My HeadBangers please welcome, from North Muskegon, Michigan, the Hard Rock, Alternative Metal, Post-Grunge Band:
POP EVIL
“Trenches”
My HeadBangers 9 years ago I heard this song, it related to my life, and I just fell in love with this band. Besides excellent music, this song can relate to so many abused men and women. They spoke to me and I listened to them, close my eyes and let them take me away. They are an incredible bunch of musicians. Also, this video is absolutely the best, look at these guys total SWAG….
“Eye of the Storm”
Let’s take a look at some bio on these guys:
Pop Evil was formed in 2001 by Leigh Kakaty, vocals. The band’s roots reside in TenFive, a group formed in the late-1990s by Kakaty and guitarist Jason Reed. They won the Radio Contraband Rock Radio Award for “Song of the Year” for “Trenches” in 2013.
The band was formed from pieces of other Michigan bands in 2001, including a group known as TenFive, which consisted of Kakaty, guitarists Tom Grasman and Jason Reed, bassist James Schaap, and drummer Dylan Allison. As TenFive, Kakaty and Reed recorded a debut album, Severn, and another EP, Dam Electro, on their own independent label. Shortly thereafter, TenFive broke up and Kakaty founded Pop Evil with Allison.
Kakaty and the members of Pop Evil endured years of playing the clubs without much to show for it. Kakaty said “It was years of bologna sandwiches, playing so many cover shows until the early morning hours because we needed money to make good demos.” The singer also endured his share of heartache when his girlfriend died in tragic circumstances in 2004.
In November 2007, Pop Evil was referred by a music talent scout, Tracy Jule to Erik Quintero, which began Pop Evil’s success. In 2008, Pop Evil signed a management deal with G&G Entertainment.
In April 2008, Pop Evil released their first national radio single “Hero”, which peaked inside the top 25 at Active Rock radio. In November 2008, Pop Evil released “100 in a 55” to rock radio.
In July and August 2009, along with Whitesnake, Pop Evil supported Judas Priest on the British Steel 30th Anniversary North American tour. In July 2009 the band gave the fans the chance to pick their next single. After the voting had concluded, “Breathe” was announced as the new single. The single peaked at No. 29 on the Active Rock charts.
“HERO”
Pop Evil has so much history, I’m going to jump ahead.
In April 2020, the band released the singles, “Work” and “Let the Chaos Reign”. On November 13, 2020, the band returned with the “pulsing” single “Breathe Again”, while also announcing the title of their sixth album, Versatile, which they started working on during the winter of 2019. It was released on May 20, 2021. Matt Dirito would then go on to announce his departure from Pop Evil in 2021 – keeping his reasons private. Due to travel restrictions from Covid, drummer Jason Hartless filled in for Hayley Cramer during the first leg of the 2021 Versatile tour.
Let’s meet the band:
Leigh Kakaty – Lead Vocals (2001-present)
Dave Grahs – Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals (2001-present)
Nick Fuelling – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals (2012-present)
Hayley Cramer – Drums (2016-present)
My Thoughts:
Can you see why I love these guys so much. In their songs I think each of us can relate to one or more things. You know when you don’t listen to a band for awhile and then you hear one of their songs it just all comes flooding back to you and here you are listening to them all day again. If you ever have a chance to see them live do it, you won’t regret it.
That’s it for this week. Join me next week for another band and another song. In the meantime don’t stand to close to the fire if you can’t handle the burn…..
Please feel free to leave me a comment or question, I appreciate it HeadBangers: