Canadian punk outfit PUP has returned with a new single titled ‘Paranoid’. It’s the Toronto quartet’s first slice of new music in two years. Complemented by a smart video directed by Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux and Clem Hoener, the track sees PUP deliver a frenzied pop-punk number that thrives with hook-laden energy.
“My favourite part of this song is the breakdown 1:45 in. Whenever we try and do a heavy breakdown with catchy vocals, we end up sounding like the world’s worst melodic hardcore band, but somehow it worked on this song,” shares PUP frontman Stefan Babcock. “I think because it’s so intense in that moment that it’s actually kind of funny and a bit hard to take seriously. There’s some humour in that and how it plays against what I’m yelling about in a way I really like. Plus Nestor plays the melody from ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ on the bass at the heaviest moment in the song which really cracks me up every time I hear it.”
The release of ‘Paranoid’ coincides with the news that PUP will follow up their recent (and brief) UK visit with Jimmy Eat World last November, with a run of headline shows this May. Support comes from Illuminati Hotties and Goo.
May
7th XOYO, Birmingham
8th Project House, Leeds
10th O2 Ritz, Manchester
11th SWG3 (TV Studio), Glasgow
12th Newcastle University, Newcastle
13th Marble Factory, Bristol
15th Engine Rooms, Southampton
16th O2 Forum Kentish Town, London
In additional news, PUP have launched a Substack newsletter called ‘MORE BAD STUFF – A PUPTHEBAND Substack’. Described as the band’s “brand new digital hellscape”, it’s inspired by the band’s former ‘PUPTHEZINE’. The band plan to share unreleased songs, discuss the writing process, play-through tracks, and to share comics, old photos, live recordings, tour stories and more through the Substack. So far, they’ve shared an EP of their former band, Topanga, alongside Built to Spill covers performed by Stefan.
