Pop Evil Live at The Fine Line – Minneapolis MN – August 13th 2023

Pop Evil (with Eva Under Fire and Lines of Loyalty) – August 13, 2023 at The Fine Line, Minneapolis

When you take photos at as many concerts as I do, sometimes, I’ll admit it, you think, damn:  I’m tired!  Not sure I can handle another concert tonight!  I know … right??  Crazy!!  But that was going through my mind when I was getting ready to catch Pop Evil live.  They played along with Eva Under Fire and Lines of Loyalty at the Fine Line in Minneapolis.  I mean, I had just driven four hours round trip the night before.  That had been for Grand Funk Railroad and Jefferson Starship. Maybe I should have stayed home after all.  But then … the music started … It was then that I knew I was right where I needed to be that Sunday night!

The opening act was Lines of Loyalty, an energetic trio from Kenosha, WI, and my first time hearing these guys.  Their set was an up-tempo mix of their own, original music.  They played an awesome cover of Voodoo Child by Jimi Hendrix for good measure! Look for them on tour with Static X, Sevendust and Dope in October 2023.

Up next was a band that somehow, I’ve never seen or heard before.  That was Eva Under Fire.  How have I never heard them before??  I mean, I go to tons of rock concerts and festivals. I almost only listen to hard rock radio stations … how did I not know who they were??  Let me tell you.  I now most definitely know who they are!   WOW! From their first song, Comatose, I was hooked and so was the crowd.

Lead vocalist Eva Marie’s voice reminds me a little of Lzzy Hale from Halestorm with maybe a little deeper, fuller sound. Eva Under Fire’s set consisted of their own, instantly likeable music, with an outstanding cover of Journey’s Separate Ways in the middle that had the crowd singing along.  Consider me a new fan!  I can’t wait to see them again!

Next up:  Pop Evil!  As I mentioned, I’ve seen them at least a half dozen times previously, but no matter how many times you’ve seen this band, you never get tired of them!  Pop Evil also hails from Michigan (Muskegon) and has been together since 2001, so they now have quite the catalog of music to showcase at concerts.  At the Fine Line, they started strong with Paranoid from their latest album “Skeletons” and then moved through music spanning everything from hits like Deal With The Devil, Be Legendary and plenty of deep tracks as well.

One thing that was interesting as far as a performance is that the entire band (minus drummer Hayley Cramer) would exit the stage after each song, some synth tracks would play, and then the entire band would emerge back on the stage as they started the next song … really made for interesting transitions between tracks!  Lead singer Leigh Kakaty at one point mentioned to the crowd at the gig that after performing at so many big venues and festivals lately, he really appreciated playing at an intimate venue like the Fine Line.

After the main set wrapped, just Kakaty and lead guitarist Nick Fuelling came out for the start of the encore to perform an acoustic version of 100 in a 55, which was actually how the song was originally intended to be performed, according to Kakaty. I loved it!  I also loved that it was a four song encore, with Torn to Pieces, Trenches and wrapping with Breathe Again.

What a fantastic night for music … and I’m so glad I went!  And I will never think I am too tired for a concert again, especially if it’s Pop Evil and Eva Under Fire!

Review and photos by Jim Zons