If you’re anywhere near Vancouver this November and you’re a fan of raw, energetic punk rock, listen up! Toronto’s Pup is coming to town with three electrifying shows to celebrate their latest album, Who Will Look After the Dogs? Released this past May, the album is a fiery mix of post-hardcore and noise rock that proves Pup is anything but “pathetic use of potential,” the name behind their quirky band acronym.
The band’s live energy has been their secret weapon since their debut in 2012. This November, the fans get three chances to catch them: an all-ages show with BC’s dynamic Juno-winning Indigenous rap duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids on November 24 at The Pearl, followed by two back-to-back headline nights on the 25th and 26th at the iconic Commodore Ballroom. If you love immersive live rock that brings together punks, hipsters, and music lovers of all kinds, Pup’s the show to catch.
Frontman Stefan Babcock shared what the new album’s title means to him—taken from the first lyric written for the track “Hallways,” the title is both funny and heartbreaking, capturing the band’s signature mix of the dark and playful. One of Pup’s standout tracks, “Olive Garden,” started as a simple acoustic idea from Babcock but evolved into a heavy, grindy rock anthem thanks to drummer Zack Mykula’s push. The result? “Kinda upsetting and uncomfortable but also catchy and fun,” as Babcock describes it. That’s classic Pup right there: beautiful chaos that somehow feels like a friend yelling at you to dance.
Babcock also gave insight into the band’s continuing drive: after years of touring worldwide and playing massive festivals like Lollapalooza and Vans Warped Tour, the group switched producers for this album to shake things up. Working with John Congleton, known for his dark humour and instinctive approach, Pup pushed themselves into new creative territory.
But the magic really happens live. As Babcock puts it: “If you like the records, the live show is for you. We’re a very high energy, very real and really fun band that brings in young freaks, old school punks and hipsters who all leave feeling connected no matter how different they are.” For Vancouverites, this is a chance to experience that connection firsthand and celebrate one of Canada’s most exciting punk bands as they tear up the stage.
You’ll want to mark your calendars and get ready to howl—Pup’s Vancouver shows this November promise to be loud, chaotic, and unforgettable. Who will look after the dogs? Maybe you, if you make it to the show.