by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
There's a restless energy within the members of New Orleans' Pope. Since the release of Fiction, the band's full length debut in March of last year, the band have remained forever touring, spread between their own time out on the road and as members of Donovan Wolfington, New Holland, and Sprawling. Their passion to create and perform keeps them busy, and as a result it keeps their songwriting sharp and far from stagnation. Fiction was an exceptional record that combined the band's love for slow dripped indie rock and fuzzy shredding driven by the band's dynamic songwriting duo of Matthew Seferian and Alejandro Skalany and it was only the beginning.
Pope recently wrapped up the recording of their sophomore album, so naturally the band are headed back out on the road, but not without giving us some new music to enjoy (though not from said record). "Gym Birds (Thermos Version)" is a stand-alone single and a reminder of just how great Pope can be. Recorded and mixed by Ross Farbe (Video Age) at The Thermos with cover art from Ben Davis, the song permeates with a cold and quiet resolve. There's a feeling of casual desperation and "going through the motions" that runs through Skalany's verses as he assures "I can make your world come down". The band wander their way through arpeggiated riffs and into the hook's dense fury but the feeling of isolation in public remains as he sings, "see all the different kinds of people / cornered with sight side blind and feet pulled / walking with heads turned down". It doesn't paint the most optimistic picture of community, and while the song feels like a personal reflection, "Gym Birds" resonates in these times of our torn country.
Tour Dates:
12/01 - Austin, TX @ Barracuda w/ Hovvdy
12/02 - Denton, TX @ Gatsby's Mansion w/ Hovvdy
12/03 - Little Rock, AR @ Pine Street House w/ Hovvdy
12/04 - Nashville, TN @ Drkmttr w/ Hovvdy
12/05 - Cincinnati, OH @ Opera Storage Warehouse w/ Cross Country
12/07 - Oberlin, OH @ Walnut
12/08 - Pittsburgh @ Howlers w/ Bat Zuppel
12/09 - Syracuse, NY @ Space Camp
12/10 - Boston, MA @ House w/ Kal Marks & Cende
12/11 - Philadelphia, PA @ JJ's Diner w/ Caracara
12/12 - Washington, DC @ Lily Trotter Tea Lounge (Crunchy Leaf Fest) w/ Mannequin Pussy & Spirit of the Beehive
12/14 - Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern w/ FK MT
12/15 - Atlanta, GA @ 529 w/ Floral Print