Pop Evil
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ARTIST PROFILE | Pop Evil
Passion. Dedication. Fortitude. Leigh Kakaty is the embodiment of these three qualities, and for good measure, too. For two decades, he has needed to mine the deepest of reserves in order to drag Pop Evil up from the blue-collar grassroots of the band’s local Michigan scene to stand proud at the top of the modern rock game. Soaring successes, bitter defeats… Leigh Kakaty has stood face-to-face with it all along the way. Leigh Kakaty has survived it all.
What Remains, the band’s eighth full-length album, is the culmination and story of this journey with Pop Evil, laid bare like never before. Continuing in the recent vein of 2023’s acclaimed Skeletons album, What Remains is both sonically and thematically Pop Evil’s heaviest ever offering; a thundering collection of arena-ready modern rock and metal hits in which Kakaty opens heart, mind and soul – pulling no punches and taking no prisoners in doing so.
“There are a lot of issues and things that I’ve dealt with in this journey of Pop Evil that I’ve buried for a long time,” the frontman explains of this document of resilience, perseverance and accountability.
Pop Evil was born in North Muskegon, Michigan in 2001, Kakaty drawing on the lessons of a youth first shaped not by music, but by high school basketball – leadership, team work, the drive to improve in the lonely hours put in at the gym at 5am, the will to win suppressing any fear of defeat – in order to fight tooth and nail for their break-out moment.
“I was hustling and learning every day to make my dreams come true,” Kakaty recalls of his time playing local bars and slinging early EPs out of the back of his truck. “Studying never interested me. Neither did getting a regular job. A knee injury wrecked my shot at playing sports. Music was all I wanted to do from that moment, and I didn’t give myself a backup plan. Pop Evil gave me a purpose, and a reason to get up every day. It became a crusade.”
Lipstick On The Mirror, their 2008 debut, and its follow-up War Of Angels brought acclaim and global attention; 2013’s Onyx delivered the first of the band’s nine No.1 singles and six RIAA-certified gold and platinum plaques, but also a period of darkness brought on by the grief of Kakaty losing his father. “I was completely lost … I had just missed the last five years with my dad, chasing this dream when I could have been with him. I didn’t know if I wanted or could do Pop Evil any more,” Kakaty admits today. The band’s 2017 self-titled album, opened by the smash-hit “Waking Lions”, was written “pretty much to save my life” – but in turn “reminded me of the fire I have inside, and that God put me here to make music that could help people.”
It’s a mission statement enshrined in Pop Evil to this day – and which provided the spark for the genesis of What Remains.
“You’re always chasing that one song that can connect with that one person,” Kakaty says. “And that process has to start with yourself. There’s a lot of personal healing on this record, a lot of things I wanted to get out for my own mental well-being. I’m finally at a place where I can confront my demons.”
For Kakaty, that one song is What Remains’ title track. Produced by Wage War’s Cody Quistad, the track began life with the chorus’ opening words: “I never meant to hurt you / violence, my only virtue”. “I was writing those lyrics to everyone that has been a part of the Pop Evil journey, inside and around the band, but also to myself,” Kakaty says.
“It felt like an enormous weight was lifting, and those two lines led to some powerful and personal healing. When we had that song, the vision for the album came into focus immediately. It’s an introspective collection of chapters in my journey, and what I’ve been through to reach where I and Pop Evil is today. It’s everything I’ve never known how or felt able to say – until now.”
It should come as no surprise, then, that What Remains runs the full gamut of emotions. Opener “When Bullets Miss” is a defiant war cry aimed at those who have sought to take their pound of flesh – or worse – across the past two decades. “Knife For The Butcher” and “Wishful Thinking” take a hard look at how the source of trauma and the road to recovery often begins within. “Side Effects” ruminates on how “sometimes the best things in life are hard to attain until you rid yourself of things weighing you down”. “Criminal”, meanwhile, is an ode to trusting your own instincts and “following your own path” – regardless of outside opinion.
Elsewhere, “Overkill” and “Death Walk” find Kakaty in a nakedly introspective mood, the former seeing the vocalist confront a deep-rooted depression from which he’ s run for too long, and the latter unpacking a new perspective on questions of mortality and legacy. “It’s a theme that I relate to in my personal life and through the lens of Pop Evil,” Kakaty says. “Your perspective on life changes through experience. We’re all on our death walk, but that doesn’t have to be scary. Once you embrace the inevitability of it, you start living in a different way – you’re liberated from fear, and are free to find the best version of yourself and the best version of your life. That’s what a lot of the process of this album has been for me.
