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Life & Arts

Popes' reunion to get fans on their knees

Pop punk band returns to stage without original drummer

by DUSTI RHODES
The Daily Cougar

One of the greatest bands to ever try its hand at pop punk will do something Sunday night its fans never thought it would do again: play together.

The Smoking Popes will make their stop at Walter's on Washington, 4215 Washington Ave., as part of their reunion tour and make many Houston rockers the happiest boys and girls in town.

The Popes emerged at a time when pop punk was far less abundant than it is now and definitely less appreciated. Today, in a time when pop punk bands seem as numerous as the standards are low, it would be selling The Popes short to describe them as such. But once you hear lead singer/guitarist Josh Caterer's sappy love lyrics blended with The Popes' ingenious simplicity, you will find yourself broken-hearted even if you have no one to call your own. Whether it's songs about breaking up, the fear of rejection or marital bliss, Caterer knows how to construct a long song that will bring you to your knees.

If you haven't heard of The Popes and claim to be fan of pop/indie/emo rock, then do yourself a favor and see this show.

Those familiar with The Popes most likely already have a ticket, or are camped outside Walter's.

The Popes will return sans their original drummer Mike Felumlee.

"While my brothers and I were thinking about getting together for the reunion, we thought that it might not work to ask Mike to be in it. That it might not be a good fit. So I called him up and discussed it with him, and he felt the same way," Caterer said.

Filling in for Felumlee on the tour is longtime friend of the group, Houston's own Ryan Chavez.

For the rest of the band, getting back together is more like a family reunion. The remaining members are Caterer's two brothers Matt and Eli. Caterer and Eli were previously playing together in Caterer's post-Popes act Duvall, which released a couple of albums on Asian Man in 2003 and '04. Eli left Duvall, however, saying he was burnt out and wanted a break. "He took a few months off. When I suggested that we might do a Popes reunion it was different, you know? It's not like I was asking him to get back to Duvall," Caterer said.

Caterer said the idea to reunite was not something he had ever planned on, but he had a change of heart during the past year.

"It took me that long to get to the point where I felt like I was interested in coming back and was ready to come back. But once I decided that, I pretty quickly started talking to my brothers about it," Caterer said.

Tickets for Sunday's show are still available for $10 at Sound Exchange and Vinyl Edge. Tickets can also be purchased the day of the show for $12. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Send comments to dcshobiz@mail.uh.edu