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The Return Of The Stout City Luchadores
Ode to Cigarettes, Part 1
Upcoming And Awesome
BEING THERE track on Young and Lost digital club July 4th.
Danger*Cakes
Listen Now:
[audio:http://www.meltedzipper.com/podcastMusic/dangercakesInterview.mp3] Interview at Downtown Bar and Grill in Victoria, TX.
Danger*Cakes — Rock N Roll Orchestra — Austin, TX
Members:: Jamie Bahr, Vocals/Upright Bass Armenta Hesselrode, Guitar/Backup Vocals Virginia Lopez, Drums Kathryn Fries, Tuba Karen Kirk, Trumpet Tina Marie Bartolucci, Alto Saxophone
Bio:: Danger*Cakes is the all-girl, Rock ‘N’ Roll Orchestra that will rock your socks off. Oh yes. . . completely off. Watch out, dem cakes are hot!
Contact :: FACEBOOKJosh Caterer
Listen now:
[audio:http://www.meltedzipper.com/podcastMusic/joshcatererInterview.mp3] Interview at Fitzgerald’s – Houston, TX
The Smoking Popes – Indie/Punk Rock band from Chicago
Members: Eli Dixon Caterer – Guitar Josh Caterer – Vocals/Guitar Matt Caterer – Bass Neil Hennessy – Drums
Bio: “Ever wonder what a traditional saloon singer would sound like backed up by a punk band? The Smoking Popes take that concept one step further: They’ve created a unique kind of music that some listeners are describing as ‘hyperkinetic tear-jerkers’.” Los Angeles Times Smoking Popes built a relationship with their legion of fans and fellow musicians by melding raw songs about bittersweet heartache with soaring melodies, power chords and punk spirit. Wielding such musical influence is remarkable, and their latest album This is Only a Test is perfect proof that their sparkling lyricism and ineffable charm is still intact. This is Only a Test is the Smoking Pope’s first ever concept album, exploring the life of a fictional high schooler. The album hits the street on March 15th, sparking a spring tour to celebrate, beginning at SXSW in Austin.
This is Only a Test’s songs explore themes of identity, musical aspirations, love and teen suicide.” Singer/Guitarist Songwriter Josh Caterer explains, “When I first got the idea to write from a teenage perspective, the individual songs came really quickly. I wrote a song a day for five days. That’s half the album in less than a week. I never write that fast! Each song stands alone as a snapshot from this kid’s life. The story doesn’t unfold like a narrative. It’s more like a collage.” Recorded at Chicago’s Atlas Sound in 2010, the album was produced by Mat Allison (Alkaline Trio, Lawrence Arms, and The Menzingers).
Some may assume that This is Only a Test is autobiographical but Caterer lays that notion to rest, saying, “The main character on this album is definitely a creation. He’s not me. Well…he’s similar to me, but he’s not limited by the realities of my own experience. I created a character that basically has the same view of the world that I had when I was in high school, but he’s his own person and he does some things that I never did.”
Smoking Popes first burst onto the scene in 1991 and released several albums on various local labels. They signed to Capitol Records in 1995 and re-released Born to Quit¸ one of Smoking Popes landmark albums, to an even larger fan base gained by touring with bands like Jawbreaker and Jimmy Eat World. Praise from SPIN, Alternative Press, Rolling Stone and Billboard arrived with the re-release and later that year, “Need You Around” was also featured in the hit movie Clueless. Musical icon Morrissey raved: “Did you ever hear Born to Quit? It’s by the Smoking Popes. I thought that album was extraordinary, the most lovable thing I’d heard in years”.
In 1997, the Smoking Popes released Destination Failure. The album challenged the idea of what a pop punk band could do, with lyrics that told tales of love and longing with heartbreaking details. To the shock of many, Smoking Popes decided to throw in the towel in 1998. In 2005, rumors started flying that the band would perform again. Their sold out reunion show at Chicago’s Metro on November 11th sparked a resurgence of Smoking Popes fans, leaving the crowd yearning for new material. The band was re-energized and reformed for good, releasing Stay Down in 2008 and in 2010, Its Been a Long Day, a compilation of songs released on rare vinyl singles.
