POP EVIL LAUNCHES THEIR “WHAT REMAINS” TOUR WITH A STOP IN FOXBOROUGH MA

4/9/2026

Review By: Kat Gullage
Photos By: Holly Roy Photography

Pop Evil brought their 2026 Tour to Six String Grill & Stage with Sierra Pilot and Kamenar as support.

Didn’t know much about Sierra Pilot from Ontario Canada going in, but they grabbed my attention early and didn’t let go. I peeked their site and YouTube, seems like the line up may have changed since their inception. On this night it was a tight five-piece that featured founder Taylor Leith on lead vocals, Wes Bartram on drums, Brenden James on lead guitar, Gabe Guerra on rhythm and David “King” Goodman, a wildman on the bass. I don’t have the official setlist but they’re currently pushing “Breathe” off their new EP, available at their live gigs. As the frontman, Taylor hit the crowd with, “We’re super stoked to be here!” and they wasted no time proving it. Their sound lands somewhere in modern alternative rock and I’d encourage you to check out tracks like “Diamonds”, “Horizons” or “Turpentine”, some of their “heavier” stuff. “Fuck yeah Massachusetts! Whaddaya say we get back to the heavy shit, sumthin with teeth. I say we give it to em!” And they did. Seeing them live hits way different than listening to their studio stuff, it totally elevated their sound. The drummer never stops smiling or having fun, the lead and backing vocals were complementary and in sync, and the bass player was just everything, everywhere, all at once. Did I mention I was at the rail at this point to get a better look? “This is the third time with Pop Evil giving us an audience in this country” Taylor announced. “We’re singing these songs only at these shows. Here’s a song, you’re gunna hear it very soon. OK to bring up a special guest?” I’m not sure I heard his name right (I do a lot of loud things) but Baker Mayfield might play him in a movie. Mr. Special Guest provided additional vocals to the closing song and Taylor capped it off with nifty mic flip. I see real potential here and they have US dates through May so check em out. I learned they’re working with “producing duo A Window In (Blake Allison and Joseph Walser) and it all made sense. Read on to find out why. I met with the band post gig and bought their EP which they were kind enough to sign. I asked for the setlist but they held out on me stating the songs were unreleased, and I have to honor that. Since the gig we caught was only night two of the tour, I asked how opening night was. Welp, they missed that date because there was a delay getting them into the United States. I apologized on behalf of my country for the hold up, but they flashed their Canadian candor by shrugging it off with “It’s fine, they’re just doing their job.” Sierra Pilot wasn’t just another opener, they’re a band on the rise. Catch em now, while you can still get up to the rail.

Always a good time at a Pop Evil gig, and this one hit on all cylinders. Formed in 2001, they released their first of nine studio albums in 2004, spawning a pile of #1 singles along the way. The band didn’t waste any time as they opened with their first #1 single “Trenches” (Onyx). The players took their respective spots: original member and rhythm guitarist Dave Grahs, lead guitarist Nick Fuelling and the Devour The Day duo: Joey “Chicago” Walser on bass and Blake Allison on drums. Frontman, founder and lead singer Leigh Kakaty casually strolled on stage while the band was already hard into the song. He looked like the beginning of the “Footsteps” video. The fans, which had filled the space, were fully engaged. Leigh asked “Massachusetts how we doin tonight?” before he made us aware of a sound issue. “I want you guys to sit in silence while we get some frequency stuff worked out,” he joked. “You guys deserve the best”. After a coupla minutes they continued with their robust seventeen song set with “Deathwalk” the first of four off the tour’s namesake What Remains. The music was heavy but Leigh’s voice was up to the task. They took too long getting to the title track, “What Remains”, and someone yelled “One more song!” Pop Evil kept rolling with a tight performance and got the crowd thumpin with “Deal With The Devil” (Onyx). “I can’t hear you Foxborough! Where my metalheads at? C’mon Foxborough!” When they received a satisfactory response they served up “Let The Chaos Reign” (Versatile) and “Criminal” (What Remains) before dipping into Skeletons with “Paranoid (Crash & Burn)” where they flexed some synchronized head banging. “How we feelin Six String?!?” Leigh droned on about Boston sports legacies repeatedly. I get it, they made it to the Super Bowl and the venue is basically in the parking lot of Gillette Stadium. Props where they’re due but when I saw the sports facility I said out loud
“Joe Burrow once stood here.” Leigh confessed “I’m a Detroit sports fan. Who happens to like metal and rock. A brown man like me. From another country called Michigan.” He continued “As we get older we appreciate things more. Since covid 19 we appreciate things more.” He went off track with “How awesome is this spot?!” before he declared “We all bleed the same color. From east to west, front to back, we all have “Skeletons”.” Each member had a time to shine; Joey worked the entire stage, Nick was key to rounding out the sound, Dave is an OG and could hit solos in his sleep, Leigh’s voice was fresh and on point and multi talented singer, producer, songwriter and all-around weapon Blake Allison nailed the percussion. They kept stacking hits with “Monster You Made Me” (War Of Angels) and “Torn To Pieces” (Onyx) before revisiting Skeletons with “Eye Of
The Storm” and Versatile with “Work”. “Can we go old school Pop Evil on you?” The fans roared with approval. “This is from the fourth LP I think? I lost count.” (it’s actually from their 6th studio album) “Get those hands up!” The album is Pop Evil and the song was “Waking Lions”. The loyals sang it word for word and there was a shit ton of phones up. “Should we keep this party rollin?” Leigh teased as they wrapped the set with “Breathe Again” (Versatile) and a kick ass rendition of “Footsteps (Go Higher)” (Up). Hard to follow that up but they did reemerge for an encore. The song choice was “100 in a 55” (Lipstick On The Mirror) and the fans ate up the classic hit. Imagine if they had done “Last Man Standing”, bet that woulda hit hard. I’ve seen Pop Evil a bunch of times and this might’ve been the best they’ve sounded. I don’t know if it was that the venue was new to me or the current line-up is on point or the fact that we caught the second night in their fifty-eight date run. Regardless, you should check out the tour, it’s stacked with talent and dripping hits.