Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival 2014 – DTE Energy Music Theatre – Clarkston, MI
August 15, 2014 – Interview by Scotti Moore
With each of their three full length albums Pop Evil has gained more popularity and recognition. With that comes more pressure but you would never see that within this band. Not just hitting their stride but owning it along the way they continue to get the respect of not only their fans but from their peers as well. With a focus and determination second to none it all began with putting together the right line up and everything seemed to fall into place from there.
Grand Rapids, MI based Pop Evil consists of Leigh Kakaty – Lead Vocals (2001-Present), Dave Grahs – Rhythm and Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals (2001-Present), Matt DiRito – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals (2007-Present), Nick Fuelling – Lead and Rhythm Guitar (2012-Present) and Chachi Riot – Drums (2011-Present).
With Pop Evil and myself both being mitten made, the opportunity to have a sit down with Muskegon born Bassist Matt DiRito, the man with a fan page just for his hair, sounded like a lot of fun and he didn’t disappoint. We found a place in the shade backstage at DTE and while the other members of the band were getting their ears lowered next to us we jumped right into the interrogation.
Scotti RR: First off Matt, I want to thank you for taking the time out to let us get a take on the other side of the Pop Evil world.
Matt PE: The pleasure is all mine Scotti. Thank you for taking time out to be here. It means a lot to us that there are people wanting to hear what we have to say so ask away.
Scotti RR: Ok, let’s find out a bit about you then we will get your perspective on some other topics along the way. When former bassist Jamie Nummer exited Pop Evil, how did you come into the equation?
Matt PE: The lead guitar player at the time, Tony and I grew up together. We had played in a lot of different bands together. The two of us were actually doing an acoustic project at that time. Pop Evil had brought Tony in as an additional guitar player. Two months later Jamie had decided to quit so Tony convinced the guys to give me a call. There were a couple of other guys who had auditioned but luckily I was the one they chose.
Scotti RR: After you had become the chosen one how was the transition for you?
Matt PE: It was good. Ya know, it was actually really easy. Like I had mentioned, I was previously working with Tony. As far as writing songs, he and I wrote well together. We started to put a bit of a heavier edge on the material like “Last Man Standing (2011)” and “Hero (2008),” stuff like that just felt natural for us. I was used to playing in metal bands before this where we would play like ten shows a year. All of a sudden, with Pop Evil, we were doing cover songs and playing hours upon hours, three or four nights a week. It was good, I was happy to be out playing more.
Scotti RR: Lets delve a little deeper into how Pop Evil has differed from your past projects.
Matt PE: (He starts to laugh) Well, coming from that metal background, I was used to playing for dudes and now we are playing for chicks. That would be a very obvious difference right there. Our music is very radio friendly. We get a little bit heavier but switch back to that lighter flow. Everything I had done in the past was either super progressive like Jazz oriented or it was straight out in your face metal.
Scotti RR: Tell us who has had the biggest impact on getting you to the point you are at now.
Matt PE: That would easily be my family. Growing up as a kid in my house was a bit different than the average. We really didn’t have a television so we just listened to music non-stop. My mom really pushed me to get into music in school even when I didn’t want to. She made me stick with it. It wasn’t until high school that I actually felt that I could do something with it. Both mom and dad have been behind me 100%. They are always out at my shows. Even still to this day I can’t give my parents a t-shirt or ticket. They are like, “No we have to buy it, we got to support you. We will buy our own,” still to this day.
Scotti RR: How do you feel the current version of Pop Evil stacks up against previous line-ups?
Matt PE: This is more of a hand-picked line up, ya know what I mean. Like when I first joined it was the start of a transition. They had added a second guitar player but I became the first replacement member, almost like the first non-original member of the group. At that point in time we weren’t nationally touring or anything, no album out. We were doing covers with just a few originals here and there. They were able to hand pick Tony and myself and when the time came around where we needed to replace a guitar player and pick up a new drummer we had actually sat down and talked about what we wanted in those positions. We tried out a few people instead of being that band that you just threw together, making sure we had found the perfect pieces of the puzzle. So this line up is more cohesive and everyone was picked as part of a touring band.
Scotti RR: What has the progression of the band been like from the stage of being a cover band up to this point?
Matt PE: Slow and steady, slow and steady baby. Our songs have kinda crept into the top 20’s on the charts and then the teens. Just a gradual climb so it has been very smooth and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Scotti RR: Have you had the opportunity to tour or play a show with that one band you have dreamed about sharing the stage with?
Matt PE: Nope! Mötley Crüe and it ain’t gonna happen.
Scotti RR: Even though it’s their final tour ya never know. They may need a slot filled.
Matt PE: You maybe right. Bands do drop out for many reasons. Maybe a festival gig will open up. Although, I did get the chance to play with Mick Mars on “Boss’s Daughter (2011).”
Scotti RR: What do you find is the best/worst part of touring?
Matt PE: My bunk! No really, my bunk is the best part of touring. Now the most difficult part is so much down time. I’m not sure if you know this but I got totally clean and sober a little over nine months ago.
Scotti RR: I was hoping you were going to bring it up just so I could congratulate you. Not an easy thing to do.
Matt PE: No it’s not and thanks brother. The down time kills me. I mean right now it would be so easy to just crack a beer open, mix a drink and use that to occupy my time. That’s why I think so many drugs, so much alcohol was running around with the bands in the 1970’s and 1980’s, they didn’t have cell phones or computers, any of the modern conveniences that we have in this day and age to occupy ourselves while on the bus. Man, they did a ton of drugs. I mean it’s fun and all but I want a long career, a long life. I struggle with finding things to structure my down time. When you first start out you are loading your equipment in and out yourselves, setting it up, tuning guitars. Now we have people doing that for us. Today I woke up at eight. I just got a couple of new basses so I set them up and tweaked them a bit and adjusted my rig. Of course, the bass tech won’t be happy (said with a devious laugh).
Scotti RR: Looking at the band, who would you say has the tendency of being the dad and who plays mom?
Matt PE: Leigh is definitely the Mother. This band is his child. Now I would have to actually point to myself as the dad. When we put the setlist together or making big decisions with what we are going to do on stage I’m always directing it or leading the rehearsal.
Chachi’s Interview at 2014 Rock on the Range interviews RockRevolt™Magazine, Radio & TV
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Scotti RR: Now that you have obviously started knocking things off the list of goals what do you aim for next?
Matt PE: Well, I feel with this last album we grabbed everyone’s attention now we have to keep it. That, I think, will be the struggle. To do another that will do as well or better than the last.
Scotti RR: Pop Evil has been sitting at the cool kid table for a while now with your songs like “Hero”, “Somebody Like You (2008)”, “100 in a 55 (2008)”, “Last Man Standing (seemed like every time you turned on something sports there it was)” and of course, a Maize and Blue favorite, “The Big House (2011),” but what do you feel took you to that next level with Onyx?
Matt PE: Song writing! If you put the songs on Onyx up against any of our other records it’s just better song writing. I can’t put it any better than that.
Scotti RR: What was your/the bands reaction, after breaking the top 25 with a handful of other songs, when you found out “Trenches (2013)” hit number one?
Matt PE: Ya know, we were actually in Canada when we found out that it hit number one. It is kind of ironic, you’re number one in the states but you are not even in the country when you find out. The next day we had off so we drove down into South Dakota. We threw a big party, did the fancy dinner, popped some Champaign and everyone smoked cigars.
Scotti RR: I have to say that a lot of times you hear a hit on the radio and ya kinda think to yourself, “How the hell did that make it. The record label must of bought a million copies to get it there!” Not with “Trenches” though. It definitely has a strong story within it. The message is clear.
Matt PE: Thanks man. That is what the song is all about too. It reaching the top spot on the charts was even more definitive for us. Coming off of War of Angels (2011) and touring it extensively, still just hitting the top 10, not really feeling that we are yet on the same level as our peers. We felt like “Trenches” was a statement that said, we have been working our whole lives to get out of here and hit the next level. Again, the irony was that song took us there and did that for us.
Scotti RR: You had touched on the strength of writing being the reason Onyx has been such a success for Pop Evil, so I’d like to talk a bit about the actual writing. What goes into the writing process for you guys?
