PUP: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.

Lyndsey McKenna | January 21, 2021
Sincerest apologies to Stefan Babcock's neighbors: For PUP's Tiny Desk (home) concert, 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.

"My neighbors hate us, and I don't blame them," Babcock said. Volume complaints aside, that admission feels like a perfect summary of the band's penchant for spinning stories of chaos into catchy-as-hell, shout-along songs. With bandmates Nestor Chumak, Zack Mykula and Steve Sladkowski masked to adhere to COVID safety protocol, PUP wastes no time here, immediately setting the tone with "Rot" from the group's aptly-titled 2020 EP, This Place Sucks A**. From there, the set spans the band's discography, spotlighting two cuts ("Kids" and "Scorpion Hill") from 2019's Morbid Stuff and "Reservoir," a track off the group's debut.

And to NPR officemates who think you've escaped an earsplitting in-office set with this (home) concert, let the handmade "Ceci n'est pas une Tiny Desk" ("This is not a Tiny Desk") sign serve as a warning: When the Tiny Desk returns to NPR HQ and the U.S.-Canada border reopens, prepare to have your workday interrupted.

SET LIST
"Rot"
"Kids"
"Reservoir"
"Scorpion Hill"

MUSICIANS
Stefan Babcock: vocals, guitar
Nestor Chumak: bass, vocals
Zack Mykula - drums, vocals
Steven Sladkowski: guitar, vocals

CREDITS
Video: Amanda Fotes
Audio: Nestor Chumak

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bob Boilen
Video Producer: Maia Stern
Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin
Associate Producer: Bobby Carter
Tiny Production Team: Kara Frame, Morgan Noelle Smith
Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

[samthomas]

God tier band. They literally have no bad songs

[victorjimenez]

OK now we need a Jeff Rosenstock Tiny Desk

[robertfrost]

This one hits a lil different. PUP was the last show I saw before the World broke.

[bloopooch]

Since Morbid Stuff's release, I have not stopped listening to that album. It is just so relatable and catchy- yet dark. I listen to it through all my moods haha.

[slimkt]

“My neighbors hate us.” I’d be willing to pay double the rent/mortgage if it meant I got to listen to PUP live on the regs.

[fredvanderlinden]

This is pure fun, even for an old dude of 61 years old. I had the pleasure of experiencing the early punk in the late 70's. Keep on going guys.

[aidancollins]

Zack is truly one of the most versatile drummers in this scene. Every performance surpasses the last.

[MsMyrmaid]

Sometimes when I’m feeling blue I think about how incredible the first Pup show after COVID will feel.

[evancrew]

this feels like a highschool band trying to cover pup songs in their drummer’s mom’s living room, and it’s beautiful

[christopherbauer]

Dissonance and resolution. Tight hard driving rhythm. Upbeat Nihilism. Total commitment in every performance. Haven't stopped listening since I heard these guys a few years back. Keep those cords healthy Babcock.

[Heljhammack]

Pup was the last band I saw live before lockdown. It was in a small venue in Eugene Oregon. My family came (I have very cool parents), my best friends came, fellow lovers of music. It was magnetic. I left that show thinking about how there is nothing I love doing more than screaming along in a room full of sweaty strangers and friends. This was so comforting.

[jki]

Took me eight minutes to realize he was using the suitcase as a kick drum. Awesome.

[NLookeeMusic]

These guys are always so tight with their performances.

[PentameronSV]

0:00 - *Rot* (3:16)
3:38 - *Kids*
[7:13] - *Reservoir* (10:27)
10:37 - *Scorpion Hill*
[16:49 - Tiny Desk team]

[MOREMISHU]

More music like this Tiny Desk... PUP is tight!

[craigdanielmaceacher]

Scorpion Hill is such a beautiful and sad and heartfelt song that is just amazing and a punk rock classic at this point already! Live it is amazing

[elliotbrown]

The guy in the hat absolutely killed it

[fedoragent]

This is the first band I had ever heard directly reference my hometown in a song and it’s strangely comforting? Hearing someone else’s perspective makes everything a little easier and a lot more bearable.

[ohyeahitsthatoneguy]

Scorpion Hill is an all time song for me from them, such emotion and feeling. Really hits home and it absolutely ROCKS. Like all their other songs

[FelixOlschewski]

This is not at all what I usually like to listen to. I really enjoyed it. Thanks PUP, thanks NPR!