Brynn Bixby

[RH Interview] Josh Caterer: Smoking Popes

Brynn: What are you listening to these days? Are there any new artists that you have been really into?

Josh: I tend to listen to a lot of older music. I like to search through the archives and find old things I've never heard before. Lately, it's been a lot of old country music...Porter Wagoner, Skeeter Davis, Kitty Wells, Ray Price. The stuff they were recording in the 50's and 60's was pretty amazing. As far as recent music goes, I like the new Robbie Fulks album called "Gone Away Backward". And I like Jake Bugg.

Brynn: You have collaborated with artists like Alkaline Trio, Bayside, and many others. Are the Popes working on any new collaborations?

Josh: No, the Popes aren't working on anything right now. I'd like to make another solo EP this year, so I've been focusing on writing songs for that. I recently had the privilege of collaborating with my friend Ben Calhoun from Citizen Way. He sang with me on one of my gospel songs called "Shed For Me". We made a video for that song which is up on YouTube. I'm really happy with how it turned out. Ben's a great guy and we're talking about collaborating on this next EP as well

Brynn: Who are some artists you would love to work with and why?

Josh: I'd love to write some songs with my friend John Davis from Superdrag. He became a Christian around the same time I did and his story of faith is kind of similar to mine, so it would be really cool to put our heads together and try to do a gospel project. We've talked about it, but it just hasn't happened yet.

Brynn: Who are three of your all-time favorite singers?

Josh: Judy Garland, Ray Charles, Feargal Sharkey.

Brynn: What fueled the reunion in 2005?

Josh: It just seemed like it was time. I'm glad I took all that time off to concentrate on my faith without the distractions and temptations surrounding the Popes, but I finally felt like I could return to the rock scene without compromising my faith or my identity in Christ. It had been seven years since our last show. I've noticed that our career seems to go in seven year cycles. We were originally together from 1991 to 1998...seven years. Then we were broken up from 1998 until 2005...another seven years. Then we started touring and making albums and being very active again for another seven years, until late 2012 when we decided to slow things down and take a break from touring. So we're into another seven year period now. I'm not sure exactly what these seven years will look like for the Popes, but we'll probably be laying low, gathering our strength for a big push in 2019. Unless the world ends before then.

Brynn: Has there been a show since the Metro reunion that really sticks out in your mind as great? Why?

Josh: The Chicago shows are always pretty special. We played at Double Door last fall, and it was a really memorable show. Also, our shows with Alkaline Trio at the Troubadour in L.A. were really special. I love that club, and that whole tour was pretty incredible. I never did any crowd-surfing until we toured with Alkaline Trio. Matt Skiba sort of got me started on that. It's a lot of fun.

Brynn: There have been a few members that have rotated in and out of the Popes over the years; How has that effected friendships and relationships? How do you think it has effected the sound?

Josh: We've had the privilege of playing with some great drummers over the years. Mike Felumlee was the one who really defined our groove in the early days. Then Rob Kellenberger played with us at the reunion show. He's a powerhouse drummer and also very creative, so he's very inspiring to play with. Ryan Chavez brought a different vibe to the band because his style was less punk and more classic rock, so it brought out a different side of the band, which was cool. And now Neil kind of combines some of those elements together in a way that bridges the gap between different eras of the band. Neil can do it all. He's a very solid and very energetic drummer and he gives our music a great energy. It's been a pleasure to play with all of them.

by Brynn Bixby