Matt PE: We have mixed it up every time. Each time we have recorded it’s been a little bit different and this time we have a handful of things written but we are going to take some time off to write. Everyone will go in their own direction and write a bit, then we will come together and go over everybody’s ideas to see which ones we want to pursue.
Scotti RR: Usually when you go that route somebody’s feelings get hurt because something of theirs didn’t make the cut. Do you find that the case?
Matt PE: No, everyone is pretty good about it. Nobody takes offense. We each try to look at it from an outside prospective and all want the best songs and ideas to win. It has to be what’s best for the band, what’s best for the album and especially what’s best for the fans.
Scotti RR: With your intense schedule and growing popularity how in the world do you find a spot to take time off?
Matt PE: Well, we just changed booking agents about a year ago. Our old guy had us on the road all the time but what we come to realize was the more you are on the road the less demand there is for you. We had to purposely pull out of certain markets to create that demand. If you play five or six times within a year in the same area the fans tend to say “that’s ok I just seen them last month” or “we can miss them this time, they are here all the time.” So with this new dude he is pacing our dates. We don’t want to wear out our welcome anywhere.
Scotti RR: Have you ever thrown anything that you had written as a kid into a Pop Evil song?
Matt PE: Oh, I still have riffs I’m waiting to use. I have them tucked away and when they least expect it I will hit em with them.
Scotti RR: I must digress for this next question. You had brought up the legendary Mick Mars earlier and while it had to be awesome to have him in the “Boss’s Daughter” video, what I want to ask is what was it like to be in the presence of the reason I started using Instagram, Ms. Jessa Hinton?
Matt PE: She is incredible! Truly one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen and she is an absolute sweetheart too. When we play L.A. we hit her up and she comes out to party with us and stuff like that. She is the ultimate professional, super sweet. Just everything you could possibly imagine.
Scotti RR: Alrighty then, next time you go to the City of Angels I’m tagging along.
Matt PE: Let’s do it!
Pop Evil – Boss’s Daughter ft. Mick Mars
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Scotti RR: Sorry about that but I just had to ask. Time to get back on point. What do you feel has been your best contribution to Onyx?
Matt PE: Oh man, great question. You have really made me think about these answers. I would say that the fact I was very involved with Chachi since it was his first time in a studio to record. Him and I sat down together and hashed out the drum and bass parts for a long time. I could tell he was getting a little frustrated in that pressured environment, where his stuff had to be done first so everyone else could lay their tracks down. So I think really working hand in hand with him and making sure the rhythm section was tight on this album all the way through was my biggest contribution.
Scotti RR: Out of your full catalog – what’s your favorite Pop Evil song?
Matt PE: Oh dude, live it would have to be “Sick Sense (2013).” I love throwing down with that song. Favorite one to listen to, I would say “Silence and Scars (2013).” I really like that song. It really resonates with me. It has like a timeless feel to me.
Scotti RR: I have one last question for you before I let ya go. When can we expect a follow up to Onyx?
Matt PE: Early next year I hope. We will try writing the end of this year, in the studio top of next year and by spring for sure we will have something for ya.
After thanking Mr. Matt DiRito for taking time out of his routine I sat down for a bit to listen back to some of the interview. Something stood out to me. Most bands or members of bands tend to stick to generic answers but he really was authentic in everything he said. He had an excitement about him that showed me how important every aspect of this life truly is to him and how he can’t wait to see what’s next for him and his cohorts.
Before the interview began we talked about his relationship with the Pop Evil fan base and how much he loves meeting new people everywhere they go. For example, I was telling him how my friend Jamie Webber is a huge fan of theirs and how she was a little bit bummed that I kept playing around with her about how I was going to meet them and she wasn’t. Without hesitation he told me to go get her and when I told him that she couldn’t attend he asked me to turn on my recorder so he could send her a personal message. This is the kind of passion and sincerity I feel a lot of musicians at this level tend to lose but not this guy nor any of the other members of Pop Evil. It is and always will be a love affair with the fans.
CHECK OUT THE PHOTO GALLERY OF POP EVIL AT UPROAR FESTIVAL!
Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival 2014 – DTE Energy Music Theatre – Clarkston, MI
August 15, 2014 – Interview by Scotti Moore
