Duvall Loses Drummer Mike and Bassist John
Direct from the Duvall web site, Josh wrote an open letter to fans about the state of the band.
so...here we are. Mike and John have both left the band (on good terms, by the way - we're all still friends) and Eli and i are stuck without a rhythm section. for now.
but we've decided not to quit. to us, duvall is more than the combination of four musicians that have been playing together this past year. duvall is the songs. we believe in what we're singing. so we're going to regroup and keep
going. i'm so grateful for all the support and encouragement we've received from people at our shows.
i think duvall fans are the nicest group of people ever to assemble within the smokey confines of a rock club. many of you have told me that you're praying for us. please continue to do that, and i'll be agreeing with you in prayer for God to guide us. see you at the next show.
josh 8/28/02
Is this the truth? Well, on the Thick message board, it says that Mike and John quit because Josh told John that he was too energetic on stage and it took away from the band. It then went on to say that Mike and Jon didn't like this so they quit.
From the message board:
The story goes, Jon was told by Josh that he is too energetic on stage and to chill out. He was told by Josh that he takes away from Josh's presence on stage. So Mike and Jon, said we quit...fuck this.
Now, this is all just local kids talking, so who knows what is true and what isn't.
On the Duvall message board, Mike Felumlee's brother, Matt said:
I actually haven't talked to Mike about it a ton--and I can't speak for him--but I do know he was thinking of moving on even while we were touring this summer. He really liked Duvall as a band, but they weren't proving to be successful enough to keep him afloat--and the fact that crowds are shrinking instead of growing didn't hold much promise. I think that had more to do with it than anything, but I'm sure the other stuff didn't help.
The fact is that the interest isn't there from labels--even labels that size. They have played for every major, and have even contacted labels themselves (Jade Tree and others that size).
Yes, I think Josh's plans for the band involve going after the Christian scene in a more direct way--and yes, Christian labels have also been approached.
He feels like they are losing the "mainstream" audience of ex-Popes fans, etc. and that this is their only shot to make it as a band--to go in a more overtly Christian direction.
The Christian label thing might not be "necessary," but I think Josh probably sees that as not necessary but desirable at this point--esp. w/ Mike & John gone.
Smoking Popes and Popes Related Releases
Mike Felumlee and Alkaline Trio basissist Dan Andriano's split ep is now available from the Double Zero Records website. The disc includes six new recordings, three songs by each guy. Mike Felumlee songs are Something Better, Sunshine, and As Long As We're Here and Dan's are Way too Many Times, Lucky Smoke Ring, and a new recording of Tuesday's Let the Stars Play. Mike is joined by Eli Caterer or Smoking Popes/Duvall, and Dan is joined by Rob Kellenberger of Tuesday.
The Smoking Popes covers album The Party's Over will finally be relased on September 3, and the new Duvall split ep with Seville is now available at Duvall shows and the Double Zero wed site, but not yet in stores.
New Band For Josh Caterer, Tom Daily and Mike Felumlee
In the best bit of news in the last four years, former Smoking Popes vocalist Josh Caterer, former Popes drummer Mike Felumlee and the multi-talented Tom Daily to create a new band-- DUVALL. Expect an EP from the band coming out late this fall.
Info on Mike Felumlee's Solo Release
Mike Felumlee's upcoming debut solo recording will be titled "64 Hours." Mike is currently at Chicago's Atlas Studios, polishing off the final touches with producer Matt Allison (Alkaline Trio, Lawrence Arms, Mu330, Climber, Broadways, Honor System, etc...). The album will be available in September. Mike sings, plays guitar and drums on all of the tracks. Six of the tracks are abetted on bass by the able playing of the one and only Dan Adriano (Alkaline Trio, Tuesday, Slapstick).
Smoking Popes Covers CD Actually Coming Out
The Smoking Popes' Covers CD is finally being released. The extremely long (and I do mean
loooooong) awaited album, "The Party's Over" will finally see the light of day on
Mike Felumlee Out of Alkaline Trio, Plans Solo Release
Mike Felumlee, esteemed drummer, is no longer in
Stay tuned for more when I find out, folks.
