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Nearly 25 years in, with eight studio albums and an impressive 22 Top 10 Mainstream Rock chart hits — eight of those No. 1 — Pop Evil is in an easy position to coast.
But frontman Leigh Kakaty says that’s the last thing the Muskegon-formed quintet wants to do.
“It’s always been about evolving, right?” says Kakaty, who along with guitarist Dave Grahs remains from Pop Evil’s original lineup. “It’s always been about the next thing and the next push, about our sound growing and doing what we can do to keep staying relevant.”
That, to Kakaty, means “getting more youthful” and bringing younger fans into Pop Evil’s orbit — which on its latest album “What Remains,” the group’s first with new drummer Blake Allison, inspired a heavier, more metal-leaning sound to complement Kataky’s lyrics about dark emotions he says have been “pent up” over the years.
“I think it’s always been there,” he says. “Pop Evil has always been between hard rock and metal music. We’ve flirted with it a bit. We’ve had songs like ‘Waking Lions’ and ‘Breathe Again,’ heavier songs that reached the top of the charts, but when we started out, radio wasn’t as heavy so that (influence) maybe got pushed away a little bit.
“As the years have gone on, radio’s gotten heavier. The kids want it heavier. Energy feeds on other energy, so it’s just inevitable we’d get (heavier). So we keep the tempos up, make sure the guitar tones are heavy, very riffy and upbeat, make sure people can bounce to it. It’s something we wanted to do for a long time.”
It’s certainly working. “What Remains’” title track continued Pop Evil’s streak and hit No. 4 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart. And with the album only six weeks old, Kakaty — who still resides in Grand Rapids — says the campaign is still in its very early days.
“We’re just gonna keep playing for the next year and a half,” he confirms. “We’re gonna push the album nonstop, tour, tour ’til we can’t anymore, then right back to the studio and just repeat. It’s a fun process nowadays ’cause everyone’s writing, everyone’s being creative. We just want to build on this catalog that we’re continuing to grow and add songs that can totally lift our live show and make a better experience for people to come see us.”
Pop Evil performs Saturday, May 10, at the Fillmore Detroit, 2115 Woodward Ave. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-5451 or thefillmoredetroit.com.
Other music events of note this weekend (all subject to change) include …
FRIDAY, MAY 9
• The Detroit Symphony Orchestra performs Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10 and two pieces by Prokofiev through Saturday, May 10 at Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Saturday’s show will stream live, for free, at 8 p.m. via the “Live From Orchestra Hall” series. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.
• R&B stars Tyrese, Kelly Price and Keke Wyatt offer a Pre-Mother’s Day R&B Jam at 8 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• The Dearborn Symphony presents “Orchestra Fantasia Favorites” at 7:30 p.m. at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave., Dearborn. 313-943-2354 or dearborntheater.com.
• DJ Kesswa and Donavan Glover play a closing party for Tiff Massey’s “7 Mile + Livernois: After Dark” exhibit at 6:30 p.m. at the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-833-7900 or dia.org.
• Japanese folk singer Ichiko Aoba plays at the Masonic Cathedral Theatre, 500 Temple St., Detroit. Doors at 6:30 p.m. 313-548-1320 or themasonic.com.
• The Miami synth-pop duo Magdalena Bay docks at Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.
• Three American Troubadours pays tribute to James Taylor, Carole King and Carly Simon at 8 p.m. at Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Road, Warren. 586-268-3200 or andiamoshowroom.com.
• The Chicago duo of Chris Jones and Don Stiernberg play bluegrass, folk and jazz at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.
• French rock quartet the Rasmus headlines the Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.
• Americana pop trio Trousdale supports its new “Growing Pains” album at El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-757-7942 or elclubdetroit.com.
• Henrik Shwarz, Mister Joshoda and DJ Sphinx team up for an official Movement festival pre-party at TV Lounge, 2548 Grand River Ave., Detroit. Doors at 9 p.m. paxahau.com.
• Mark Blomsteel & the Motor City Drive, SHU, Spellbound and more play the two stages at Michigan Music Fest XIV at 6 p.m. at the Diesel Concert Lounge, 33151 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield Township. 586-933-3503 or dieselconcerts.com.
• Soulection founder Joe Kay and Donovan Glover man the decks at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 9 p.m. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.
• Small’s Bar in Hamtramck presents a two-night Kat’s Fixation festival featuring Sk8nigs, Assemblage 23 and 12 other bands, plus five DJs, through Saturday, May 10. 10339 Conant, Hamtramck. Doors at 6 p.m. 313-873-1117 or smallsbardetroit.com.
• Marcus Elliott and his Broken Seeds Vol. II are in residence through Saturday, May 10 at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, 97 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe. 313-882-5399 or dirtydogjazz.com.
• The Johnny O’Neal Quartet plays four shows through Saturday, May 10 at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• Vlad’s Skeletal Circus, Bad Mouth, Devil Bat and Kat Steih & the Ferals play at 8 p.m. at the New Dodge Lounge, 8850 Jos Campau, Hamtramck. 313-638-1508 or thenewdodgelounge.com.
• Singer-songwriter Anne Hills presents an evening-with at 8 p.m. at the Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia. 734-436-6302 or trinityhousetheatre.org.
• The Roxy hosts a full slate of tributes this weekend, starting with Material Girls (Madonna, Lady Gaga, Adele, Cher) and continuing with The British Legends on Saturday, May 10 and Bayou County (Creedence Clearwater Revival) on Sunday, May ll. 401 Walnut Blvd., Rochester. 248-453-5285 or theroxyrochester.com.
