With PUP’s latest album (The Unraveling of PUPTheBand) in tow, the veteran punk rockers have been hitting the road hard in 2022 and 2023, notching well over 100 shows in the past two years. When the Toronto crew stopped back in Detroit at the Majestic Theater on September 14th, the finish line was in sight: This was their last headlining show before an appearance at Riot Fest (and an associated late-night aftershow) caps off their tour docket this weekend. Here are five moments that stood out from the band’s well-earned victory lap for The Unraveling of PUPTheBand tour cycle:
Snotty Nose Rez Kids Open Up the Pit
Haisla hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids took the opening slot and proved more than capable of winning over the crowd that had gathered by the stage early. Rappers Young D and Yung Trybez showcased how they traded off their complementary flows, with standout “Creator Made an Animal” evoking the style of Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” and J. Cole’s “No Role Modelz.” And on their set closer, Young D and Yung Trybez brought their energy directly to the crowd, helping open up the mosh pit on “Sink or Swim.”
Eclectic Open
PUP’s latest album features some of their most off-kilter sounds, and this was on display from the get-go, with lead singer Stefan Babcock kicking off the set on the keyboard with “Four Chords.” This gave way to the thrashing energy of “Totally Fine” (the same one-two sequence that appears on the record). “We’ve done Pontiac, we’ve done Royal Oak,” Babcock said to the crowd. “But this is our first time in Detroit in like seven fucking years!” (Side note: PUP last played the city at MO POP in 2017 and as a standalone headliner at St. Andrews Hall in 2015.) The crowd’s cheers showed the raucous return to the Motor City was just getting started.
Crowd Response
With Snotty Nose Rez Kids having already amped up the crowd with multiple mosh pits, the audience was primed to keep the energy going through PUP’s set. The eager fans delivered an anthemic singalong on “Scorpion Hill,” swayed their arms in unison at the start of “Kids,” and chanted “PUP! PUP! PUP!” before “PUPTHEBAND Inc. Is Filing for Bankruptcy.”
Well-Honed Chemistry
With their road-tested live show, the band showcased their high octane energy and seamless chemistry throughout the set. Bassist Nestor Chumak and guitarist Steve Sladkowski added additional vocal oomph to cuts like “Sleep in the Heat” and “Reservoir,” while Zack Mykula’s pummeling drum beat thrilled on “Morbid Stuff.” And of course, Babcock electrifying energy prevailed throughout the set, whether he was extending the mic stand to the crowd to sing along (on “Sleep in the Heat”), strumming his guitar while lofted behind his head (on “Reservoir”), or flinging his body across the stage (on “Waiting”).
Still No Encore Needed
In a longstanding tradition, the band has eschewed encores – which continued at the Majestic Theater. “We’re going to play exactly two more songs then fuck off,” quipped Babcock. And exactly two more songs they did, keeping the energy ripping till the very end. The band once again leaned on the crushing one-two punch that opens one of their records, this time opting for the seamless transition between The Dream Is Over’s “If This Tour Doesn’t Kill You, I Will” jumping into the fierce closer “DVP,” with the crowd singing and bouncing along.
