What’s remarkable about Smoking Popes is how enjoyable they are without any kind of pyrotechnics, theatrics or stage antics.
In fact all four members, brothers Josh, Eli and Matt Caterer on vocals, guitar and bass respectively, and drummer Ryan Chavez, look like relatively normal guys, not one of the most respected pop-punk bands from Chicago. That is a compliment, because any other embellishment wouldn’t be needed for their songs, and the crowd at the House Café this past Thursday would agree.
Their timeless songwriting is what got fans to crowd the stage, dancing and singing along with their favorites like “Rubella,” and “Let’s Hear it For Love.” The band played up their fans enjoyment by going into a medley of “Rehab” by Amy Winehouse and “Do You Feel Like We Do” during the breakdown of one song.
Originally formed in the early 90’s, Smoking Popes built a following with classic sounding pop songs performed with the urgency of a punk band. It’s like like Tony Bennett standards being performed by the MC5. The Popes even scored a hit in 1995 with the song “Need You Around.”
Though Smoking Popes scored highest with their back catalog, the band is hardly a nostalgia act. Since reuniting in 2005 after a seven year hiatus, the band finished recording an album of new material. Singer and guitarist Josh Caterer announced before his encore the album might be made available online.
Also working on finishing a new album was the opening band, Wax on Radio, also from Chicago. A frequent visitor to the House, drummer Sammy Del Real informed me that this was their last show for awhile because they were taking time off to finish writing songs for their forthcoming full-length album.
In the meantime, they played a set that showed why they came around the House so often. The band played their set with very little stage banter, preferring to segue each of their songs into one another.
While I would have liked a little more audience interaction, there is no denying the band’s talent for crafting epic sounding rock music that draws comparisons to bands like Tool and Appleseed Cast. Singer and guitarist, Mikey Russell’s soaring tenor voice was well supported by his band’s animated performance.
Opening things up for the evening was a solo set from Mark Rose of the band Spitalfield. Playing just a Fender electric guitar, Rose serenaded the crowd with pop-punk songs similar to Jimmy Eat World.
In addition to playing songs from his band’s repertoire, he premiered a few new ones and covered a couple of pop songs from the 80’s. His “Tears for Fears” cover early in his set deservedly drew some attention, but his later cover of “PYT” by Michael Jackson was a little lacking.
Still, the crowd there for Rose had to be one of the biggest for an opening act so far this year, and the entire show was well worth attending.

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