Pop Evil bring a decade of touring to the Chameleon Club

February 7, 2019

Well over ten years into it’s existence Pop Evil has remained a mainstay of contemporary rock with frequent appearances at all the major festivals nation wide and numerous headline tours.

During this time Pop Evil has evolved a lot since the era of their debut with ‘Lipstick on the Mirror’ in 2008 and is widely regarded as one of the strongest live performers in modern rock. Last year they released a self titled album that saw them hit the road with Poison and Cheap Trick as well as dominate a club tour of their own – 2019 is off to just as strong as a start for the band as they are headlining their way across America yet again.


The tour kicked off earlier this year and saw Pop Evil return to Lancaster, PA at the Chameleon Club on Tuesday, February 5th. While Tuesday is widely consider one of the worst nights of the week for a concert it didn’t stop Pop Evil from packing all three floors of the club for a night of rock music. The band’s set up dominated the intimate stage of the venue with drummer Hayley Cramer’s kit on a riser towering behind them all.


As the stage lights dimmed and the band’s intro music kicked into lead singer Leigh Kakaty stormed the stage with a massive microphone stand held above his head that was met with a thunderous roar of approval from the Chameleon Club crowd. The set quickly kicked things off with a shot of adrenaline as “Boss’ Daughter” was the first track that Pop Evil unleashed on Lancaster. The song – as did the entire night – saw Kakaty make the most of the tiny stage as he focused heavily on keeping the crowd engaged. Around him Dave Grahs on guitar, Matt DiRito on bass, and Nick Fuelling also on guitar made revolutions around the stage without missing a beat or losing the crowd’s attention as they each interacted with every fan with in reach.

Pop Evil covered a decade of music in their hour plus set and while they weren’t afraid to spotlight their roots with songs like “100 in a 55” and “Deal With the Devil” it was on some of the newer material that the band’s evolution shined brightest. Early in the set Pop Evil showcased their live performance prowess with a performance of recent single “Be Legendary” that more than out shined the studio recording of the album. Kakaty’s vocal control while performing was remarkable and the rest of the band delivered a loose, yet uniform sound behind him that gave the song new life.


Touring can take a lot out of a band over the years whether it be exhaustion or boredom of playing the same song – but that hasn’t happened to Pop Evil. Age has made their music better, their studio content has only gotten better with each year and their live performances have trended upwards in the same way. Lancaster, PA was treated to a special show on a Tuesday night because the number of contemporary rock bands that can put on a performance like Pop Evil are limited.


A decade has grown Pop Evil a lot and there no doubt that the next years will grow them even more as they continue to hold it down for rock music both in the studio and on the road.

Article Written By:

Matt Christine

Trivium and Jinjer bring the 'Ascend Above The Ashes Tour' to Lancaster

By Matt Christine • November 14, 2025
Trivium is back on the road in 2025 — and this time, they’ve brought Jinjer along for a blistering run across the U.S. on the “Ascend Above The Ashes Tour.” Over the last four years, the rock and metal world has seen a wild expansion of dream-team co-headlining and powerful support on tours, the kind fans never thought they’d see outside of wish lists. Rising metal powerhouse Jinjer has been in the international spotlight ever since they were forced to exit Slipknot’s 2022 tour to return home and support Ukraine’s war efforts. In the years since, they’ve become global ambassadors for both their country and the metal community. And even as the supporting act on this tour, the band was greeted by a massive turnout and a stage setup that matched their well-earned status in the scene. Their addition on this tour with Trivium was a match made in heaven (or hell) and a perfect compliment sonically. The band's 9 song setlist got the mosh pit moving and crowd surfers flowing ahead of the main event that evening. It may have been a Wednesday night , but you wouldn’t have known it based on the crowd’s energy leading up to Trivium’s 9:50 p.m. arrival. Pennsylvania showed once again why it has a reputation as one of the weirdest and yet strongest markets in the country for rock and metal. When the band’s massive stage slowly illuminated to reveal a dramatic backdrop, Trivium launched into their set with explosive force as strobes burst to blinding effects all around them. Trivium's 14 song set was a blistering pace of their greatest hits and new material that left little time for the band to chat with the crowd as they moved quickly from song to song. Frontman Matt Heafy nearly blended into the elaborate backdrop thanks to a jacket patterned almost identically, but he was impossible to miss as he tore across the stage from mic to mic, shredding through one technical assault after another. Much like Jinjer’s opening performance, Trivium delivered a razor-sharp, 80-minute set that pulled from across their expansive catalog. From the first crushing riff to the final crack of the snare, they gave Lancaster everything they had — and the packed pit gave it right back. Opening nights can often feel unpredictable, but Lancaster showed up ready, proving once again that this city doesn’t just attend shows — it sets the bar. If the rest of the “Ascend Above Ashes Tour” follows this lead, Trivium and Jinjer are in for one unforgettable run.

Taylor Acorn returns home to Pennsylvania at the Archer Music Hall

By Matt Christine • November 12, 2025
Taylor Acorn’s return to Pennsylvania to the Arrow at the Archer Music Hall in Allentown was a homecoming a long time coming after a massive year of touring and festival appearances. Just a few weeks after performing at the When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas - and fresh off wrapping The Summer School Tour - Taylor Acorn returned to Pennsylvania with clear momentum behind her. Touring in support of her newly released LP, she arrived at The Arrow at the Archer in Allentown with a setlist shaped around this new chapter of her sound. The fresh material wasn’t just sprinkled into the night; it was the thread that held the entire show together. And while Acorn hasn’t forgotten her roots in the pop-punk world, it’s obvious that these newer songs give her a wider lane to move in and let her shine bright onstage. The Arrow itself proved to be an ideal setting. The room was full but comfortable, with that sweet spot where you can feel the crowd’s energy without fighting for space. Warm lighting and a clear sightline from almost anywhere in the venue helped create a sense of connection the moment Acorn stepped out. It didn’t take long for the entire place to settle into a rhythm—heads nodding, hands in the air, and plenty of voices shouting back the lines they knew. Between songs, Acorn kept the energy light and the banter genuine. She shared quick stories, poked fun at herself, and made it clear she appreciated being back in her home state. Nothing dragged, nothing felt overly rehearsed—it all stayed grounded in the good-natured vibe that filled the room. By the end of the night, The Arrow at the Archer felt less like a tour stop and more like a celebration of where Acorn is right now: an artist still rooted in the scene that raised her, but growing fast and sounding sharper than ever. The crowd felt it, the room carried it, and Acorn made sure everyone left buzzing. A strong show, a great space, and the kind of night that makes you want to catch her again before the tour moves on.

Kaleo bring the 'Mixed Emotions Tour' to from Iceland to Allentown

By Matt Christine • September 19, 2025
On September 16, 2025, Icelandic rockers KALEO brought their Mixed Emotions Tour to Allentown’s Archer Music Hall, with Quarters of Change and Júníus Meyvant on the bill.