“I feel like I am now the best version of myself as a creator, as a musician, as a writer, than I have ever been,” he adds. “I can see and feel the growth in me, because I’m constantly trying to push myself into areas where I feel uncomfortable.”
Sonically, What Remains finds Pop Evil – completed by guitarists Dave Grahs and Nick Fuelling, bassist Joey “Chicago” Walser, and newly minted drummer Blake Allison – in career-best form. The album is a riotous explosion of life-affirming noise; a vortex of scything riffs and gut-punch drum beats that regularly give way to Pop Evil’s hallmark anthemic choruses. The 10 tracks occupy territory that will be at once immediately familiar to the Pop Evil family, but that has been refreshed and re-energized with help from production from longtime collaborator Drew Fulk (Disturbed, Knocked Loose), the aforementioned Quistad, plus Zach Jones (Fever 333, Maggie Lindemann) and KJ Strock (Ice Nine Kills, Motionless In White), and the Sparrow Sound team of Joe McQueen and Spiritbox bassist Josh Gilbert (Bad Wolves, As I Lay Dying).
“We set out to push boundaries,” nods Kakaty. “Metal has always been a part of our DNA, but we’ve never made it such a focal point before. A lot of writing on this record has been about listening to what my soul is saying and letting the songs find their own path, rather than chasing a sound that might fit in on the radio. I think you can really hear the mood and emotion of the album’ s themes in the music.”
What Remains is the culmination of everything Leigh Kakaty has fought for his entire life. It’s the dismantling of the armor he has adorned to survive the journey along the way. It’s the reckoning with the man he was yesterday, the man he has become today, and the man he strives to be tomorrow. It is at once the complete Pop Evil story writ large, and its definitive release.
“No matter how difficult the hard times you face are, what remains when you make it to the other side is who you are, and it’s your story,” Kakaty says. “It’s not always going to be written the way you want it to be, and it won’t always be pretty, but you hold the power to define the next chapter.”
READ MORE >>Supporting Acts
SHOW BY SIMILAR ARTISTS
About HI-FI | Indianapolis, IN
HI-FI is located inside the historic Murphy Arts Center in the heart of Fountain Square. HI-FI hosts shows virtually every night of the week and is known for finding new artists on the rise. The venue is acoustically one of the best sounding venues in the Midwest. The entrance is located at the front of the building on Virginia Ave and the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.
Getting Around the Venue
Frequently Asked Questions About HI-FI | Indianapolis, IN
What are the age restrictions at this venue?
Most of our gigs are open to those of all ages, though there are a few exceptions. Double-check our website for specific age requirements before getting your tickets. We’ve made it super easy to spot the age restrictions on each event listing.
If you are going to indulge in a seating upgrade in our VIP area, all guests must be 21 years of age or older.
HI-FI requires a valid ID for admission. For guests who will be consuming alcoholic beverages, a valid state or government issues ID is required. Everyone will be carded during check-in. Expired and temporary ID’s are not accepted.
Can I upgrade my to VIP seating?
HI-FI proudly offers our VIP Deck, situated at the rear of the venue. This elevated section features table seating and provides convenient access to the bar. Please be advised that all guests in this area must be 21 years of age or older. For seating upgrade inquiries, please contact the box office at boxoffice@hifiindy.com
What items are permitted or prohibited at this venue?
At our venues, we strive to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all guests. While specific rules may vary slightly depending on the event location, the following list generally applies across all venues.
Any illegal items found will be confiscated immediately. Guests discovered with prohibited items inside the venue may face ejection, and those attempting to enter with such items may be denied entry.
We appreciate your cooperation in adhering to these guidelines to ensure everyone’s safety and enjoyment during our events.
Permitted Items Include:
- All bags and possessions are subject to search and may be subject to metal detection. No backpacks are permitted at any of our venues.
- Clear tote or bag made from plastic, vinyl or PVC that does not exceed 14” x 14” in size.
- Personal purse, fanny pack or handbag so long as it does not exceed 14” x 14” in size
- A warm heart and smiles
Prohibited items include:
- Weapons of any kind: Firearms (with or without permit), knives (any size), multi-tools
- Pepper Spray or Mace
- Flares or Fireworks
- Oversized bags (Bag larger than 12” x 12”, including all backpacks, briefcases, luggage, or duffle bags)
- Illegal Substances
- Outside Beverages
- Laser Pointers
- Removable lens cameras or flash photography, tripods, monopods, selfie-sticks (unless pre-approved by Event Manager)
- Audio or Video recording devices (unless pre-approved by Event Manager)
- Signs larger than 11” x 17” or any sign attached to a stick or pole
- Skateboards, hoverboards, rollerblades, scooters, or bicycles
- Hula hoops, spray paint, silly string
- Noise Making devices (i.e. Air Horns, drums, whistles)
- Coolers or Ice Chests
- Animals/Pets (Except Service Animals)
HI-FI reserves the right to prohibit any item, including items not listed above, from entering the premises if deemed hazardous or disruptive to the event.
