Pop music is inherently upbeat and positive, so any group calling itself Pop Evil must be out to subvert some expectations. The Michigan hard rock band is no stranger to the kind of catchy hooks and slick production that marks pop music, but they combine that with heavy guitars and a bit of nasty attitude. Leigh Kakaty formed the band in Michigan in 2001, building up a regional independent following before signing with Universal for 2008 debut Lipstick in a Mirror.
That album spawned the hit single “100 in a 55,” and Pop Evil has been a steady presence on rock radio ever since, with songs like “Trenches,” “Deal With the Devil” and “Footsteps” all hitting the top of the Billboard rock charts. While electronic pop may have crowded rock music out of the mainstream, artists like Pop Evil are keeping the genre alive, taking musical cues from classic bands and reaching out to the dedicated rock fan base via social media and consistent touring. “We’re grateful that we’re able to play rock music in this generation, to be able to tour, and we wanted to be more positive about appreciating things we have,” Kakaty recently told rock website Loudwire. That’s not evil at all.
House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, 7 p.m. Jan. 31, $20 plus tax and fee, 18+. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
