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.
First Time
Smoking Popes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I guess that's good for her
I know she'll have more in common with him
Than with me anymore
It's just the thought
Of another arm around her shoulder
Where my arm used to rest
She'll probably never be again
As happy as I made her then
But then I'll never really know for sure
Will I?
[Chorus]
Nothing like the first time
Fall in love so strong
Please this is the last time
I will ever sink so low
My first time
Well I can't sleep tonight
I'm thinking about when you said yes
That was the last time
Either of us needed that much
Got a new boy
I could have picked
Someone better for you
Not that it matters much
But we used to have the same taste
But there's a first time for everything
All the fine religion
I guess I'm lucky for that
But it just makes things harder for me now
The Smoking Popes's song "First Time" is about heartbreak and moving on after a relationship has ended. The song's protagonist is struggling to come to terms with the fact that his ex-girlfriend has found someone new to be with. He acknowledges that this new relationship will probably be more successful than their own, as the new man will have more in common with her than the singer does now. However, he can't help but be plagued by the thought of someone else's arm being where his used to be around her shoulder. He knows that she may never be as happy with someone else as she was with him, but he also feels uncertain about whether or not he'll ever truly know for sure.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the power of falling in love for the first time. The singer reflects on the intense feelings he experienced when he fell in love with his ex-girlfriend for the first time, and how he will never experience that same level of intensity again. He wishes that he could go back to that moment and relive it with her, but knows deep down that this is impossible.
The song's bridge reveals that the singer is still struggling to come to terms with his ex's new relationship. He can't sleep at night, as he is constantly replaying the moment when she said yes to someone else. He briefly considers that perhaps he could have chosen a better partner for her, but knows that this doesn't really matter now that they've moved on from each other. The final lines of the song suggest that despite his struggle, the singer knows that he is lucky to have experienced such intense love at least once in his life, even if it makes it harder for him to move on now.
Line by Line Meaning
She's got a new boy
His ex-girlfriend has moved on and found someone new.
I guess that's good for her
He's trying to be supportive of her new relationship, even though it hurts him.
I know she'll have more in common with him
He recognizes that his ex-girlfriend and her new partner probably have more shared interests and experiences than he does with her now.
Than with me anymore
He feels like he has grown apart from his ex-girlfriend and no longer has a strong connection with her.
It's just the thought
Thinking about his ex-girlfriend with someone new is causing him distress.
Of another arm around her shoulder
He imagines his ex-girlfriend being comforted by someone else.
Where my arm used to rest
He used to provide comfort and support for his ex-girlfriend, but now someone else has taken his place.
So comfortably
He had a connection with her that made him feel comfortable and secure.
She'll probably never be again
He doubts that his ex-girlfriend will ever be as happy as she was with him.
As happy as I made her then
He believes that he was the source of her happiness in their past relationship.
But then I'll never really know for sure
He acknowledges that he can't be certain about her happiness without him.
Nothing like the first time
The first time falling in love is a unique and powerful experience.
Fall in love so strong
The intensity of falling in love for the first time is unmatched by subsequent relationships.
Please this is the last time
He is asking for closure and resolution in this situation.
I will ever sink so low
He feels like his sadness and longing for his ex-girlfriend is causing him to act in unhealthy ways.
My first time
He is reflecting on how powerful and significant his first love experience was with his ex-girlfriend.
Well I can't sleep tonight
He is filled with anxiety and restlessness about his ex-girlfriend's new relationship.
I'm thinking about when you said yes
He remembers the moment his ex-girlfriend agreed to be in a relationship with him.
That was the last time
This moment was the last time they were truly happy together.
Either of us needed that much
They relied too heavily on each other and were too emotionally invested in their relationship.
Got a new boy
He repeats the idea that his ex-girlfriend is now with someone else.
I could have picked
He wonders if he could have chosen someone better for his ex-girlfriend.
Someone better for you
He acknowledges that his ex-girlfriend deserves someone who is good for her.
Not that it matters much
He recognizes that his opinion about her new relationship doesn't really matter.
But we used to have the same taste
He and his ex-girlfriend used to share similar interests and preferences.
But there's a first time for everything
He repeats the chorus to reflect on the idea that every experience, good or bad, has a first time.
All the fine religion
He is referring to religious beliefs that encourage people to forgive and move on from past relationships.
I guess I'm lucky for that
He acknowledges that he is fortunate to have the support of religious teachings in this situation.
But it just makes things harder for me now
Even with religious guidance, he is still struggling with the pain and sadness of his breakup.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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