Influences: Yes

My aunt Ginger gave me her copy of Fragile (LP, not CD!) when I was five and my life was changed. I'd already been listening to it on visits to her house. I'd sit with my ear pressed to the speaker, eyes closed, soaking in the ominous thunder sounds at the beginning of "South Side of the Sky" and waiting for that amazing drum intro by Bill Bruford.

South Side Of The Sky - Yes

Later, when I finally scored some toy drums, I spent hours and hours playing along to that record, and staring at the amazing artwork. I still have that first copy and not one track is playable because it was so severely scratched (loved).


It would be hard to underestimate the influence Fragile on my musical cerebrum. As a teenage drummer geek I came to appreciate other albums from the same period like Close to the Edge and The Yes Album. The Alan White....Trevor Horn....Trevor Rabin periods didn't resonate as much for me, though I did get into Drama for a while (the album that is).

Haven't a clue what the lyrics mean, and like it that way. Still can't play that Bruford fill either...

Long Distance Runaround - Yes

And You And I [I. Cord Of Life...

Starship Trooper: a. Life Seek...

Influences: SUPERGRASS

The vid's not that recent but if you haven't seen it, it's worth a click (and a great intro to Supergrass if you're not familiar).



I first heard them when Edmund's Crown was on the way home from a gig in Memphis. David, our drummer, was like "you would really like these guys," and popped in the CD In It For the Money. I liked it from the first listen but it didn't sink in until a few days later when I had a song in my head that I couldn't place (and knew I hadn't written-it was way too good). The song was It's Not Me (there isn't a bad track on that record, which is their sophomore).

It's Not Me - Supergrass

Anyway, I quickly acquired entire SG catalog and would soon be gleefully referring to myself as a fan and the band as an influence.

Here's a clip from last years Diamond Hoo Ha:

Diamond Hoo Ha Man - Supergras...

Also of note:

Supergrass has more than a few websites out there. One that's maintained by the band themselves includes a tour diary , featuring random pics of shows, dressing rooms, and what they ate at the airport.

They were mentioned in the Foofighter's artist rider as being one of the few bands they would share a dressing room with (the others being Oasis and Led Zeppelin).

sorry ma forgot to take out the faders...

Been so busy with distractions (like bread and butter) that I've kind of had to leave the mixing board for a while. Can't wait to get back to it.

Right now I've got six tunes halfway in the can and a few more to put down tracks on. A cinematographer pal of mine wanted to do a little docudrama on this project so he came over last week, set up lights and filmed a bunch of boring stuff of me talking, recording guitars, etc. I'm sure some iteration of that will be posted in the future...just wanted to warn you.

Election Day 2008! (& Popmonster is Sold Out)

Please get out and vote!

(and in other news, both Notlame and CDBaby are completely out of Popmonster CD's. I suppose I should celebrate this, but I also want to reassure anyone who might be looking that more CD's have been shipped to both places. Should be up and running again by the weeks end. Oh, and of course there's always iTunes.)

Huge thanks to popmonsters like you for the support!

Popmonster Lyrics: All Day Long

Sunday, so called day of rest
filling with a sense of dread
thinking about tomorrow a. m.

I blink I'm on the interstate
one link in a giant metal snake
slithering through concrete and slate

I circle the building twice before
I get up the nerve to walk through the door
and take the back staircase up to my floor
Slide into the four gray walls and the square
of light that I love all day with my stare
but metal and plastic can't keep me there

A window lets my mind escape
I soar across the city-scape
above the clouds where I will stay
All day long
All day long
All day long

I have friends we spend our days
deciphering the corporate maze
and living in fear of reorganization

And this is what they pay us for
we've lost our guts to use the door
and so we pretend to count all our blessings

I circle the building twice before
I get up the nerve to walk through the door
and take the back staircase up to my floor
Slide into the four gray walls and the square
of light that I love all day with my stare
but metal and plastic can't keep me there

A window lets my mind escape
I soar across the city-scape
above the clouds where I will stay
All day long
All day long
All day long

©2008 by Greg Pope

Hear this Tune

Influences: The Police

As a snot-nosed 13 year old, I scoffed at the Police, because I thought they were sort of teen heart throbs who made bubble gum pop--and yes, this was before I actually listened to them. I friend of mine kept hammering away at me about them and one day, she brought a Creem magazine special "Police" issue. She opened it to a 2 page spread showcasing Stewart Copeland's drum kit. It was one of the most awesome things I'd ever seen. I bought "Outlandos D'amour" and by that Christmas I owned the whole Police Catalog. I've never stopped listening to those albums, and I think "Outlandos" is my favorite. It's sparce, and straight forward, and brilliant. I get inspired every time I hear it.

Influences: Kiss

I first saw the album cover above when I was seven years old. My parents were having dinner with friends and their son was in high school. He had two posters on his wall, Farah Fawcett and Kiss: Destroyer. I bought this record for $6.99 at the local drug store. In the months that followed I learned every word of every song. I also made a cassette tape of myself singing it and imitating all the instruments with my voice. Yes I actually did that. I traced the cover art until I could draw it freehand, and became somewhat skilled in the art of theatrical make up.



By the time I was eight I owned most of the Kiss catalog. The last album I remember buying was "Love Gun" and my sweet grandmother was with me. She took one look at the women on the cover and said "honey, that's not nice." I suppose she was right, but honestly I hadn't noticed the girls. I was more interested in obtaining a kid sized pair of Gene Simmon's dragon boots.