Smoking Popes Tribute Album in the Works
There is a Smoking Popes tribute album in the works that will feature the bands The Ataris,
Promise Ring, Jets to Brazil, Blue Meanies, Grade, Deisel Boy, Bad Astronaut, Notaword,
Kid Snack, Matt and Dan from the Alkaline Trio, Hot Rod Circut, New Found Glory, and more.
New Tom Daily CD
The brand new Tom Daily CD will be out on October 17 and will be distributed by
Thick Records.
Two New Alkaline Trio Songs on Comp
Also on October 17,
New Josh Caterer Album to be on Double Zero
The new Josh Caterer CD will be put out by
Double Zero Records, the label started by former
Smoking Popes drummer Mike Felumlee. Josh will be playing all the intstruments on the album
as well as performing original Gospel songs written by him.
Double Zero Releases
Notaword's EP is available now through mailorder for $5. Kidsnack's full length will be
available for mailorder by the end of October for $10. You can hear songs from either of
these at www.doublezerorecords.com.
Double Zero also still has the Smoking Popes CDs 1981-1998 and "Live" available for $10
and don't forget about Tom Daily his ep is available for $8 and we have a few Tom Daily
pins and stickers they'll'll be giving away with orders of his CD.
Alkaline Trio News
Alkaline Trio is going up to Minnessota Oct 1st through 14th to record their new album that
will come out on Vagrant records next March sometime. Also look for a Trio fanclub coming
this winter. Double Zero is going to be
adding an 800 number and website where you can order
fanclub only merch and eventually 7"s and sigles and all that good stuff. The 800 number
will also be working for Double Zero. It should all be underway before the holiday season.
New Smoking Popes Fan Site
There's a brand new Smoking Popes fan site called "Star
Struck" at http://smopo.tripod.com/.
It is new, but it is off to a very, very good start. The
design is a lot better than my dinky litte site, and I
suggest that everyone go over and check it out.
The Men's Group Show
The Men's Group has a show at the Double Door on
Wednesday, April 19th at 10:00 pm.
Tom Daily and Men's Group Shows
Tom Daily has been added to the
Magnetic Curses CD release show at Metro February 26. Tom will be opening the show.
Also, The Men's Group, Eli's new band, is playing next Wednesday, March 1st, at the Fireside Bowl at 7:00. Alkaline Trio and Tom Daily on new Thick Records Compilation
The Alkaline Trio and Tom Daily both have brand new songs on the new
Thick
Records Compilation
Magnetic Curses. The Alkaline Trio's song is titled
"My Friend Peter" and the Tom Daily song is titled "I Am the Bus Driver". Both
songs are awesome and well worth the small price of the CD. To order it
click here.
Smoking Popes on New Compilation
The Smoking Popes have donated the song "Do Something" to the
East Timor Benefit Album. This song also appears on
Smoking Popes 1991-1998 CD. All of the profit from "East Timor Benefit Album" will be donated to
Community Aid Abroad--an Australian group that's been providing food and
medical attention for the East Timorese refugees, who have been displaced by
the country's independence movement. This movement followed around 25 years
of rule by neighboring Indonesia which claimed 250,000 lives (roughly
one-third of the population). For more information on the East Timorese
conflict, please visit amnesty.org,
etan.org, or motherjones.com.
Also on the CD is Ramona and Beezus, Optiganally Yours, dead letter auction, Jailbait--I Want Your Sex
Hillbilly Hellcats, Blue Moon Boys, Self, Mudkids, Idiot Flesh, Cataract Falls,
Catharsis and the Humdrum, Over the Rhine and Uz jsme doma.
The album will be available on CDbaby.com starting
Monday Feb 7th or may be ordered for $10pp from:
Idols of the Marketplace Smoking Popes LIVE CD Available at CDnow
The Popes live CD is now available at CDnow.com.
