Smoking Popes & Local H’s Scott Lucas team for anti-Trump protest single “Allegiance” (listen)
Alt-rock vets Smoking Popes are releasing new protest single “Allegiance” on January 6, and it features vocals from Local H‘s Scott Lucas. “Two days after the election, I was filled with anger and disgust over the result, so I picked up a guitar and poured some of those feelings into a song, which turned into this two-and-a-half-minute punk protest tune,” says Smoking Popes frontman Josh Caterer. “It was written and recorded really quickly and we wanted to release it as soon as possible because it speaks to this moment we’re living in. And we’re excited that Scott was able to be part of it. He’s such a great singer…I think having his voice in there adds to the urgency of the message.”
Josh also tells us, “Based on what we’ve seen from Trump so far, there’s every reason to expect an all-out assault on democracy from him in the next few years, and it would be easy to feel hopeless about that, to just give up, but I’m confident that people will fight back. I don’t know what shape the resistance will take, but I think it starts with just lifting your voice and saying ‘No!’ to what’s happening. That’s a freedom we still have in this country and that’s what this song is trying to do.”
“Allegiance” is out on Monday but we’ve got an early preview. Listen below.
Meanwhile, Smoking Popes also have a new album on the way, titled Lovely Stuff and out in March. (“Allegiance” is not on it.) They’re also on tour starting in February, celebrating the 30th anniversary of their album Born To Quit, and that includes an NYC show at TV Eye on May 20 (tickets will be on sale soon). All dates are listed below.
The Smoking Popes – 2025 Tour Dates
Friday, Feb 28 – Off Broadway, St. Louis MO
Saturday, March 1 – Growlers, Memphis TN
Sunday, March 2 – The Earl, Atlanta GA
Tuesday, March 4 – Handlebar, Pensacola FL
Wednesday, March 5 – Loosey’s, Gainesville FL
Thursday, March 6 – Conduit, Orlando FL
Friday, March 7 – Orpheum, Tampa FL
Saturday, March 8 – Gramps, Miami FL
Tuesday, April 22 – Turf Club, Minneapolis MN
Wednesday, April 23 – High Noon Saloon, Madison WI
Thursday, April 24 – X-Ray Arcade, Milwaukee WI
Friday, April 25 – Castle Theatre, Bloomington IL
Saturday, April 26 – The Space, Champaign IL
Sunday, April 27 – Hi-Fi, Indianapolis IN
Wednesday, May 14 – Madison Live, Covington KY
Thursday, May 15 – Ace Of Cups, Columbus OH
Friday, May 16 – Bottlerocket, Pittsburgh PA
Saturday, May 17 – Ukie Club, Philadelphia PA
Sunday, May 18 – Songbyrd, Washington DC
Tuesday, May 20 – TV Eye Queens, NY
Wednesday, May 21 – The Space, Hamden CT
Thursday, May 22 – Arts At The Armory, Somerville MA
Friday, May 23 – Rec Room, Buffalo NY
Saturday, May 24 – Mahall’s, Lakewood OH
Sunday, May 25 – The Sanctuary, Hamtramck MI
