Detroit based rock band Pop Evil have a lot of reasons to feel “Up” in 2016.
Their fourth CD, fittingly titled “Up” has spawned hit singles “Footsteps,” “In Disarray” and “Ways to Get High.” And in May they welcomed a new drummer Haley Cramer to the fold.
They return to Lethbridge to play Average Joes, July 28 with Akron, Ohio’s Red Sun Rising.
“It’s been wonderful. We’ve enjoyed some time at home for the fourth of July, but we’re back on the road touring in a week,” said Kingston, Ontario born frontman Leigh Kakaty, who has called Detroit home for many years.
“We’re road dogs. We’ll play anywhere people want to hear us ” Kakaty continued.
Even a prison. In addition to several festivals, a couple shows with Everlast and a big tour of Europe with Three Doors Down in August and September, they are playing the Ohio State Prison.
“We don’t know what to expect. So we’re pretty excited to see what will happen. Our booking agent booked that for us. But we would have played a prison anyway. It’s going to be exciting,” he said.
He is excited to welcome drummer Haley Cramer aboard, even though it means extra paperwork in order for her to come over from the United Kingdom to play with the band.
“I never knew I wanted a sister and now I have one,” he said.
“It’s been great. She adds a different dynamic to the band. It‘s been like she’s always been with us,” he continued, adding she fits in with the direction the band is going. When former drummer Josh “Chachi Riot” Marunde decided to leave the band earlier this year to be closer to his family, they embarked on a search for a female drummer because they wanted to try one.
“We’ve definitely got a lot more more tame now. We’re more focussed on our careers and focusing on longevity,” he said.
He noted it was also the right time for a more positive outlook for the band’s new CD.
“The last CD ‘Onyx’ was just so dark. My father died. There was a lot of anger and soul searching It was so negative. But we started playing rock and roll to have a good time, not to fight anybody. The grass is greener so we wanted to focus on that a little more,” he said.
He said the band hasn’t started the writing process for the next album, but they are excited to begin working with Cramer.
“It’s been a long road for the band. We’re excited to work with her and see what she brings to the table,” he said.
For now, they just want to play in front of as many people as they can.
“We’re open 24-7. We’re working hard behind the scenes to play for as many people as possible, whether a headlining show for 300 people or opening for a bigger band or a festival. I wish there was something more important to tell you. And if you have friends, bring them along. If you haven’t seen us, come. It’s going to be a great show,” he said, adding he would like to play Canada more.
“ I’m from Kingston, so Canada is close to my heart. I’d love to do a Vancouver to Halifax tour, but nothing has been booked yet,” he said.
“So we’ll play Canada in chunks whenever we can,” Kakaty continued.
“We‘re a touring band and that’s not for every band. Music is a community.”
Last year they played Lethbridge at the last minute as the Tail Creek Music Festival in Edmonton, where the band was booked, got cancelled due to rain.
“So we got to play Lethbridge and we got to play a full set, so it worked out. We got to play lots of new material and everybody was singing along from the first note to the last word, so that was amazing,” Kakaty recalled.
The show, which also features Red Sun Rising at 8:30 p.m. is at Average Joes.
Tickets cost $25 in advance, $30 at the door.
