Pop Evil drops a new album and launches the Skeletons Tour on their home turf for the music-loving metalheads of the mighty mitten.
History is made as Michigan’s metal-making group from greater Grand Rapids, Pop Evil, drops their seventh studio album Skeletons on day one of their North American Skeletons Tour. The very next day, the lucky ducks of Motown get a double dose of Evil, with a second Michigan date in Royal Oak (a trendy little burb just outside of the D). Our venue for the gala is none other than the prestigious Royal Oak Music Theatre where Pop Evil celebrates their second consecutive sold-out night in a row. Michiganders love our PE and will travel across the state (despite the sub-zero wind chills and snowstorm conditions) just to spend the night with the big Evil. This crispy, single-digit Saturday night is no different as hundreds of evil fans brave the Michigan elements. Standing in a wrap around the building line complete with snowflakes and bone-chilling winds to gain access to the musical oasis ahead. Meanwhile, within the confines of this prestigious music venue, the stage has been set for tonight’s hurrah… with a massive centerstage platform riser that displays the word “Skeletons” and armed with massive laser light cannons and various assorted implements of rock ‘n’ roll debauchery. Fast forward to game time…
9:30 PM and our frosty fans are now packed cozily into a standing room only venue heated by the good time vibes of this capacity crowd. The happy horde is greeted by local celebrity, radio DJ, Meltdown of WRIF 101 FM. He welcomes the troops to the “Official after Saint Paddy’s Day, blowout bash” and proceeds to give Pop Evil a warm welcome of appreciation while talking about the band’s rise to fame amidst other great Detroit bands. The crowd responds with a roar of agreement as Meltdown leaves the stage and the lights go black in a brief intermission of darkness. Anticipatory silence has been broken and the fans go on high alert as our audience angst is augmented while the auspicious audio of “The Arrival” begins to assault this arena-like atmosphere.
The intro plays out and we can see the silhouette of a long-haired lass mount the throne of the 10-foot high drum riser as four shadowy specters glide across the stage to take their places for blast off. BOOM!!! The blazing stage lights ignite the fumes of anticipation, and now standing on the center stage riser is Pop Evil frontman, Leigh Kakaty. Surrounded by the other members of Pop Evil, the band fires into the debut single from the new album “Paranoid (Crash & Burn).” The sound is HUGE… the guitars grind and crunch, and you can feel that kick drum rumble right down to your very soul. Pop Evil rolls out “Let the Chaos Reign” and “Deal with the Devil” next. A quick pause and Kakaty extends greetings to his fellow Michiganders, thanking them all for coming out tonight and supporting the new record. PE gets back to business with “Set Me Free,” “Worse in Me,” and the thought-provoking “Circles.”
The third single from Skeletons, “Dead Reckoning” featuring a guest spot by Ryan Kirby of the metal-core band Fit For a King rolls out next and is received well by the fans. Hayley Cramer, sitting high above her personal Mount Olympus begins hurling thunderbolts and lightning from her kit of fury as she doubles down on the track’s heavy backbeat while keeping the grove tight and in the pocket (alongside new bassist extraordinaire Joey “Chicago “Walser).
Pop Evil keeps the night’s energy high with “Work,” “Eye of the Storm,” and the title track “Skeletons.” Crowd favorites “Footsteps” and “Waking Lions” are next in the set and Kakaty’s pipes prove powerful and on point as he dishes the night’s Evil lyrics. PE treats the home team to a threesome encore including “Torn to Pieces,” their uber-mega-ultra hit “Trenches,” and closing the night out with a smoking XL version of “Breathe Again.”
Pop Evil is a Loud Hailer recommended concert experience that is pure adrenaline from start to finish! Be sure to catch Pop Evil on their Skeletons Tour now… and in many days to come. Check the band’s official website for news, details, and concert updates. While you are there, don’t forget to grab your copy of the new release Skeletons (also available in a very cool, slime-green vinyl).
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