Let’s begin with an introduction. I am The Preacher, (aka J), from the band Soul Preacher. From The Inside is going to give you a fly-on-the-wall perspective of Soul Preacher.
First a little background, Soul Preacher was formed in late summer of 2007, at a block party in Trenton, Michigan. Matt Bell (bass), his brother, Tom (guitar), and Chet Swiecki (drums) were at this party, having a jam session in the basement. I also happened to be at this little soirée. A mutual friend of ours knew that I was looking for a band and they were looking for a singer; the match was made.
This was the beginning of what I like to call an enigmatic nuclear fusion; a cosmically driven joining of four unrelenting beings destined to take over the world of music. This fusion was immediate. Throughout the years, we have all been in many bands and never experienced the cohesion, brotherhood, and creative energy that was and still is flowing between us. If you are in a band or have ever been involved in a creative group, then you know how trying and frustrating it can be. I think every creative person who has ever had to work with others has felt this singeing pain in the proverbial ass. Imagine doing that with three equally intense and sometimes out of control Scots? Whew! If you know anything about us Scots, we are known to have an insatiable taste for the drink and can be at times rather ill tempered, which makes the fact that we all get along like brothers, a blessing from the music gods.
Unfortunately… um yeah, unfortunately, Chet had to leave the band for some (unforeseen) circumstances, and we were on the hunt for our missing puzzle piece. That piece came in the form of Tim Cooper, our current drummer. Talk about getting our groove back in orbit! Bringing Tim into the band has really brought everything together in a powerful, dynamic symmetry that no one could have imagined. Not to mention, Tim is also Scottish, which makes Soul Preacher one hell of a Scottish band!
Soul Preacher is still a pretty new band in the grand scheme of things, but with four very experienced members guiding it from infancy to its current state of adolescence. We are gathering up momentum at an astonishing rate and kicking some major ass along the way. Be on the lookout for a Soul Preacher show near you!!!!! If you would like us to venture to your neck of the woods, let us know, and we will do our best to get out to you.
With My Blessings,
The Preacher
Hear us/see us/talk to us @ http://myspace.com/soulpreacherdetroit
soulpreacherdetroit@gmail.com
What would you do to get your orbit back in line?
Ed Note: For those in Michigan, you can see Soul Preacher on July 24th at TNT’s in Clinton Township or August 24th at New York New York in Chesterfield Township.
Truth or Darron
About a year ago, I started writing for MUEN Magazine and helping out my good friend Shauna O’Donnell with her project. Since then, MUEN has become a force in the music literary world as she helps out independents and mainstream bands through the magazine and her MUEN Talk radio interviews every Friday at 3 p.m. EST/Noon PST on www.525.com Power Tracks.
Someday, I will get her to talk about the project more in depth in this blog (she is a VERY busy woman!) about the whirlwind life she leads, but I wanted to share something I wrote a year ago as a CD review.
Here it is…
Pop Evil’s debut album, Lipstick On The Mirror, definitely leaves an impression of the romantic angst reflected in their music and lives – and the lasting images from these lyrics will open the eyes of many new fans nationwide.
Their first single, “Hero”, only skims the surface of the talent of this five-man band from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Lead singer Leigh Kakaty pours his voice into every emotional word on his album with his strong supporting cast following lead on every note. From Tony Greve and Dave Grahs on guitars to Matt DiRito on bass to Dylan Allison on drums, these men have created a revolutionary masterpiece many years in the making.
Looking through their song titles might raise some eyebrows with song titles including “100 in a 55”, “Jupiter In June”, “3 Seconds To Freedom”, and even “Another Romeo and Juliet”, but the ingenuity in these titles carries over to the lyrics.
“Another Romeo and Juliet” and “100 in a 55” touch upon the relationship woes with the former song starting with an awesome guitar solo from Greve to kick off an expressive tale of love gone bad. “100 in a 55” drops the speed limit of Pop Evil’s rock a level with a ‘sing along’ ballad with an addictive chorus.
