SOUNDTRACK: PUP-Tiny Desk (Home) Concert #149 (January 21, 2021).
A lot of Tiny Desk Concerts are by bands I don’t know (and then really like). Some are by bands I don’t like. And every once in a while they have one by a band I like a lot.
Pup is a hugely popular pop punk band from Canada. I’m bummed I didn’t get to see them when they played around here, but I wasn’t really aware of them at the time.
I have since come to enjoy their music quiet a lot.
“Rot” (from the group’s aptly-titled 2020 EP, This Place Sucks A** ) opens with some fast drumming from Zack Mykula, then Stefan Babcock starts singing and playing rhythm guitar. After the first verse, Steven Sladkowski adds higher harmony notes–a simple but cool effect. It’s not until the (outrageously catchy) chorus that Nestor Chumak adds the bass notes and, suddenly, the song feels huge. I really like that Babcock adds some noisy harmonics and mini feedbacks into the chaos.
The other fun thing is that everyone except Babcock is wearing a mask–even while signing backing vocals (it’s not hard to wear a mask, people). For a fast punk song, it’s actually quote long–over three minutes.
“My neighbors hate us, and I don’t blame them,” Babcock said. The Toronto group refused to dial down the volume, filling Babcock’s neatly-furnished living room – complete with an Ontario pennant – and just maybe making a few enemies down the street in the process.
“Kids” (From 2019’s Morbid Stuff) opens differently–bass and harmonics for the first verse, before the rest of the band crashes in. There’s even a harmonic-filled guitar solo. I like in the middle when it’s almost only drums and Mykula plays some cool rhythms on the floor tom.
Up next is “Reservoir,” a track off the group’s debut. It’s full on with lots o crash cymbal, and lots of fast playing from everyone during the chorus.
“Scorpion Hill” runs to almost seven minutes and has several parts. It opens quietly with just Babcock singing and playing. After the first verse the whole band joins in including backing vocals. But it’s still fairly quiet until after a pauses a n a misdirecting guitar strum, the song rockets off with lots of thumping drums and bass After a couple of lengthy section, there’s pause and then a simple riff during which everyone sings “ah ah ah oh.”
This was a wonderful set. And the even better news
the handmade “Ceci n’est pas une Tiny Desk” (“This is not a Tiny Desk”) sign serves as a warning: When the Tiny Desk returns to NPR HQ and the U.S.-Canada border reopens, prepare to have your workday interrupted.
[READ: February 1, 2021] “Comfort”
This story seemed rather different from Munro’s usual work.
It is about Nina and her husband Lewis. Lewis was a teacher at the high school left until he left under less than positive circumstances.
Nina met with Margaret (another former teacher who left on good terms) at the high school tennis courts. Nina had not set foot on high school grounds since Lewis had left
When she returned (victorious from her matches), she discovered that Lewis had taken his own life. They had talked about Lewis doing this, but Nina always thought she would be there–a ceremonial act of some sort. But clearly Lewis didn’t want her to see him do this. (more…)
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My son and I have seen Pup twice and have enjoyed both shows immensely. I assume I’ll want to see them whenever they come around because they are so much fun.
I Just Read About That... 