Pop Evil Concert Review with Them Evils, Seldom Told and Don Jamieson
Monarch Music Hall
February 9, 2019
Peoria, Illinois

 

Seldom Told took the stage early. The band is from Northwest Indiana. It consists of lead vocalist Mira Faris, lead guitarist Austin Faris, drummer Kyle Lewandowski, bassist Derek Kalicky- Bass, rhythm guitarist Chase Hayes. Their songs were of a modern rock band in the same vein as Pop Evil. They had a solid set but did not really grab the audience. Then Seldom Told took on a cover of ‘Welcome to The Jungle’ by Guns n’ Roses. While you have to give them compliments for being gutsy enough to even try to perform that song, it was a bit like listening to sober karoake. Then they performed a song called ‘Nightmare’ and it blew the fans away. It was along the lines of Epica or Nightwish good. Hopefully, the band will continue to explore that sound.

 

 

 

 

Next to burn up the stage was Them Evils. The band from Huntington Beach California has been around the area before on a tour with 10 Years. You will instantly like them from first listen. They have that timeless rock star look with long hair, t-shirts, leather jacket, and jeans. The Rock music scene has been clamoring after Greta Van Fleet but they should be following Them Evils everywhere. Their sound is more similar to the blues rock of Led Zeppelin. That being said they also performed a cover of “Rock’n Roll Part 2” and a cover of “Dirty Deeds” by AC/DC that was fantastic also. They also performed their hit, “Got Me Rockin'” that your body starts to move to no matter what you are doing.

While their talent of vocals and screaming riffs are extraordinary, the most important takeaway from their live performance is that they are having fun playing music. If you needed to make a movie about the 70s, this should be the band to play the music. They have honed their live show to be impressive over the years.

 

For everything about Them Evils go to their website: Them Evils
 

Comedian, Don Jamieson performed a short set. Don Jamieson was on a show called That Metal Show on VH1 Classic from 2008 to 2015 where he, Eddie Trunk and Jim Florentine talked about metal music. Mainly, it was about bands they liked and grew up with. Unfortunately, his comedy set was unrelatable in a lot of ways. His antiquated idea that being p.c.(politically correct) is bad. I put rock and metal fans into one of the most diverse and welcoming of any fans. His funniest jokes were the self-deprecating ones.

Pop Evil was the main event. The band is from Muskegon, Michigan and have been around for eleven years. In that time, they have had hits with “Trenches”, “100 in a 55”, “Monster You Made”, “Deal With The Devil”, “Torn To Pieces”, and “Waking Lions” They always add in parts of cover songs to their sets. This time it was “Bodies”(Drowning Pool) and “Eye of The Tiger” (Survivor) and an explanation of a full song they were going to cover because it means a lot to them. That cover was “I Alone” by Live. Live is out on tour this year and is going to make an appearance at Inkcarceration Festival in Mansfield, Ohio.

Leigh Kakaty and the band made it a point to thank the fans for decade of rock. When the phrase was uttered a few years ago ‘Rock is Dead’, the fans and the artists are the ones who continue the legacy of rock. So please go out and be rock and metal crusaders and support good rock artists.

A little girl who was about seven brought a sign to the show and the band brought Chelsea onstage.
She got her picture taken with each band member and they signed her sign. She was one lucky girl.

Toward the end of the evening, it felt like vocalist, Leigh Kakaty’s voice was not quite as strong as it normally is. Whether that was from the smoke machines onstage, the polar weather, or a cold or all three we do not know. The smoke machines can go away as far as the photojournalists are concerned. For their final song, “Trenches” they brought Them Evils and Don Jamieson onto the stage to all perform. It was a jam-packed night and the crowd disbursed to spread the message of rock and metal.

 

Pop Evil’s Website: https://popevil.com/