To order it click
here. Trust me, it's worth your money. Stop reading this and go get it now.
GO!
Eli's New Band
Eli Caterer and Mark Ruggiero, who played keyboards and various other instruments
for Tom Daily, have formed a new band called The Men's Group. They will
be playing their first live show this Valentine's Day at the Empty Bottle in
Chicago. For more info, e-mail the band at TheMensGroup@cs.com.
Four Questions With Mike Felumlee
Click here to read four questions with ex-Popes
drummer and current Alkaline Trio
drummer Mike Felumlee.
A Little More About Mike Joining Alkaline Trio The All Ages 89.1 FM Napeville/ Chicago web site had a little thing about Mike's joining of Alkaline Trio. Here's what it said:
The Trio played their first show with Mike, I know many will miss Glenn and I too will miss him. I would go to the shows and just watch him rockout, but I don't think they could have a better replacement. Mike only got to practice 3 times with the band prior to the show and it was solid. I am expecting that once he gets to add the fills that Glenn used, it will sound awesome. I am excited to hear more of the new Trio. More Fan Reaction About Mike Felumlee Drumming For Alkaline Trio The guestbook over at www.alkalinetrio.com has changed it's tone radically. Now there appear only
to be Mike Felumlee supporters. Here are a few of the posts:
that sucks that glenn left, he was really a great drummer, but so what. the smoking popes rock and so does mike. i wasnt at that show or anything, but im sure it will be fine. and they play music to have fun, and i doubt that they would want to be in a band with someone that they dont want to be in a band with just to make stupid little fucks like that kid that kept writting stuff happy. so im sad, but its okay, and ill shut my ass up now.
--------------- hey for those of you sticking up for the trio who werent at the 23rd show, all i have to say is you missed a bad show. not that mike was bad, but no one was into it, and it just wasnt the same. just seems like the trio is dead, sorry if you dont agree.. wait and see for your self --------------- Well now that Glenn is gone I am so sad. Glenn is a great drummer and i really enjoyed his work. I hope that Dan and Matt can work this out with
Glenn because I don't feel the Trio is the same without Glenn. I missed the
show on thursday because my friends forgot to get me a ticket but I am
kinda happy I did because with what has been said about the show it
would just have depressed me. I'm sure Mike is gonna do his best but I still don't feel that the Trio is the same without Glenn. Glenn come back!!!
The Trio is not the same without you, they need you! The band really needs to work this out because there is a lot of upset fans. Glenn will definatly be missed. --------------- Give the boys some slack! Mike had only practiced with the Trio two times (that's 12 new songs to learn in less than a week), and Mike and Danny both had / have really bad cases of the flu. All things considered, I think they sounded really tight--and personally, I'm very excited to hear /
Maybe you know the circumstances surrounding Glenn's exit from the band, and maybe you don't . . . in either case, it seems the most important thing is the integrity of the band and of the music. Matt, Dan, and Mike have devoted their lives to making music for other people (like you kids) for years and years. And they will continue to do so . . . just relax, and don't jump to conclusions so easily. Out . . . --------------- I know it will take awhile for Mike to pick up the music, that is understandable, he's human. It does suck that Glenn is gone but what are you gonna do? I am also very excited to hear some new stuff with Mike. I do know the circumstances of Glenn's leaving and I understand why he left. Hey we still have a great band here, just a different drummer. I'm sure Mike will do well, but you cannot say that Glenn won't be missed. Fans are upset whether or not people would like to believe it. He will be missed but things change, all we can hope for is that the Trio keeps rocking like they always have. --------------- i read all this bad feedback about mike from the popes and all i have to say is fuck that. look, to the people complaining about how the trio isn't the same, well, IT ISN'T. glenn's gone. it's obviously gonna change. but who are you to say that the trio sucks now? they played a fucking good show the twenty-third, i was right in front. the only bad part about it was all the negativity from the crowd and all the *where's glenn?