Can I bring a bag into the show?
Yes! You’re welcome to bring personal purse, fanny pack or handbag so long as it does not exceed 14” x 14” in size. No backpacks are permitted at any time.
What’s the parking situation like?
Depending on the day and time, finding a spot can be tricky. On busy show days we advise arriving early to ensure you get a good spot.
We’re excited to announce our partnership with LAZ Parking to offer pre-paid parking options for HI-FI and HI-FI Annex events. The lot is conveniently located directly next to HI-FI Annex, in the former PNC Bank parking lot. Check here for parking availability ahead of your show.
Parking is free on all of the surrounding streets in Fountain Square and most parking lots.
We advise against traveling down St. Patrick St on show days, as it can become congested one-way with traffic coming from both directions.
Bike parking is available at any of the bike racks on Virginia Ave in front of HI-FI.
What is the camera/photo policy for this venue?
Our photo policy varies for each event and is at the discretion of the artist performing that night. This policy can change from night to night.
As a general guideline, we typically do not permit professional photography unless it has been pre-approved by either HI-FI or the Artist Management.
For approved photographers, you’re welcome to snap photos during the first three songs of the performance. However, please refrain from using flash.
Media personnel and professional photographers interested in covering our events can reach out to us at marketing@hifiindy.com to request media credentials.
Is there food and drink at this venue?
Absolutely! You can grab some chips, candy, or snacks at HI-FI’s bar.
View seating maps for this venue
Check your show listing for information on the show’s seating configuration. The majority of HI-FI shows are general admission, standing-room-only. Depending on the show, there are a handful of tables available to those who arrive early. There is a limited amount of seating upgrades available on the VIP deck. Contact the box office to secure a seating upgrade for your show at boxoffice@hifiindy.com. Shows that are reserved or partially reserved seating configurations will have information or purchase options directly on the event listing.
Can I leave and re-enter the venue?
Re-entry is allowed for HI-FI shows once you’ve been stamped or wristbanded by a member of our staff.
Do you offer ADA, handicap or special needs options?
There are 2 handicapped parking spots in the lot located across Prospect St. closest to El Arado Mexican Grill. The box office handles any special needs or ADA seating requests at boxoffice@hifiindy.com.
Where is the box office located?
Getting tickets to our shows is super easy! You have a few options, depending on how you like to roll:
Online: Grab your tickets in advance from our official websites, hifiindy.com and mokbpresents.com, or through our trusted ticketing partner tixr.com.
In Person: Swing by one of our convenient box office locations around the Murphy Arts Center building and grab tickets with no service fees:
HI-FI Box Office: Found at 1043 Virginia Ave Suite 4 (at the main entrance to HI-FI). Open only on show nights, starting 1 hour before published show times until 10 pm.
Annex Box Office: Found at 1065 St. Patrick Street (at the main entrance to Annex). Open only on show nights, starting 1 hour before published show times until 9 pm.
I lost something at the show. Who do I contact?
Have you misplaced something during one of our events? Don’t worry, we’re here to help reunite you with your belongings! While we can’t take responsibility for lost or stolen items, we’re committed to assisting you in any way we can.
Found items are securely stored at our office until they’re claimed. Please note that items lost during late-night events might take until the next morning to reach our lost and found. We know you might be eager to retrieve your belongings (like that phone you’re pinging outside our door at 6 am), but our team typically wraps up late-night events and may not be available until later in the morning.
To inquire about lost items, shoot us an email at boxoffice@hifiindy.com. Found items can be picked up in our Office (Suite 2) Monday – Fridays 10am – 6pm. Guests may be required to provide identification or another form of verification to claim their items.
Let’s work together to get your goods back to you as quickly as possible!
What is your refund policy?
What’s Your Refund Policy for Postponed Shows?
If a show gets postponed, don’t sweat it! We’ll shoot you an email to let you know about the change, and if you’re cool with the new date, no further action is needed on your part.We’ll be working diligently to find a new date for the show, and we’ll keep you updated every step of the way. But if you can’t make it to the rescheduled gig, we’ve got your back. You’ll have a generous 30-day window following the announcement of the new date to request a refund.
For those who paid with cash at our box office, just drop us a line at boxoffice@hifiindy.com for further instructions on processing your refund.