Lipstick On The Mirror provides a diverse mix of hard rock songs and slow ballads to keep you listening over and over again. “Breathe”, “Shine down” and “Ready Or Not” roll the 100 m.p.h. side of Pop Evil, while the popular “Somebody Like You”, “Hey Mister” and “Stepping Stone” slow you through the 55 m.p.h. zone.
My suggestion involves Somebody Like You going out and enjoying this album. You can visit www.myspace.com/popevil to test drive six songs for yourself. You also can visit Pop Evil’s official website at www.popevil.com.
I wrote that review of Lipstick on the Mirror about a year ago. Boy, how things have changed. Now, Pop Evil has signed with Universal Republic and currently is touring nationally with 80’s rock legends, Judas Priest and Whitesnake. You can go into Best Buy or any other store and see this album on the shelves! Their single, “100 in a 55”, now has over 7 million plays on MySpace!
Whenever they come to Michigan, I do my best to reach out and say “hello” to the guys and it’s always good to see the great things in their lives. They are living the rock dream now and I try to keep in touch as best as I can with them.
Luckily, I had a chance to catch up with Pop Evil about a month ago at The Machine Shop in Flint, MI as they became the fastest band to sell out a ‘low dough’ show there. Their music and hard work has become a theme for Michigan lately as they always show their support for our state and their fans.
At The Machine Shop, the guys were flooded with fans (being from the Grand Rapids area), but all of the guys took time to sign autographs, pose for pictures with fans and make sure to thank all of their fans. I made sure to say “hello” to each member too as I always will respect what they do for fans and friends alike.
To give them a laugh on the road, I always try to find fans going to their shows and I make sure those fans tell them “Darron from Michigan says HI” just for shits and giggles. Sometimes, the reaction is overpowering as they find friends away from the MItten (MI is capitalized on purpose). Some fans even have received some special time with the guys.
Well, recently I was surprised by a phone call from Shauna who told me about an upcoming interview which will air on MUEN Talk… with Leigh Kakaty, lead singer of Pop Evil. I guess sometimes things have come full circle as I gave her a few questions to throw at Leigh.
Shauna told me about how Leigh could not stop talking about what we do for music – meaning Shauna and I (and Tina, Heather, Nikki and the others involved with MUEN & the SST). I guess he even drops my name a few times within the content, but I won’t know until I check it out!!!
Truthfully, I was flabbergasted – and still am – that the guys remember me. I did the things I did for Pop Evil because I heard their music and understood where they were coming from. I was lucky enough to share a few conversations – and a few drinks – when they were playing for 20 people at local clubs in town. I even have a few ‘memorabilia’ items to remind me.
They also did wonders for my sons and I with a few signed pictures and their music as I brag that my sons are the youngest and biggest Pop Evil fans in the world! I play their music in my truck and my boys already know what song is playing just by the start of the song – except for Another Romeo & Juliet. ;)
I guess that’s why I list Pop Evil as one of my favorite bands. If you haven’t heard them yet, make sure you stop by their page at www.myspace.com/popevil or www.popevil.com or even the “Guitar Slinger” Tony Greve’s page at www.tonygreve.com.
If you do stop by their page or stop by their merchandise booth on one of their tours, just do me a little favor… Tell them Darron from Michigan sent ya over.
Six Pack
Sintonik, “Insane”, www.myspace.com/sintonik
Defaze, “Home For The Summer”, www.myspace.com/defazemusic
My Secret Circus, “War Games”, www.myspace.com/mysecretcircus
Eyes Shut Tight, “DIE”, www.myspace.com/eyesshuttight7
Counterpoint, “House of Jazz”, www.myspace.com/counterpointband2008
Dead By Sunrise, “Morning After”, www.myspace.com/deadbysunrise (Chester Bennington of Linkin Park with Julien-K members project)
Post, Boast & Toast!
For every person that comments a June/July blog from Darron to be Different, you will be entered to win a signed Folklore & Superstition CD from Black Stone Cherry! Thanks to Heather from Shauna’s Street Team for the donation (www.myspace.com/shinedownaddict). So post away people! I encourage anyone reading these blogs to 'advertise' their upcoming events and services in this blog!