* comments. who are any of you to say who should and shouldn't be in the band? glenn was awesome, but he wasn't the only change that the trio has made as far as members. if you think that the energy the band had isn't the same, it's probably because you're all stuck on the fact that glenn's gone. you're fucking up the trio yourselves, really because your output in reaction tom thier input is what makes a show good or bad. gee, some fucking trio fans we've got here. and anyone who assumes people listen to the trio because it's on asian man, as opposed to them being a good band, is just showing no respect for the trio at all. grow up, kids. things change, it's all what you make of it. and if matt, dan, mike read this: great show at the metro the twentythird. all apologies for everyone who didn't feel you guys the same without glenn but whoever leaves/comes into the band, just keep the music real and the true fans will always stick with you. --------------- Anyone who thinks drummers are that instrumental to a band's sucess just look at the Who. They had the best drummer of all time and they sucked. Look at the Beatles. They had the most merely adequate drummer of all time and they were the best band ever. Mike is an extremely talented individual and the trio is in good hands. I actually prefer Mike's drumming on Destination Failure over Glenn's drumming when I saw them live. And to all you "former" fans how shallow can you get. There's too much jumping and not enough conclusions around here. Viva the Trio and good luck to Glenn and wherever his talent takes him.
ok about this whole thing...the trio will always rock. and i saw them on the 23rd, and they rocked, even considering everything..ppl need to get their heads out of their asses and judge the band after their hear their new drummer, who by the way rocks....so shut the hell up....as i say goodbye.
Fan Reaction About Mike Felumlee Drumming For Alkaline Trio
A few brilliant "punks" expressed how they felt about Mike taking over for ex-Alkaline Trio drummer Glenn Porter. For the record, I was at the show that they are all arguing about and it was awesome. Here are the intellectual comments they have posted on the guestbook over at www.alkalinetrio.com. My comments to some of the posts are italicized:
you guys were totally lame at the meanies show thursday. your were the only band that sucked. mary tyler morphine kicked your ass off the stage and so did
apocalypse. and where the fuck is glenn? felumlee slowed all your songs tempos down and they sounded horrible. plus dan looks like he's constipated when he
sings. fuck aurora and you --------------- i miss glenn!!!!!i was absolutely disappointed and upset to find out he's no
longer drumming for the trio.i swear i think that danny and skiba have got to be out of their mind to let such a good thing go....and for all you rumor
starters out there...get a life......i love glenn!!!!!!!!boo! the trio is no longer the trio...it will never be the same. -------------- you guys were not good at the meanies show at the metro thurs. it seemed like you werent into the music at all... just going through the motions. ive seen
you guys 8 times and its the first time ive ever been dissapointed. you guys just arent the same with out glenn. whatever happened with glenn and the girl
and jtb... im SURE we can work it out, right? please? im so dissapointed! -------------- talk about a let down! you guys sucked ass with out glenn. my prediction is
that you guyd will realize that you suck now and take glenn back or else youll end up breaking up. i was at the apacblah blah hoboken and meanies show dec.23.
lets just say i used to be a fan -------------- Dissapointed...That's the only word that can describe how i felt after i left
your show with the meanies...It sucked, I've seen you play SO much better than
that. Matt and Dan just looked tired as all hell, and who the fuck is the new
drummer? Where's Glenn??? I think i speak for everyone when i say BRING GLENN
BACK!!! -------------- hey uh if we get enough people together can we petition to have glenn come
back????????????????? -------------- Where the hell is Glenn? The show with the Meanies was fucking terrible...I
think that you guys need to rethink why you were a band in the first place, and
get back to producing some quality music, instead of playing with some freak
drummer who couldn't even keep the beat! --------------
i never liked you guys and i think you are even worse now.... let down all your
fans why dont you? get out of the scene assholes --------------
fucl all you people who dont like mike...he's better than glenn ever was...cut
the man some slack......
