Popeless/ Popeless & The Apostates - Tonight/Don't Blame Me

'Tonight' was originally be recorded as an acoustic single but along the way Pope, aka Craig Ellis, wanted a full band, in order from what I assume to enhance the acoustic bluesy folkpunk he was playing at the time, and subsequently brought in Mike Billups from Reckless Threat and Blitzkrieg Cop on drums and Chris Suggs from Mortars, James Leigh & The Rest and Surburban Detour on bass guitar. Both additions were already involved in the project with Chris recording and mixing and Mike putting it out on his label Coffin Curse Records, so that was a no-brainer.

 

'Tonight' starts off with Pope singing his heart out while strumming an acoustic guitar. Bleak, down-trodden and dejected we are taken down the road to hell. Once Mike and Chris joins in these emotions get amplified a thousandfold. A brilliant cover of Nine Pound Hammer's 'Drunk, Tired & Mean' follows and whereas the original version comes at you rocking hard Popeless crushes it with only an acoustic guitar. Great, indeed!

 

By the time the EP 'Don't Blame Me' was about to come to life Popeless had become Popeless & The Apostates featuring Pope, who added harmonica to the repertoire, Mike Billups, Chris Suggs on electric guitar and Bryan Pressley from The Half That Matters on bass guitar. Bryan slipped in on the old banana peel when the band needed a bass player for a show, he was asked and agreed and then made permanent member of the gang. The new band name stems from the members' religious upbringing but how they now all are atheists or non-believers, or both. Take your pick.

 

The new EP contains four songs, two penned by the band: 'Don't Blame Me' and 'White Freightliner Blues' and two covers: 'Bend Over, I'll Drive' by The Cramps and 'Throw Rocks At Nazis' by Boomstick. Not sparing any punches the band rocks and rolls through the brilliant 'Don't Blame Me'. It's short, sharp and in your face. 'White Freightliner Blues' picks up the torch from its predecessor, a smidge slower perhaps but it is a juggernaut nonetheless and the guys aren't messing around. Next up is their cover of The Cramps' 'Bend Over, I'll Drive' and I must say Popeless & The Apostates made it their own. The song has been stripped down by about two minutes and the tempo has been pushed up a little to fit their bluesy folkpunk...and man, I prefer this version by a mile or two! 'Throw Rocks At Nazis' is a touch faster than the original version and just as good, if not even better. Could be that I prefer Popeless' sound, regardless this is good stuff.

 I have to say this band blows me away; each time I listen to either the single or the EP I come away feel rejuvenated and upbeat. Popeless & The Apostates holds nothing back and they sing about some serious and poignant stuff, yet the way they do it is such a tension reliever. Mixing no holds barred folkpunk with a gleam in the eye brings a different light to the subject matter. Fantastic, and then some is what I have to say about this Knoxville, TN based band!

 

-Swedebeast