Live Review: PUP @ The Palace Theatre in Calgary, AB
Photo Credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder)
Toronto-based band, PUP, have built themselves a solid reputation of being a frenzied live act - one where the stamina is reciprocated between the band and audience at all times. I’ve seen it take place a few times at venues throughout the city such as the small, but mighty, Commonwealth Bar and Stage, but taking on a theatre sized venue is a whole other ballgame. However, the band sold out the room in a short amount of time and proved that their fanbase is stronger than ever.
They took the stage in front of hundreds of devoted fans sleuthed in their merchandise and despite the level of status the band have garnered, there was still a DIY ethos to the performance that PUP have not lost. From their on-stage silly banter, to lead vocalist Stefan Babcock surfing the crowd during bangers like “Familiar Patterns”, it had all the elements of a classic PUP show. Their musicianship has improved over years of touring, but they continue to hold onto the fun that comes with being in a punk band that can easily fade when a band finds mainstream success.
Fans at PUP - Photo Credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder)
With a well balanced set of old songs and new, the band expressed positivity and disbelief of being in a sold out room. While the gratitude rang sincere, Stefan then proceeded with his playful “I-Don’t-Give-A-Fuck” attitude, explaining how the next song they were about to play was a song that he knows everyone hates but they were going to play it anyway. The band proceeded to thrash into a song from their latest album The Unraveling of PUPTheBand, “PUPTheBand Inc. Is Filing for Bankruptcy”. The audience gave the band the opposite reaction, with pure chaos unleashing as the stage diving commenced. At the end of the day, PUP had the crowd in the palm of their hands and their discography is a staple for yelling at the top of your lungs and having a good time. It’s a cathartic release that PUP have mastered in their own songwriting - aggressive vocal styles (Stefan almost lost his voice for good in the past and the prognosis is still uncertain), with lyrics that tackle self-esteem, growing up, loss, and leaning into the fact that we may all be scumbags in some way. The good news: we can face those feelings and leave it behind at the PUP show if we want to.
Photo Credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder)