Westminster, Colorado
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Interview and review of Pop Evil at The Fillmore
by Tom Walsh
Posted on January 4, 2012
I wouldn’t say Pop Evil is famous. Bruce Willis and Will Smith are famous, and when it comes to music Ted Nugent, Steven Tyler and Vince Neil are famous. But all these people, at one time, were just well known and before that they struggled to make a name for themselves, just like Pop Evil is doing day after day. Fronted by dark complected, charismatic vocalist Leigh Kakaty, Pop Evil is a band that has the drive, determination and will to be a famous, household name in the music world. The talent in this band and the fact that they know what they want and are willing to work for it also helps.
Recently Leigh sat down with us at a show to chat about what Pop Evil is, the business side of things, how the current line up came about and how to stay ahead in the music game.
It was in the nineties that Leigh started getting serious about music. Before that he had picked up the electric guitar to impress the ladies, that led to playing and singing in cover bands but after a while he didn’t want to play other peoples music anymore. Like most musicians, he wanted to write his own stuff. And that’s what Pop Evil did. Pop Evil started out as a four piece cover band that would slowly slip their original material into their set. Soon, they were playing all originals and set out to record a quality demo. That’s when they hooked up with Detroit producer Al Sutton (Kid Rock).
Enter guitarist Tony, and bassist Matt. “As we were writing, we were writing with two guitar players in the studio, but we only had one”, stated Leigh, “So the search for that elusive other guitar player was on. We found Tony Greve who is incredible and he ended up adapting to our lead. We had a bass player leave at that time and he knew Matt. We auditioned a couple three or four guys but Matt was the first audition and we knew he was it, but we wanted to
fuck with him a little bit and tell him he didn’t get the gig. Even though these guys are new it’s always felt like the real line up was born once these guys came.”
Leigh likens Pop Evil to the Japanese cartoon Voltron. “Individually we’re all fine, but you come together and it’s I’ll form the head”, says Leigh. As far as the bands success so far he gives credit to the band as a team. At the end of the day they are all trying to be better people on stage, better musicians and write better music. “It all starts with the camaraderie on stage”, stated Leigh, “We’ve always credited ourselves with our live show, live performance and the energy we have on stage.” The guys in Pop Evil are friends but first they are brothers, and after spending that much time together that’s totally understandable. They may have arguments and fights but when they get on stage that is all left behind. Their chemistry on stage is proof to that fact. “When you play over 250 shows a year it’s like clockwork”, says Leigh.
What do the guys in Pop Evil say about Pop Evil? “We called it Pop Evil for a reason because it wasn’t just a band name”, says Kakaty, “it’s kind of a lifestyle. Whatever normal would be, or whatever pop is, whatever mainstream is, whatever popular is…..we were never that. We weaved in and out of that pocket, just as all five of us were outcasts in some way, but we all fit in too. It’s an identity. Sometimes I think about some of my idols in rock n roll when I was growing up and it seemed like the industry and the labels were like, this is alternative, everyone tries to put a cap on it, you know? You’re white, or you’re brown, you’re black, you’re green….it’s like, look man…..we’re people, we like music. Therefore you’re influenced by…..sometimes you just don’t know. That’s one of the weirdest questions you get.
Who are you influenced by? Sometimes you don’t fuckin’ know! Hey you’re a product of the times! People have compared Pop Evil to Shinedown and Seether. According to Leigh this makes sense as he was listening to more Shinedown and Seether than Led Zeppelin in the past ten years, “Don’t get me wrong, I love Led Zeppelin, I love the Stones and I love Guns N Roses, but when’s the last time I really sat down and listened to that? I don’t because I can turn on the damn radio and fuckin’ nine times I can hear a Guns N Roses song. I don’t wanna hear that. No disrespect, I love GN’R they’re one of my favorites but it’s fun listening to the Seethers, the Shinedowns and the Nickelbacks…..the people that have had success with what we’re doing. I think Pop Evil, at the end of the day, means be yourself.”
Pop Evil is more than just a band, it’s also a business. If you think about it all working bands are their own
business, and to be successful you have to treat it as such. Leigh believes in educating one’s self in the business side of the music world. As he puts it, “Every year we’re losing more rock stations and more rap and hip hop stations are coming up. It’s a scary thing. I think it’s important for bands, especially early on, to educate the fans. Let them know that their dollar really does help. Every dollar is seen whether it’s that kid in Japan or whether it’s that kid here in the states. The labels are watching that, and that’s what they’re basing on whether they’re going to support that band anymore. It’s important as a band, and as a person in this music business to understand the game and to do their best to be passionate about their love, which is the music, and find a way to survive.”
Pop Evil has definitely found a way to survive. Their newest album War Of Angels, produced by Johnny K. (Megadeth, Disturbed) debuted on Billboards rock chart at number 8. The song Last Man Standing has been featured on ESPN and has been used by the NHL, which is fitting as most of the guys in Pop Evil are big sports fans. Recently Pop Evil wrote a song called In The Big House for the University of Michigan Wolverines that ended up being used all season. “Lyrically the song focuses on tradition”, stated Kakaty. “We got to be a part of the season in a musical way I never thought we’d be a part of.” They have also been named best new artist by FMQB magazine, and Revolver Magazine says they are a band to watch.
After listening to War Of Angels and catching a live show I have to agree with both FMQB Magazine and Revolver Magazine. War Of Angels grows on you. The lyrics go back and forth from serious and somewhat melancholy on songs like “Monster You Made” and “Purple”, to the aggressiveness of “Last Man Standing” to all around fun songs like “Boss’s Daughter”. There is an attitude on this CD that you may not catch at first, but listen to it a couple more times and you realize that Pop Evil is saying here we are and we’re here to stay.
Their live show ads to the likeability of Pop Evil. The blue collar work ethic and the general down to earth attitude the guys have comes through in their stage performance. They are out there to work and make sure you have a good time and they succeed without exception. When they play “Monster You Made” live you can almost feel the pain Leigh conveys on stage. I base a lot of how a band does on stage by their crowd response. During the show people were moshing to some songs and singing along to others and real lighters were pulled out and waved high in the air when Leigh played the first chords to “Monster You Made” on his acoustic. Just when the crowd was lulled into a sense of safety Leigh and company lit into a high octane set of pure rock n roll. “Last Man Standing” had an almost Ozzy feel to it while “Boss’s Daughter” is kind of a throwback to Motley Crue, and both songs rocked. These guys sound great live and true to Leigh’s word they put on one hell of a show and threw every ounce of energy possible into that show.
Bottom line is these guys have star power. I’ve seen and heard a lot of bands over the past two years and a lot of those bands have been great. There is some great talent out there, but it’s very rare you get the whole package. Pop Evil is the whole package. Screaming guitar riffs, pounding bass, hard hitting drums and the quintessential front man make this band a force to be reckoned with.
So do yourself a favor and spend the few bucks on the CD or downloads because if you love rock, you’ll love this CD…..and if you get the chance to see them live check them out. They’ll make a Pop Evil fan out of you.
One more thing. All the guys in Pop Evil want their fans to know how much they mean to them. They realize that without you, the fan, none of what they are doing would be possible. Oh yeah, they also say Happy Christmas and Merry New Year to everyone!
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Leigh Kakaty on stage at The Fillmore Photo by Paul Edmisson
Davey, Leigh, Tony of Pop Evil on stage. Photo by Paul Edmisson
Matt DiRito of Pop Evil on stage. Photo by Paul Edmisson
Photos of the show
All Photos Copyright © 2011 Interstatelive.com
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