Please bear with us as we explore rescheduling options with the tour. Your patience is much appreciated as we work to present the best possible show experience for you.
What’s the Refund Policy for Canceled Shows?
In the unfortunate event of a canceled show, don’t fret! If you purchased your tickets online, your refund will be processed automatically. Just sit tight and allow 3-5 business days for the refund to appear in your bank account.
No need to lift a finger! However, there are a few scenarios where you might need to reach out to our box office:
- If you paid cash at our box office.
- If you’ve received a new or different card since your original purchase.
- If you haven’t seen the refund in your account after 5 business days.
What Happens if a Show Gets Rescheduled?
No worries! If a show you’ve already grabbed tickets for gets rescheduled, your tickets will still be valid for the new date. We’ll shoot you an email to let you know about the change, and if you’re good to go for the new date, no further action is needed on your part.
However, if you can’t make it to the rescheduled gig, we’ve got you covered. You’ll have a generous 30 days from the announcement of the new date to request a refund. Just reach out directly to our box office to kickstart the process.
Beware of counterfeit tickets. How do I tell if my ticket is valid?
It’s crucial for all buyers to exercise caution when purchasing tickets from unauthorized sites and ticket resellers. Tixr is the only ticket vendor supported at our venues. Unfortunately, this is a widespread issue affecting venues nationwide, and true fans often find themselves at a loss. Regrettably, there’s little we can do in such situations. Since the original transaction didn’t occur through our authorized ticketing partners, we lack the necessary information to assist. It’s disheartening to witness fans being taken advantage of, especially on platforms like Craigslist, Facebook, StubHub, VividSeats, SeatGeek, and others. We are only obligated to honor valid tickets purchased through our approved channels.
Can I purchase tickets in person without fees?
Yes. HI-FI box office is located at the main entrance off of Virginia Avenue. The box office is open 1 hour prior to the published door time. Additionally, our Annex Box Office on St. Patrick Street, across from the church, is also open 1 hour prior to the published door time on Annex show nights. HI-FI accepts cash as well as all major credit cards for ticket purchases.
Do you have free WI-FI?
Yes. HI-FI offers free WI-FI during all shows. Simply select the HI-FI Free WI-FI network and you are all set!
Pop Evil
Start Time: 8:00 pm
What Remains Tour
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ARTIST PROFILE | Pop Evil
Passion. Dedication. Fortitude. Leigh Kakaty is the embodiment of these three qualities, and for good measure, too. For two decades, he has needed to mine the deepest of reserves in order to drag Pop Evil up from the blue-collar grassroots of the band’s local Michigan scene to stand proud at the top of the modern rock game. Soaring successes, bitter defeats… Leigh Kakaty has stood face-to-face with it all along the way. Leigh Kakaty has survived it all.
What Remains, the band’s eighth full-length album, is the culmination and story of this journey with Pop Evil, laid bare like never before. Continuing in the recent vein of 2023’s acclaimed Skeletons album, What Remains is both sonically and thematically Pop Evil’s heaviest ever offering; a thundering collection of arena-ready modern rock and metal hits in which Kakaty opens heart, mind and soul – pulling no punches and taking no prisoners in doing so.
“There are a lot of issues and things that I’ve dealt with in this journey of Pop Evil that I’ve buried for a long time,” the frontman explains of this document of resilience, perseverance and accountability.
Pop Evil was born in North Muskegon, Michigan in 2001, Kakaty drawing on the lessons of a youth first shaped not by music, but by high school basketball – leadership, team work, the drive to improve in the lonely hours put in at the gym at 5am, the will to win suppressing any fear of defeat – in order to fight tooth and nail for their break-out moment.
“I was hustling and learning every day to make my dreams come true,” Kakaty recalls of his time playing local bars and slinging early EPs out of the back of his truck. “Studying never interested me. Neither did getting a regular job. A knee injury wrecked my shot at playing sports. Music was all I wanted to do from that moment, and I didn’t give myself a backup plan. Pop Evil gave me a purpose, and a reason to get up every day. It became a crusade.”
Lipstick On The Mirror, their 2008 debut, and its follow-up War Of Angels brought acclaim and global attention; 2013’s Onyx delivered the first of the band’s nine No.1 singles and six RIAA-certified gold and platinum plaques, but also a period of darkness brought on by the grief of Kakaty losing his father. “I was completely lost … I had just missed the last five years with my dad, chasing this dream when I could have been with him. I didn’t know if I wanted or could do Pop Evil any more,” Kakaty admits today. The band’s 2017 self-titled album, opened by the smash-hit “Waking Lions”, was written “pretty much to save my life” – but in turn “reminded me of the fire I have inside, and that God put me here to make music that could help people.”
