I Breathe the Underground

Punk in the City #4: The Ghost

Punk in the City is a biweekly feature introducing influential Chicago punk, hardcore, post-hardcore, pop-punk, indie, and rock bands that have had a big impact on my personal musical evolution (and the Chicago scene in general).

The Ghost was this wild experimental post-hardcore band that really started gaining speed around the same time At the Drive-In was collapsing.

I remember seeing the Ghost at Thick Records' Oil: Chicago Punk Refined compilation release show at the Metro way back on Valentine's Day of 2003. The lineup was already strong, with appearances by Southside punkers the Arrivals, Eli and Josh Caterer's Duvall (in between the death and resurrection of the Smoking Popes), and a surprise guest appearance by none other than Rise Against. Oh yeah -- Local H played, but nobody cared. Not that Local H is necessarily a bad band, but they certainly didn't seem to fit the bill for a local punk show.

The concert was spectacular (although spattered with decidedly unspectacular sets), but the Ghost was especially fun to watch. The band played flawless post-hardcore live, sounding as good (if not better) than its actual recordings. (See the video above for more on that).

The Ghost only released two full-lengths (2002's This is a Hospital and 2004's This Pen Is A Weapon), but hot damn were they fun to listen to. Artistic, bitter, raw, and energetic, the former west coast dwellers had a sound that was simultaneously catchy and violent. You might think they were confused, playing complex post-hardcore with predominantly straight-forward punk rock acts, but it was never that simple with the Chicago scene. The kids loved the music for what it was, if you could play it well enough. Therefore, the artistic and intense (albeit out-of-place) musicians carved a niche in the thriving scene.

As with many of the bands represented on Punk in the City, the Ghost is no more. If you enjoy their stuff, check out lead singer Brian Moss' more recent project, Hanalei. Warning: ghastly songs below.

Download 01-the_ghost-broken_ears_poison_hearts-myb

Download 04-the_ghost-banished_and_loving_it-myb

"What’s the lynch mob's verdict, am I truth or am I trend?"

- The Ghost, "Banished and Loving It"

The Planets Have Aligned, The Popes Are Smoking Again

I know it seems like every time I post I'm really excited about something, but that's not always the case. Well, today it's the case. And most other days. But not always.

The Smoking Popes, the quintessential band for every lover's music collection, have been back in action for some time now if you hadn't heard. Since late 2005, actually. For Chicago scenesters and national Popes fans alike, it really doesn't feel like they've been back together for that long. The original disbanding lasted over six years, a period in which I cried in my sleep while hugging my custom made Josh Caterer doll, with a heart stitched ever-so-lovingly into his sleeve and a cigarette hanging precariously from his lower lip.

So maybe I didn't have a Josh Caterer doll, but the beginning of '99 marked a drought in the business of bitter love songs; the Smoking Popes had broken up, the Gin Blossoms wouldn't be getting back together for another two years, Taking Back Sunday was only just forming, and Morrissey hadn't released an album in close to five years. The Smoking Popes (Chicago's other SP) were the most sorely missed, sliced violently from the scene before their time, due most notably to Capitol Records' apathy and Josh Caterer's newfound religious fanaticism.

They've been touring and dabbling with some local shows recently, but the album promised in late 2007 has been gracing a dusty shelf somewhere, begging silently for the light of day. I've been waiting patiently, but the recording appears to be in music limbo, with no news on a release date as of yet.

But for patiently waiting Popes fans, hope is here. The Popes are playing a show at Schuba's in Chicago on March 2, where the entire album will be demoed for fan approval.

Last time I saw the Popes was at the Cowboy Monkey in Champaign with Omaha indie-rockers Criteria (who would have made the show worth it even if the Popes hadn't played). Josh Caterer jokingly invited some sloppy guy who was obviously blotto on-stage. As the man ascended the stairs, Caterer nicely told him that he had been joking, and the guy retreated embarrassedly. We laughed, we cried, we drank. It made me feel like the cosmos were in order once again, and I went home with more than a slight buzz and a better feeling about the world.

You can check out some demo songs from the new album at the Smoking Popes' myspace page. Looooooove.

"This world is freezing cold / I long for you to hold / me in your arms."
- Josh Caterer, "I Know You Love Me"