PUP talks sold-out Guelph gig

Steve Sladkowski on doing a holiday record with Drake and his time at U of G

With two weeks to spare, Toronto pop-punk band PUP’s upcoming show at Peter Clark Hall has sold out. We caught up with PUP guitarist and University of Guelph alumnus Steve Sladkowski to see what we can expect at the show.

Although the temperature is dropping and Guelph has already seen a dusting of snow, PUP will not be playing any Christmas classics at the upcoming gig. Unlike Cheap Trick and Sia, the band hasn’t considered releasing a holiday album, but Sladkowski had some thoughts to share about who he would want to collaborate with if they ever did.

“I feel like I’d want to make a holiday record with a rapper,” said Sladkowski. “Let’s go big, screw it. If we’re going to make a holiday record, why not make a holiday record with Drake? Drake, if you do read this, holla.”   PUP is working on new music, but Sladkowski doubts they’ll be debuting anything new at the Guelph show. “We are still in the writing and experimenting process,” he said.

Nonetheless, Guelph students should anticipate a great show. “Expect a loud, sweaty, mosh-y sing-along,” said Sladkowski.

PUP last played U of G in October of 2016 — that show was a highlight of the year. A mosh pit at U of G is not a common occurrence, but people didn’t hold back at PUP’s last performance on campus — some audience members even lost their shoes in the fray. Sladkowski offered a couple pointers for the upcoming show.

“Respecting space and looking [out] for people,” said Sladkowski when asked about his first rule of the mosh pit.

“[Wear] comfortable sneakers that give you support,” he said. “I usually wear the Nike Roshe […] that’s my go-to skate shoe.”

Since the release of their self-titled debut album in 2013, PUP has received significant coverage in American and Canadian media. Most recently, PUP won the SOCAN Songwriting Prize for their song “DVP,” from the 2016 record The Dream is Over. Following the path of their tourmates Hollerado, and bands like Alexisonfire and The Tragically Hip before them, PUP is beginning to carve out their place in the Canadian music scene.

“We would not be able to do what we do without the audiences we have at home, in Toronto, and Canada in a larger way,” said Sladkowski. “You just want to see everyone do well and see a lot of diversity flourish. […] One of the things we’re really good at in terms of Canadian music is really trying to continue to make space for a multiplicity of voices.”

PUP has shared the stage with a wide range of bands at festivals including repeat trips to Hillside as well as a performance at the WayHome Music and Arts Festival.

“What’s interesting right now is that the landscape is changing and there are a lot people that are doing really important work to bring voices to the forefront that aren’t necessarily rock bands,” said Sladkowski. “It’s nice to be connected to and play shows with people like Tanya Tagaq.”

When it comes to success, Sladkowski isn’t driven by the glitz that comes with awards at home or abroad.

“You want to try and grow your audience, and grow the band, and feel like you’re expanding and reaching new ears,” said Sladkowski. “If we can do that, I would say we’ve made a pretty successful record and anything that comes on top of that is the cherry on top.”

For Sladkowski, a former U of G music student, this Guelph show is a tumble through old memories. Peter Clark Hall is where bands like Bedouin Soundclash, k-os, and Alexisonfire played when Sladkowski was an undergrad.

“I’m very excited to be back and playing at Peter Clark Hall,” said Sladkowski. “It’s cool to be on that side of things because I really do remember frosh week events and the concert being a big part of that.”

While Sladkowski is long graduated from U of G, he’s still proudly a Gryphon.

“We are really lucky to have a strong campus radio station. CFRU has always been great to us,” said Sladkowski. “I think [universities] are a really healthy ecosystem […] for bands like ours and musicians in general.”

PUP plays Peter Clark Hall on Friday, Nov. 24.

Photo by Vanessa Heins