LIVE: POP EVIL– August 3, 2017

Venue: The Machine Shop

City: Flint, MI

Date: August 3, 2017

Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com)

I love going to The Machine Shop to catch a show.  There is something about the iconic venue that makes a concert a little more special than other concert places.  When the show is a sold-out show, there is definitely an extra buzz in the room as the evening culminates in the headliner taking the stage.  If it is the first of TWO sold out shows, the anticipation is even greater.  If you toss in the fact that the band headlining tonight is Michigan-based Pop Evil, you have the makings for a perfect storm of rock and roll.

When the moment came for the band to play for their fans, the audience was beyond ready.  As each member of the band hit the stage and took their respective spots, the cheers from the crowd grew.  As the lights came up and the music kicked in, there was no doubt why The Machine Shop was sold out – these guys (and girl) came to rock with their friends.  As the opening track “Trenches” filled the sound system, the band was firing on all engines and ready to deliver a killer performance.  With each song, the intensity built and the energy never subsided, even when the tempo or pace slowed.  A cool kicker in the beginning of the set was a cover of the Survivor classic “Eye Of The Tiger.”  The twin guitars of Davey Grahs and Nick Fuelling gave each air guitarist in the place licks and riffs to dig into with songs like “Last Man Standing” and “Monster You Made.”  Pulling songs from their latest release and others from deeper in their catalog, the setlist was a great mix that well represented the bands sound.  Bassist Matt DiRito roamed the stage… hell – he ran around from left to right, front to back, and would have scaled the walls and ceiling if possible.  His smile was as infectious as his serious face as he helped anchor the bottom end of the bands songs.  Frontman Leigh Kakaty did what he does best – sang his ass off and engaged the fans song after song.  From the first track on, he was riding the rail at the front of the as if ready to surf across the audience to thank each and every person in the venue for coming out on a Thursday night.  Not to be outdone by anyone’s performance or energy, drummer Hayley Cramer kept time as songs shifted in sound and tempo – while providing a wall of hair and arms that poked out from atop her kit. Each person on stage had as much fun as the crowd that packed the venue.  The smiles, energy, and excitement ebbed and flowed from the stage to the audience and back again.  If you want to see a great rock show, go see Pop Evil when they roll through your town.  If you want to see a FUN rock show, be sure to check them out at The Machine Shop next time they pop in for a sold out show or two.

[Show as slideshow]

Complete set of POP EVIL show photos HERE

Setlist: Trenches – Last Man Standing – Eye of the Tiger – Boss’s Daughter – Ghost of Muskegon – Torn to Pieces – Ways to Get High – Divide – Lux – Deal With the Devil – Vendetta – Monster You Made – If Only for Now – Behind Closed Doors – Hero – 100 in a 55 – Footsteps – Take It All

POP EVIL LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries