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.)
Martens, disenchanted with the band's musical direction, stopped attending rehearsals and the Caterers recruited Mike Felumlee of Article One to replace him.
In 1991, the band released five tracks recorded during their Speedstick days as the Innoculator EP, with local indie label Radius Records. With the proceeds and what other funding they could scratch together, the Smoking Popes bankrolled the recording of the Break Up EP in 1992. In February Eli Caterer joined as a second guitarist and in October Break Up was released. They played as often as possible in the Chicago area and ventured occasionally to small venues in Indiana and Tennessee.
In 1993 the band recorded their best-yet compositions on the 2 EP. They also recorded a split 7" single with Groovy Love Vibes. GLV vocalist Erik Pertl guested on the Popes' track "Leather and Lace" and Josh guested on the GLV track "Goodtime Music."
The band got a break when pop punk icon Ben Weasel of Screeching Weasel became a fan and used his connections to recruit Mass Giorgini of Squirtgun to produce the Smoking Popes' first LP, Get Fired. With their improved status, the band scored a three-week tour with The Bollweevils and played to bigger audiences.
That year also saw the release of two Popes tracks from the same sessions as the Break Up EP. "Run Away" and "Let's Hear It for Love" appeared on the "It's a Punk Thing... You Wouldn't Understand" compilation on Shakefork Records.
For the follow-up to Get Fired the band worked with producer Phil Bonnet, who also produced much of their early material. "Need you Around," which would later launch Smoking Popes to a huge audience via the soundtrack to the movie Clueless, was recorded in December.
In early 1994 the band opened for Green Day, who extended the invitation after hearing Get Fired. In mid-1994 the Popes finished their new album, Born to Quit. After "Need You Around" took off on alternative radio, they opened for Elastica and gained the attention of record label scouts. They signed with Capitol Records, which rereleased Born to Quit. In a promotional blitz, they toured America with the Goo Goo Dolls and Tripping Daisy.
In 1996 The Clueless soundtrack was released in the UK and "Need You Around" was dropped as a single to capitalize on their newfound popularity there. It was promptly designated "Single of the Week" by the New Musical Express. They toured England and Scotland for a couple of weeks, then crossed back over the Pond to tour with Jawbreaker.
Despite the touring, album sales didn't meet Capitol's expectations and it became clear that the band had to deliver a hit. Producer Jerry Finn, who had added gloss to the sound of Green Day and Rancid, was brought in to do the same for Smoking Popes. In September they toured with labelmates Jimmy Eat World.
The start of 1997 brought dissatisfied label execs who insisted they didn't hear a single among the tracks Smoking Popes submitted for the new album. The band spent six months writing and demoing songs until Capitol was finally determined that new song "I Know You Love Me" had commercial potential. However, the label fired the Popes' A&R representative and the new album was shelved.
After negotiations, Destination Failure was released in August. At this point Tom Counihan, a.k.a Tom Daily, joined the band as a touring guitarist. In October they began to tour with alternative icon Morrissey, who said of Born to Quit, "[it's] extraordinary, the most lovable thing I'd heard in years."
Album sales picked up and the band garnered new fans at every stop. Still, the label couldn't be convinced to devote significant resources to promotion.
In 1998 the band toured with Triple Fast Action and Menthol. Afterward, the band decided to record a covers album, which would fulfill their contract with Capitol.
Around this time Josh became very involved in Christianity and wanted to devote his work to his faith. The label rejected the new album but released Smoking Popes from their contract. The band played several large shows before Josh quit, effectively breaking up the band.
In a later interview, Josh commented about this time "I became a Christian in May 1998 and I quit the Popes in January 1999. I tried to incorporate my faith into what we were doing in the Popes, but it just didn't seem like a good fit."
In 2001, record label Double Zero finally released the covers album The Party's Over.
In November of 2005 the Smoking Popes reunited for a packed and much-anticipated show at the Chicago club The Metro with Rob Kellenberger replacing Mike Felumlee on drums. The tickets sold out in a mere 36 minutes. In that show — immortalized on a DVD called At Metro, bundled with a CD of the performance — Josh, Matt and Eli were conspicuously happy and energized. Eli remarked that he hadn't had that much fun in seven years, a reference to the time since the band's previous break-up. Josh has become somewhat more accepting of much of the music of his former band, and the Popes have decided to reunite on a permanent or semi-permanent basis. They embarked on a U.S. tour in early 2006 with the band Bayside. Several older, pre-1999 songs in the band's repertoire Josh retired from their set list, owing to their expression of views incongruent with his Christianity. During this time, the Popes have acquired a new drummer, Ryan Chavez, who replaced Kellenburger, who had prior commitments. Chavez now seems to be the permanent replacement. During August 5th of Lollapalooza 2006 in Chicago, Josh introduced and played two new songs which he announced would be on the forthcoming Popes album, though no release date or album title was given. The new songs, entitled "If You Don't Care" and "Stay Down", are now available to hear on the band's MySpace page.
Do Something
Smoking Popes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have been together
For a long, long time now
Don't know how we do it
We just do it
Way I feel
About you tonight babe
That is one night that I
Will always remember
[Chorus]
I wanted you then, I want you now baby
I wanted you then, I want you now baby
You drive me insane
You make me want to do something (repeat two more times)
You and me
Have made a promise
Not to be
Stupid and throw
This thing out the window
No way
I believe
We'll keep that promise
Just as long as we're both alive
Maybe even longer
Who knows?
[Chorus: x 2]
Make me want to do something
Make me want to scream
Make me want to break something
Make me want to throw stuff around
Make me want to steal things
Make me want to do something [Repeat: x 4]
The Smoking Popes's song Do Something is about a long-term relationship between two people, who have been together for a really long time. The singer appreciates that the relationship has been going strong for that long, even though they are not sure how they did it. The way the singer feels about their partner tonight is how they felt on the first day they met, which is an unforgettable night for them. The singer reiterates their desire for their partner, stating that they wanted them then and now, and confesses that their partner drives them insane in a good way.
The second verse of the song suggests that the couple has promised to each other, to not make foolish decisions that will throw away their relationship. The singer trusts and believes that they will honor that promise, as long as they both are alive and even beyond. The chorus is a repetition of the singer's desire for their partner and the fact that they drive them crazy, but in a positive way. It makes the singer want to do something wild, scream or break things.
Line by Line Meaning
You and me
The singer and their romantic partner are being addressed, as they have been together for a while now.
Have been together
The couple has had a long-standing relationship with each other.
For a long, long time now
The relationship between the two has been for a considerable amount of time.
Don't know how we do it
The couple has managed to keep the relationship going despite the difficulties they have faced.
We just do it
The couple has no particular strategy for keeping the relationship alive, but they manage to work it out anyways.
Way I feel
The singer starts to express how they feel about their partner.
About you tonight babe
The singer is addressing their romantic partner directly and indicating that they feel a certain way about them at the moment.
Is how I felt the first night we met
The singer is reminiscing about the feelings they had for their partner when they first met.
That is one night that I
The singer is identifying a particular moment in time that left a lasting impression on them.
Will always remember
The singer will never forget the first time they met their partner.
I wanted you then, I want you now baby
The singer has always had feelings for their partner and continues to desire them.
You drive me insane
The singer's partner has the ability to make them crazy with desire.
You make me want to do something (repeat two more times)
The singer is expressing how their partner's presence can inspire them to take action, despite not specifying what that action could be.
Have made a promise
The couple has an agreement in place between them.
Not to be
The couple has made a vow or commitment to avoid engaging in certain behavior that could harm their relationship.
Stupid and throw
The couple has promised to avoid reckless or harmful behavior.
This thing out the window
The object, in this case, is the relationship that they have worked hard to build and maintain.
No way
The couple is determined not to let anything jeopardize their relationship.
I believe
The singer has faith that their relationship can survive in the long run.
We'll keep that promise
The couple is determined to uphold the promise they made to each other.
Just as long as we're both alive
The promise will continue to hold as long as both individuals are alive.
Maybe even longer
The couple is hopeful that their relationship will last beyond their lifetimes.
Who knows?
The future of the relationship is uncertain, and it's unknown what may come in the future.
Make me want to do something
The same phrase is repeated several times throughout the song, highlighting that the singer's partner has an impact on them that drives them to action.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: DARYL SIMMONS, ITAAL SHUR, MARV GREEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind