2014 wasn’t all that long ago, but for Canadian rock outfit Pup it probably seems like an eternity has passed since they released their debut album that year. The four piece made a name for themselves not only through the raw, unfiltered energy pulsing though every track on that album, but also through a brutal touring schedule that kept them on the road nearly every night for two years straight.
After wowing audiences across the world, the band hit a major speed bump last December when lead singer Stefan Babcock suddenly found himself voiceless. The band had to drop out of a high-profile tour with Modern Baseball when Babcock learned he had suffered major vocal cord hemorrhaging.
The prognosis was grim. Babcock was told he needed to stop singing, and that surgery was his best option. Surgery would likely render Babcock (and by extension, the band) out of commission for months. Said Babcock’s doctor: “the dream is over”.
Babcock took the diagnosis as a challenge, and decided against surgery, knowing that time off would kill all of the momentum the band had worked so hard to build. Instead, he decided to rest his vocal cords before jumping back on the road in support of the Pup’s new album, appropriately titled The Dream Is Over.
The record bristles with a sense of urgency that is rare in today’s fuzzed-out rock world, and Babcock and co. are currently bringing that same intensity to a North American tour that hits Great Scott on June 23rd. We spoke to guitarist Steve Sladkowski about the tour, the new record, and the impact that Babcock’s injury has had on the band.
Allston Pudding: Just like on the last album, you’re keeping this new one to a pretty compact 30 minutes – is that by design?
Steve Sladkowski: We are all fans of records that are focused and airtight. Keeping a record in the 30-40 minute range is a challenge that we love to explore. There’s a very specific pacing and sequencing that comes with ten songs and thirty-ish minutes. I feel like we came closer to the mark with this record than the first one.
AP: How did Stefan’s vocal cord issues affect the way you recorded this record, and how do you think it will impact the way you tour?
SS: Stefan’s injury actually didn’t affect the recording at all. He started feeling kinda weird in the rehearsals for tour after we had finished the vocals on the record. Having said that, I think more than anything else what his vocal cord issue has taught us is an appreciation for days off. We used to tour with virtually no days off but on upcoming tours we’re trying to pace things differently so that we can rest, eat properly, and pour ourselves into every show. It’s now a matter of putting our bodies and minds first in order to give fans the best possible show.
AP: Has the injury changed the way you think about the long term prospects for the band or made you think differently about how you approach your career as a musician?
SS: Yes and no. As a musician, you realize that things are impermanent. How many bands are there that have fizzled out after a couple of records due to any number of factors? If anything, we appreciate the opportunities we’ve had even more and want to continue figuring out ways to move forward while maintaining our own personal, mental and physical well-being.
AP: A lot of the content on the new record deals with the trials and tribulations of being on the road, and you’ve talked about finding ways to deal with the stress both individually and as a group – what are some of the tricks you’ve learned to make sure you can perform your best on stage every night?
SS: Substitute salad for french fries 100% of the time; take and give space when needed; don’t take things too seriously; stop to look around and enjoy your surroundings; and don’t be an asshole.
AP: The material on the new record seems to represent a real sense of urgency – both in the pace and in the lyrical content – where do you think that comes from?
SS: I think that comes from us never settling. We always want to push ourselves in our pursuits as a band — whether it’s touring, songwriting, or anything else — and uphold personal standards. We put immense pressure on ourselves to live up to those standards which perhaps is why you’re feeling that urgency.
AP: Your hometown of Toronto has been in the news a lot lately, either due to sports or music or a number of other things. What are the best and worst things about Toronto from a musician’s perspective?
SS: Depending on who you ask: Drake, José Bautista, the Toronto Raptors, bike lanes, craft beer, punk rock, and… I dunno. There’s so much going on in the city that it feels like a new place every time we leave and come back. But the city’s art scenes are many and vibrant; that’s probably the most important thing. From hip-hop to noise rock and fine art to street art, everywhere you turn has something going on.
AP: Your show at Great Scott here in Allston sold out literally months in advance – was that what you were expecting from this tour? Do you feel any added pressure because of it?
SS: No expectations ever. Boston & the Greater Boston Area (GBA? Is that a thing?) have always been great to us. We’re really looking forward to the show.
Oh also, I lied. The only expectation I have is for the Red Sox to lose first place in the AL East. GO BLUE JAYS BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA.
Pup will be playing with Rozwell Kid at Great Scott on 6/23. The show is sold out, but we might just have a pair of tickets up for grabs – so keep your eyes peeled! In the meantime, make sure to check out “The Dream Is Over”, out now on SideOneDummy.