• The duo Cousin Curtiss relates at 8 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.
• Pianist-bandleader Joey Alexander performs at 7 and 9:30 p.m. at the Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.
• Virtual: Unlimited Devotion, an all-star charity festival for the Grateful Dead’s Rex Foundation, takes place through Saturday, May 10 in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, and streams at 7:30 p.m. each night for subscribers to nugs.net.
• Virtual: Bassist Edea Owens and her band the Cookout stream live at 7:30 p.m. from Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club via veeps.com.
• Virtual: The band Goose streams its concerts through Saturday. May 10, in San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico, at 11:55 p.m. for subscribers to nugs.net.
SATURDAY, MAY 10
• Sturgill Simpson opens the metro area’s 2025 outdoor concert season when his Who The F••k Is Johnny Blue Skies tour stops at the Meadow Brook Amphitheatre on the campus of Oakland University, Rochester Hills. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• Detroit Opera premieres its run of “Central Park Five,” about the five men wrongfully accused and jailed for the 1989 attack on a female jogger in New York City’s Central Park at 7:30 p.m. at the Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway St., Detroit. It repeats at 7:30 p.m. May 16 and 2:30 p.m. May 18. 313-237-7464 or detroitopera.org.
• Swedish-American EDM hero Liquid Stranger tops a five-act electronic bill at the Masonic Temple Theatre, 500 Temple St., Detroit. Doors at 8 p.m. 313-548-1320 or themasonic.com.
• Ministry, Nitzer Ebb and Die Krupps offer an industrial-strength triple-header at the Masonic Cathedral Theatre, 500 Temple St., Detroit. Doors at 6:30 p.m. 313-548-1320 or themasonic.com.
• Lalah Hathaway presents her brand of blues and R&B at 8 p.m. at Sound Board in the MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit. 800-745-3000 or soundboarddetroit.com.
• Veteran British singer-songwriter Frank Turner brings his act to El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit. Doors at 7:30 p.m. 313-757-7942 or elclubdetroit.com.
• Winged Wheel and Dick Texas are on stage at 7 p.m. at Third Man Records, 441 W. Canfield St., Detroit. 313-209-5205 or thirdmanrecords.com.
• Acraze, Versace James, Dino Munaco and Gina Maria team up for an official Movement festival pre-party at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 9 p.m. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.
• Massachusetts metal group Converge tops a seven-band bill at Lincoln Factory, 1331 Holden St., Detroit. Doors at 5 p.m. thelincolnfactory.com or thecrofoot.com.
• Aretha’s Jazz Jam takes place in Aretha’s Jazz Cafe inside Music Hall Center, 350 Madison Ave, Detroit. 313-887-8500 or musichall.org.
• Taylor Derousse will be on stage at the Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.
• Jennifer Westwood and the Handsome Devils play an unplugged show at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.
• The Chicago emo trio Pet Symmetry shares a bill with Pony and Jimmy Montague at the Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff, Hamtramck. Doors at 6 p.m. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.
• Spencer LaJoye and Sammie Hershock team up at 8 p.m. at the Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia. 734-436-6302 or trinityhousetheatre.org.
• Re-Cure pays tribute to the Cure at the Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-544-1991 or themagicbag.com.
• The New York-based Nefesh Mountain climbs into Ann Arbor for an 8 p.m. show at The Ark, 316 S. Main St. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.
• Pianist Lisa Sung and her Quartet are on stage at 6:30 and 9 p.m. at the Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.
• Virtual: “The Judd Family: Truth Be Told,” a four-part miniseries, begins airing at 8 p.m. on Lifetime.
• Virtual: Arcade Fire promotes its new album, “Pink Elephant,” as the musical guest on this week’s episode of “Saturday Night Live” at 11:30 p.m. on NBC (WDIV, Channel 4 in Detroit). Actor Walton Goggins (“White Lotus,’ “The Righteous Gemstones”) hosts.
SUNDAY, MAY 11
• Gospel stars Marvin Winans, Marvin Sapp, Jekalyn Carr and more perform for a Mother’s Day Celebration at 6 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• Ten of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Youth Ensembles will showcase at 1 p.m. at Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.
• The idiosyncratic Brooklyn indie group Lucius celebrates its self-titled fifth album at the Majestic Theatre, 4140 Woodward Ave. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Victoria Canal opens. 313-833-9700 or majesticdetroit.com.
• Alt-rock singer-songwriter MJ Lenderman and his band the Wind perform at the Masonic Temple Theatre, 500 Temple St., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. This Is Lorelei opens. 313-548-1320 or themasonic.com.
• Guitar great Jimmy Vivino plus in at 7:30 p.m. at the Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Road, Westland. 734-513-5030 or tokenlounge.com.
• R&B/pop singer Raveena (nee Aurora) performs at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. Renao opens. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.
• The Los Angeles indie rock trio Cheekface turns the other at El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-757-7942 or elclubdetroit.com.
• Sir Woman brings its Album Release Tour 69 to the Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. Oh He Dead and Niko Noir also perform. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.
• Bassist Gwenyth Hayes and her band play Mother’s Day dinner shows at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• Flutist Alexander Zonjic & Friends gather at 7 p.m. at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.
• Singer-songwriters Micah Schnabel and Vanessa Jean Speckman bring a full band to the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. Glencoe and Maggie May also perform. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.
• Nashville troubadour Josh Radnor plays at 7:30 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.
• The La Tanya Hall Trio hosts Mother’s Day Brunch shows at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.
