Students attending BYU-Idaho come from all backgrounds and have an eclectic taste in music. From country, rock, indie and more, Rexburg’s local bands cover it all. One local band, made up of BYU-Idaho students, is The Stone Popes.
The Stone Popes are a self-described post hardcore and emo rock band, that has found their niche in Rexburg.
“There is a surprising subculture here of people who have spiky hair and like blue hair, who come out in droves to see us,” said Blake Johnson, the group’s vocalist. “You really wouldn't expect it but there are alternative people here.”
All members of The Stone Popes come from different places and met at BYU-Idaho, brought together by their love of creating music. The band realizes that their style and music might not be what people expect when they think of BYU-Idaho.
“To me the essence of like punk rock is self-determination,” Johnson said. “For a lot of punk rockers that kind of means fitting into a very specific mold ironically, of you have to be hyper liberal and aggressive and all these sort of things, but for us we're about clean living and doing what we think is right.”
The Stone Popes try to play concerts monthly around Rexburg at various venues. Looking to the future, they plan to tour both the West and East coasts and continue to work on new music.
“We’re working on an album right now,” said Seth Chamberlain, The Stone Popes guitarist. “We’re hoping to drop that this year.”
On Friday night, The Stone Popes will play a concert at Fizz Rizz in Rexburg to promote the release of their new EP. Their music can be streamed on Spotify.