by Stefny! At the Disco
Toronto punk rockers PUP are no strangers to The Emo Diaries, whether that be on the shows I curate or as inspirations for some of the bands that come into the studio. I was so excited to get the opportunity to speak with guitarist Steve Sladkowski ahead of their show on Saturday, September 27 at Radio/East. Unfortunately due to my work schedule we were not able to conduct the interview face-to-face, but he was gracious enough to take my questions over email.
PUP photo by Vanessa Heins
Hi Steve! Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions. I’m so looking forward to the show on Saturday at Radio/East with Jeff Rosenstock!
Can you tell me a little bit about your previous experiences performing in Austin?
We’ve been performing in Austin for as long as we’ve been touring. Our first experience at SXSW was a surprisingly fun one – all the way back in 2013! – and we’ve had some really special shows at Stubbs as well. It’s obviously a legendary music city, and we’re so excited to be back.
Is there anything you always have to make sure you do when you come to town? Or anywhere you know you need to visit?
We always try to have great meals in Austin. There was a Peruvian food truck we were all obsessed with, but it’s closed now, so we’re always looking for great tacos and Tex-Mex or BBQ. Honestly, other than that, we mostly just hang out and see friends and walk around!
Who’s the biggest foodie in the band?
We all love foo,d but I think the biggest foodie is probably me. I am a big fan of finding new restaurants and trying new cuisines, whether those be Michelin-approved or holes-in-the-wall.
Do you guys have any tour rituals when you’re out with Jeff? Since you’ve played together before, I’m curious if there’s anything special you do when you’re on the road with him that’s different from your usual routine.
There’s not any particular routine for all of us, though we have been doing a fun surprise at the end of the show on this tour. It simply cannot be missed.
Speaking of touring, how has that changed for you guys since you first started?
It has changed in a lot of ways and remained the same in others. Obviously, we’re older now and have more commitments – spouses and children and pets and whatnot – so it can be harder to be away from home for as long as we are. However, touring used to be much more of a grind than it is now: we would sleep on people’s floors, take no days off, and stay out on the road for weeks and weeks and weeks at a time. These days, we’re lucky to have an excellent touring crew and a tour bus, which makes things easier on our physical and mental health. There are always difficulties, but we’re grateful that we’ve reached a level of comfort on the road that none of us ever expected!
Do you have any interesting requests on your riders or something fans might not expect?
Nope. It’s pretty boring! Mostly a veggie tray and some hummus and a few other snacks.
What do you hope fans (figuratively) take home after a PUP live show?
We hope that people come away with a feeling of catharsis expressed in a safe and respectful way. The world outside our shows is a very dark place, and we strive to make our shows safe for people to express themselves and create community. Hopefull,y that sense of community care and belonging is something that audience members can take from the show out into their neighbourhoods to try and make the world a better place in some way.
Since the recording process for this record was so different than albums past, does this whole cycle (recording/release/touring) feel any different to you?
It doesn’t feel too different! The songs from the new album are definitely beginning to take on a life of their own in the live show, but that’s the case for all of the songs and albums we’ve written. It’s just nice to see that songs like “Hallways,” “Concrete,” and “Hunger For Death” are connecting with people in the way that they are!
Your music has been featured in a crazy number of video games. Is there a favourite among the ones you’re in?
I think it’s probably the NHL games. But the references to Morbid Stuff on Paper Mario for Nintendo Switch were also pretty cool!
Last but not least… is this year the Leafs’ year?
Probably not! But we’re crossing our fingers for the Toronto Blue Jays!
Catch the band playing this Saturday at Radio/East with fellow rocker (and Craig of the Creek composer!) Jeff Rosenstock and Ekko Astral as part of their A CATACLYSMIC RAPTURE OF FRIENDSHIPNESS tour.