyskin
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Jack_Eyes
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slazey
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Recent Activity
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annalisajam, Synthetic70, xbradx75 and 18 other people added Smoking Popes to their libraries. yesterday evening
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kscugrendel wrote about Smoking Popes in Playlist for "Punk Rock Pariah" with Grendel for 9 November 2009. 16 days ago
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vickyenbanda, jillianthrash, ardentspork and 2 other people added Smoking Popes to their libraries. 19 days ago
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FatUglyVenus wrote about Smoking Popes in Top 50 Blog. 22 days ago
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Dee_Zaab, insidethelion, culturerevolt and 3 other people added Smoking Popes to their libraries. 23 days ago
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rhinowing added Smoking Popes to the lineup of Laughing Prairie Dog Festival at Canopy Club. last month
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SonourBrum, frenchykins, graindeciel and 21 other people added Smoking Popes to their libraries. last month
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LoveAt1stBite tagged Smoking Popes with ‘chicago’. last month
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overheadcam, what_sarah_says, bitethecurb13 and 6 other people added Smoking Popes to their libraries. last month
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fuckinshit wrote about Smoking Popes in a deleted journal. September 2009
Related Journals
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Playlist for "Punk Rock Pariah" with Grendel for 9 November 2009
by kscugrendel |
10 Nov 2009 | Add comment
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Top 50 Blog
by FatUglyVenus |
3 Nov 2009 | Add comment
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Smoking Popes 2/21/09 @ Cubby Bear Wrigleyville, Chicago, IL
by Corvar |
23 Feb 2009 | Add comment
Groups (14)
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Smoking Popes
27 members
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Bayside is a cult
338 members
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My Very Own Group Of Under-Appreciated Artists
97 members
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Hulkamaniacs
71 members
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Midwest Punk
35 members
