PopeAlopes was formed in 1986 by Peter Norton Lohstroh and Steven Dueker while they both studied biochemistry at the University of California in Davis. The two musicians had both been attracted to, and fascinated by, pop-music that was dark and hypnotic (read: psychedelic). From the get-go, PopeAlopes songs had a dark, acidic tanginess and potent, intertwining guitar arrangements.
The band first gained national exposure with their song "Poor Tom" which appeared on OUT AMONG THE COWS - THE DAVIS COMPILATION. The music created by PopeAlopes reflected the desperation, solitude, and maybe the extreme summer heat of Davis. They recorded their first LP, AN ADDERS TALE in December, 1987 with Russ Tolman (True West) handling the production. The resulting album is dark, damp, and drenched in enough wailing feedback and reverb to blot out the memory of Davis' bleaching sun. While it would be easy to only notice the darkness and despair in the band's early compositions, each song is full of the same contradictions that confuse the emotions and thoughts of most people (including the writers')! Of the albums lyrical content, "'Some of Steve's observations are based on things that are common to everybody', reveals guitarist/songwriter Lohstroh. ' Others are more fantastical and imaginative.'" (TOWER PULSE!). For instance, the album's title comes from the song "Menagerie", "A horrifying barnyard tale (of an adder-snake, a rooster, a dog, and a hare) that falls somewhere between George Orwell and Lewis Carroll." (Tower Pulse!). PopeAlopes completed a national tour in support of AN ADDERS TALE.
In August 1989, PopeAlopes return to the studio with Russ Tolman once again handling the production. The result was KEROSENE, a brighter album overall, yet still emotionally complex, with subterfuge lurking just beneath the blissed out veneer. KEROSENE continues PopeAlopes' exploration of the subconscious and unconscious emotive forces that drive them to make music both beautiful and menacing.
CAVALCADE was the third full-length album of original songs by PopeAlopes and was released in October 1991. CAVALCADE was recorded in June and July in Sacramento, CA, with PopeAlopes handling all of the production chores for the first time. This nine song cycle is as cool and inviting as Davis Cemetery's grassy hill at three AM.
A three song single featuring "Rosette", "Happy Nightmare Baby" and "Telegram Sam" was released in March 1993 on Helter Skelter Records in Italy. Drummer John Nelson leaves the band following Vince Martini who left a year earlier.
In April, May and June of 1993, the fourth PopeAlopes album, SLOWEST EYE, was recorded at Tom Mallon's studio in San Francisco. The Production was handled by PopeAlopes and Tom Mallon (Original American Music Club producer). This album was released only on CD and only in Europe. It included two new members, Chad Wilson on bass, and Jeff Clark on drums. Limited quantities reached the US shores, about 250, but airplay was actually decent throughout the local area.
From 1994-1997 PopeAlopes fell into a downtime mode as the members picked up various other projects. Peter Lohstroh formed Beatrice Nine in 1994 and was later joined by Bassist Chad Wilson. PopeAlopes picked up drummer Lawrence Herman for some demo tapes in 1995 which turned out future releases "Chrome Canary", "A Date With Peggy Lee" and "Larry in the Blacklight".
In 1999 PopeAlopes finally released "Chrome Canary" on MP3.COM as an internet only release. PopeAlopes disbanded in 2001 after a pair of well received farewell shows covering old and new material.
Guitarslingers True West will headline the first-ever Portland edition of International Pop Overthrow on Saturday, 8/23 (http://www. internationalpopoverthrow. com/Schedule-Portland-2008. htm).
Riding out of the west coast neo-psychedelic Paisley Underground in the '80s, True West went on to record three albums and be part of what the UK press dubbed "The American Invasion" in 1985, returning to tour the States with REM later that year.
Last year, Atavistic/Touch And Go Records released Hollywood Holiday Revisited, a CD collection of True West's first two albums Hollywood Holiday and Drifters, along with three extra tracks produced by Tom Verlaine of Television in 1983.
So . . . I've got the ole iPod randomly playing through 10,000 songs and "Grand Anvil Chorus" just came on. Just thought I'd let you know . . . PopeAlopes are being represented in the offices The Ripple Effect!
Thanks for the add. Loved the Popealopes sound, real American guitar music at its best. Still searching for Slowest Eye and wish Chrome Canary had been released on CD. Its great that this fine band are being promoted to more people.
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