Holy Popes Reveal New Single & Video “Jerry”

Bristol-based post garage punk trio Holy Popes have revealed a self-produced video for their new single Jerry. Reflecting on the prevalence of misinformation and its ability to corrupt and distort reality for those who fail to think critically, the track is the latest to be taken from the band’s debut self-titled album which will be released on the 27th January via Man Demolish Records. Thematically, Holy Popes serves as a reflection of where we are in the world, both emotionally and systemically. Outside of his duties with the band, guitarist Dominic Knight (The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster) works with men to provide a space to discuss their place within a patriarchal system that inhibits their own emotional growth, whilst contributing to the mass violence we see against women on an hourly basis. The trio will also be playing a special album release show in Bristol at The Golden Lion on 27th January in celebration.

“Jerry is a person we may or may not know. Someone who was swayed by misinformation, who didn’t know the consequences or particularly think about them. Jerry meant well, but maybe without an idea of who for. Politics has been deeply polarised and the right have gained a foothold not seen across the world for many many years. So many people get caught up in the lies and misinformation coercively spread by propaganda; perfectly kind, decent folks are accidentally becoming bigots. I like to hold the idea in my heart that we are all compassionate beings, and that it’s our duty to show empathy and kindness to those we may agree with the least. I once had a conversation with a guy in the pub about Brexit, and we disagreed in a big way, but he was a thoughtful, loving man who just didn’t understand the wider implications of his vote, and I didn’t want to hold anything against him. The language around migration, around control, around human rights, it all comes from a place of hatred and othering. We have the space, we have the land, we have the houses and we have the wealth…it is just distributed in the wrong way, by the wrong people. In order to move away from misogyny and patriarchal violence against women, other men, and ourselves, we must confront it head on and sit with the discomfort it may bring. Music is and always will be political and I think now more than ever, we collectively need to provide the soundtrack to a much-needed social upheaval and inspire a will to change, to stand up against oppression and express ourselves fully.” (Dominic Knight)