Yet another record-release show this week from a local band, the Caterer brothers and their Smoking Popes offer “Stay Down,” the band’s first record since its reformation and first album of all new, original material since the classic 1997 record “Destination Failure.” The result? “Stay Down” sounds like the natural follow-up to “Destination Failure,” as if it could’ve come out in 1999 and fans would’ve gulped it up with a much-warranted passion. To hear Josh Caterer’s lounge-lizard-like vocal delivery over these pop-punk power chords once again is warming—not to sound too cheesy, but the kid-like joy I felt while hearing the new tracks was overwhelming. Songs like “If You Don’t Care” and “Grab Your Heart and Run” could soundtrack the entire summer—no, “Stay Down” isn’t quite “Get Fired,” “Born to Quit” or “Destination Failure,” much like “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” can’t stand next to the first three “Indiana Jones” films, but shit, Smoking Popes are back and we should all pause and be ecstatic about it. Cool? Cool. (Tom Lynch) Saturday, June 7 at Metro
Related Stories
Brutal Finesse: A Preview of King Crimson at Ravinia There have been few new compositions from King Crimson these past two decades, but the live arrangements of songs from its catalog are often strikingly different than the recorded versions.
Cooling It: A Preview of Colleen Green at Cole’s Bar When Green strums power chords or chiming notes on top of her backing track, you might think you’re at Ramones karaoke night and Madonna is taking her turn.