--------------
The new drummer, Mike Felumlee, comes from the Smoking Popes, one of the best
bands ever to come out of the Chicago "scene". Matt and Dan, meanwhile, come
from the Traitors and Slapstick, so I'm sure that Mike can keep pace with their
musicianship. --------------
i saw you guys on thursday the 23rd, and i thought it was an excellent show.
glenn or no glenn, you guys did good. i didn't think it was disappointing at
all either. you guys are mean. mike did a great job...good job mike! and i've
seen you guys before and there wasn't anything disappointing about the show at
all. i went through a lot to get to that show just to see you guys, not even
the blue meanies. i took the train from hammond, indiana..i got caught by a
train on the way to the train station and thought i was gonna miss the train.
me and my friend were about to cry. but we just made it. when we arrived in
chicago we had to walk[[in the flippin cold]] to the red line subway and got
off at addison. then we walked to the metro. waited forever to be let in and
when we got in front row it was. and i am glad i didn't miss the show. you guys
did great. and i got the set list, which made me so damn happy. i can't say i
don't miss glenn, but things like this happen all the time. you people should
just give them a break and give mike a chance. who knows he could be the next
best thing next to glenn.
Mike Felumlee New Drummer For Alkaline Trio!
Former Popes drummer Mike Felumlee is now in the awesome Chicago band
The Alkaline Trio. He took over for
former drummer Glenn Porter. I will post more news when I get it.
Double Zero Records Web Site Up
The "official" web site for Double Zero Records is up and running. It's not a
hundred percent complete, but there is still a lot of stuff to check out there.
Go to http://www.doublezerorecords.com
to see it. GO NOW!
Future Smoking Popes Releases
According to the Double Zero web
page, the Smoking Popes Live at the Metro
album will be out February 2000.
The Smoking Popes "The Party's Over" covers CD will be out some time in summer
of 2000.
These will be released so ong as the world doesn't end.
Smoking Popes, Tom Daily and Double Zero Records News From Mike
Felumlee
Popes drummer Mike Felumlee sent this mass e-mail to fans on October 25.
It read:
Hi there. Here's some current info on Double Zero happenings.
First off, Tom Daily will be playing the Metro Sat. Nov. 20th. I have some
tickets that can get you $3 off at the door. The show is $8 without the ticket, $5 with it. Anyone who would like to go can send me an email with your adress and how many tix you want and I'll send you some. Oh yeah, the show's all ages.
In other news; DoubleZeroRecords.com should be up & running in early November,
so look for that if you're interested. Also, we're signing a band from
Knoxville, TN called Kid Snack. They'll be playing the Metro sometime in Jan.
2000. They play Pop-Punk in the vein of No Use for A Name/Decendents.
We'll
probably have a record out by them next April.
If you're looking for Smoking Popes stuff, we still have the (91-98) cds. The
Live @Metro CD will be out the first week of Feb. 2000 and the "covers" CD
called The Party's Over will be out a couple months after that. There
are a few Popes T-shirts left as well.
Ordering Info: (91-98) CD- $10 Tom Daily "Tragedy of Fanbelts" EP $8
Popes T-$15 Tom Daily T-$10
Send Check or Money Order to:
Double Zero Records You can send cash if you like to gamble.
Thanks for all of your support thus far.
Take care, Josh's Solo CD Now Available
Josh Caterer's solo CD Why Me? is now available. I suspect it is very hard
to find, but it definitely has been released. I'll have more on it in a little
bit.
P.O. Box 50138
Ft. Wayne, IN 47303
I just wanted to add that Mary Tyler Morphine is not a good band
The last line is in reference to why Glenn was kicked out of the band. Notice the poster said "I'm sure we can work it out, like he's going to be
sitting in on the negotiations.
This one is as harsh as it is
idiotic. I know I am biased, but to say that Mike Felumlee cannot keep a beat is
just plain asinine.
The genius of this poster
is unparalleled. I especially like his "Get out of the scene" comment.
Hahahaha. I love this post.
PO Box 7122
Algonquin, IL 60102.
Mike Felumlee