Jack Grisham
TSOL – LA Punk
Members: Jack Grisham, Ron Emory, Michael Roche,Greg Kuehn, and the ever popular semi-god of the DDRUM kit, that Sabian splashing, Vic Firth hitting Tiny Bubs!!! Bio: President Reagan can shove it! is the final knife into the governments back in the legendary song Superficial Love, written in 1980 by TSOL. That, of course, was an era when punk bands often wrote vitriolic, anti-government anthems and questioning authority was the norm, instead of the exception. Punk is more about fashion than function now, says Grisham, the central figure of this seminal band known as much for its political fervor as being at the forefront of the punk/goth movement. Nowadays, with a President who is arguably more ripe for punk revolt, most punk bands are playing it safe, preferring to impress the buyers at Hot Topic and the programmers at Clear Channel and Viacom. The song See You Tomorrow from the bands fourth full-length album, Divided We Stand, proves they havent missed a step: Policies of death begin/your children suffer for your sins/ignorance and open hate/we reap the seed that we create. Throughout the album, Grisham expresses his rage, his doubts, his love and certainly his lust. Its quite evident he still finds the music rewarding, and the fans, who continue to come out in droves, clearly still find them relevant. Its been a long and winding road for TSOL the drugs, the fights, the prison time, the underage marriages, heavy drinking, the sobriety, the deaths theyve each lived more than a few lifetimes. And though much has changed in these mens lives, their central belief is the same. Our emotions have not wavered… I mean, what am I doing this for? It sure as fuck isnt the money, reminds Grisham. There still is something he and the rest of TSOL are searching for, however. When asked what he hoped people get from this record, Jack replied, To feel united with something or someone No man is an island (John Donne), sometimes I feel like an island adrift and unconnected. Maybe someone will hear this and say they understand it or feel the same. Divided We Stand does just that. It is a synchronized inferno of dark, melodic storytelling. A well timed verdict of all those around him, in his life, on his street and in society. Its clear Grisham is at his peak. He is focused and sharp, and has delivered his best overall release since 81s Dance With Me. A reason for this might be that sobriety is now a central part of life for Mike, Ron and Jack. Grisham said goodbye to the party back in the late 80s after marrying a 14 year-old girl in Mexico during a common binge. Roche and Emory joined him some 10 years later after years of heroin abuse and lengthy prison sentences gave them two choices: sobriety or death (original drummer, Todd Barnes chose the latter in 1998). The band now frequently adopts friends who are nearing the point of no return by hiring them as crew members on the road, as well as holding impromptu meetings wherever necessary. Sobriety made me realize that I used to treat people like shit and that I am my brothers keeper, explains Grisham. Two years ago, while on The Warped Tour, the band even eBayd backstage passes for each show and allowed high bidders on stage to sing with the band. The money was all given to charity, but the whole plan wasnt looked upon fondly by Warped officials, and was quickly halted. Dont think this new lifestyle has softened them any. Listen to these songs and youll see that while the music has evolved, what makes it TSOL completely remains. Again, is an instant classic, Ive bled the colors of your dreams/you brutally tore me/and I will never be in love again, with the haunting ferocity that reminds us TSOL should easily be bigger than Social Distortion or Bad Religion or any of their contemporaries, if only they were better businessmen. From Fuck You Tough Guy, where Grisham stands up to the macho jocks that punk used to be a revolt against, but now sadly represents, to Electric, aptly titled as the song vibrates and races along with excitement, this group of punk rock elders (who influenced so many bands, including AFI, The Offspring and Pennywise) are still in a league of their own. While many bands become passé after a few years, others stand the test of time and continue to write great songs and stay relevant. That is the epitome of TSOL, still crazy, still witty and still angry after all these years. Contact: MYSPACE WEBSITE
