Books are one thing.
Rock bands are another. The Smoking Popes, the northwest suburbs' claim to fame with two albums out on Capitol, have peppered their recent shows with cover songs, some of which they'll also include when they begin work on an all-covers record in July. Those choices illustrate why the Smoking Popes is unlike other punk-flavored bands. While the band fills its songs with all the buzzsaw guitars a Green Day fan could want, Caterer's wistful melodies and light, smooth singing are closer to Mel Torme. It just fit to sing them more tenderly.