Since the early 2000’s blue collar Michigan rockers Pop Evil have been steadily climbing the charts and building their fan base one listener at a time. Founded by lead vocalist Leigh Kakaty and joined shortly after by rhythm guitarist Dave Grahs they seemed to have found their winning formula when they released their third album Onyx, which produced four top ten singles. In 2015 Pop Evil released their fourth studio album, Up, with it came the singles “Take It All”, “Ways to Get High” and “Footsteps” the latter reaching number one on the rock charts. Since then Pop Evil have been touring relentlessly around the world exposing more and more people to their high energy anthemic rock music. RockRevolt Magazine had a chance to check out their stop at Wally’s Pub in Hampton, NH.
Wally’s Pub located in the seacoast town of NH is about a block away from the Atlantic. With a capacity of about 800 it’s a great place to take in a national act such as Pop Evil. You can really get up close and personal with the band. As I arrived at the venue nearly 3 hours before show time there was a line around the building to get in. Definite good sign that the place would be packed, not bad for a Sunday night.
After a couple of local open acts, the Michigan quintet; Matt DiRito (bass), Nick Fuelling (lead guitar), new addition Hayley Cramer (drums), Grahs (rhythm guitar) and Kakaty (vocals) would hit the stage at about 10 pm. Kicking things off would be one of many number one hits in their repertoire “Trenches” from their groundbreaking third album Onyx. The hits would continue with “Last Man Standing” off their sophomore effort War of Angels.
From here, with the crowd amped up, they would take a bit of a cool left turn giving Hampton Beach a cover of Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger”. The fans seemed to approve of the classic cover as they chanted along to the chorus, “It’s the eye of the tiger It’s the thrill of the fight”….. this one fit perfectly into Pop Evil’s fist pumping, sing along style.
Throughout the evening Pop Evil would deliver a great mix of hits which included “Ways To Get High”, “If Only For Now” and “Boss’s Daughter” in which the studio version features Motley Crue legend Mick Mars. Sprinkled in to their long list of hit singles would be a great mix of a few deeper cuts giving the hardcore Pop Evil fans something to smile about.
Winding down the set Pop Evil would close out the evening with a two-song encore. The first of the closing set would be one of their most popular, “Footsteps”. Those not even familiar with the Michigan natives have most likely had their audio senses pleasured with this one as it has become a popular mainstay at sports stadiums across the country as well as being featured in a Dodge Ram commercial. They would close their 16-song setlist out with the high-energy “Take It All” leaving the NH crowd looking forward to Pop Evil’s next visit to the Northeast.
Pop Evil is just out there doing what they love and it shines through in their live performance. As Kakaty put it “you’re working for your dreams too, taking the time to push rock, it’s all a community. It’s so important to educate your listeners, the people you’re writing for, it doesn’t have to be any primadonna stuff. Rock n’ Roll is being an American, its living. Rock bands aren’t here today and gone tomorrow, you grow with bands. A lot of pop acts they are here today for the now, people build careers and build lifetimes, raise their kids on rock bands”. Pop Evil out there delivering this message one venue at a time. If the packed venue in Hampton is any indication then they are doing a great job getting it out there. Check out Pop Evil on tour now and pick up one of their four studio albums you will not be disappointed.
Connect with Pop Evil(click icons):
Review by Brett Tully RockRevolt Magazine photojournalist
