If you've ever sampled Roanoke's night life, you've probably seen the Pop Rivets. Today they have more gigs than rehearsals, but in 2001, Jason Hill (guitar, vocals), Brian Holt (bass, vocals) and Ted Grigorieff (drums) met just to play some music. Two weeks later, they made their debut at the Vinton Dogwood Festival.

The Pop Rivets

Q: Your first rehearsal led to your first show in the span of two weeks. That's quite an achievement. How did you meet?

A: Jason: I had a band in Colorado called Monobrau. When we broke up, I went and liquidated my equipment. My wife and I moved back to Roanoke and I took a job as a helicopter mechanic. On my 30th birthday, she'd replaced my guitar. She knew Brian in high school and introduced us. We jammed on about 12 songs and it was great.

Brian: Ted and I had been in several bands together, but when we played with Jason, it was just too easy.

Q: Your shows feel a like a crash course in rock radio. Barry White veers into the Ramones who flow seamlessly into Neil Diamond. What other bands influenced you?

A: Ted: The Police, the Clash, Joe Jackson and the Velvet Underground.

Brian: Mostly ’80s stuff. Attending — and graduating — Berklee College of Music turned me onto a lot of classic jazz.

Jason: My dad’s band, King Midas & the Muflers, was a huge influence. They’re still active after 39 years and one of Kansas’ longest-running rock bands.

Q: Do you wish your set lists contained more original material?

A: Ted: Not really. Our stuff is great, but people are paying good money to be entertained. You have to play for the public as much as for yourself. That’s how you keep people coming back!

Brian: We’re not hired to do all originals, so we don’t really think about it as "playing covers," just songs we love. Just playing live is really the biggest thrill of all.