It’s a mission statement enshrined in Pop Evil to this day – and which provided the spark for the genesis of What Remains.
“You’re always chasing that one song that can connect with that one person,” Kakaty says. “And that process has to start with yourself. There’s a lot of personal healing on this record, a lot of things I wanted to get out for my own mental well-being. I’m finally at a place where I can confront my demons.”
For Kakaty, that one song is What Remains’ title track. Produced by Wage War’s Cody Quistad, the track began life with the chorus’ opening words: “I never meant to hurt you / violence, my only virtue”. “I was writing those lyrics to everyone that has been a part of the Pop Evil journey, inside and around the band, but also to myself,” Kakaty says.
“It felt like an enormous weight was lifting, and those two lines led to some powerful and personal healing. When we had that song, the vision for the album came into focus immediately. It’s an introspective collection of chapters in my journey, and what I’ve been through to reach where I and Pop Evil is today. It’s everything I’ve never known how or felt able to say – until now.”
It should come as no surprise, then, that What Remains runs the full gamut of emotions. Opener “When Bullets Miss” is a defiant war cry aimed at those who have sought to take their pound of flesh – or worse – across the past two decades. “Knife For The Butcher” and “Wishful Thinking” take a hard look at how the source of trauma and the road to recovery often begins within. “Side Effects” ruminates on how “sometimes the best things in life are hard to attain until you rid yourself of things weighing you down”. “Criminal”, meanwhile, is an ode to trusting your own instincts and “following your own path” – regardless of outside opinion.
Elsewhere, “Overkill” and “Death Walk” find Kakaty in a nakedly introspective mood, the former seeing the vocalist confront a deep-rooted depression from which he’ s run for too long, and the latter unpacking a new perspective on questions of mortality and legacy. “It’s a theme that I relate to in my personal life and through the lens of Pop Evil,” Kakaty says. “Your perspective on life changes through experience. We’re all on our death walk, but that doesn’t have to be scary. Once you embrace the inevitability of it, you start living in a different way – you’re liberated from fear, and are free to find the best version of yourself and the best version of your life. That’s what a lot of the process of this album has been for me.
“I feel like I am now the best version of myself as a creator, as a musician, as a writer, than I have ever been,” he adds. “I can see and feel the growth in me, because I’m constantly trying to push myself into areas where I feel uncomfortable.”
Sonically, What Remains finds Pop Evil – completed by guitarists Dave Grahs and Nick Fuelling, bassist Joey “Chicago” Walser, and newly minted drummer Blake Allison – in career-best form. The album is a riotous explosion of life-affirming noise; a vortex of scything riffs and gut-punch drum beats that regularly give way to Pop Evil’s hallmark anthemic choruses. The 10 tracks occupy territory that will be at once immediately familiar to the Pop Evil family, but that has been refreshed and re-energized with help from production from longtime collaborator Drew Fulk (Disturbed, Knocked Loose), the aforementioned Quistad, plus Zach Jones (Fever 333, Maggie Lindemann) and KJ Strock (Ice Nine Kills, Motionless In White), and the Sparrow Sound team of Joe McQueen and Spiritbox bassist Josh Gilbert (Bad Wolves, As I Lay Dying).
“We set out to push boundaries,” nods Kakaty. “Metal has always been a part of our DNA, but we’ve never made it such a focal point before. A lot of writing on this record has been about listening to what my soul is saying and letting the songs find their own path, rather than chasing a sound that might fit in on the radio. I think you can really hear the mood and emotion of the album’ s themes in the music.”
What Remains is the culmination of everything Leigh Kakaty has fought for his entire life. It’s the dismantling of the armor he has adorned to survive the journey along the way. It’s the reckoning with the man he was yesterday, the man he has become today, and the man he strives to be tomorrow. It is at once the complete Pop Evil story writ large, and its definitive release.
“No matter how difficult the hard times you face are, what remains when you make it to the other side is who you are, and it’s your story,” Kakaty says. “It’s not always going to be written the way you want it to be, and it won’t always be pretty, but you hold the power to define the next chapter.”
READ MORE >>Supporting Acts
About the Venue
Upgrades: A limited amount of VIP seating upgrades (21+) are available for select shows. Contact the box office to purchase or check availability: boxoffice@hifiindy.com.
Ticket Support: Box Office opens 1 hour before published door time. For ticket related questions please email boxoffice@hifiindy.com.
Parking: Street Parking, Bike Parking
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