PUP returned to Victoria for the first time since October 2019 for the first of two sold out shows at Capital Ballroom in Victoria Friday April 8, 2022.
From the moment the Toronto punk band hit the stage, the packed dance floor was ready to let out explode with pent up energy after two years of pandemic nothingness.
Kicking off their set with the first two tracks of their third album ‘Morbid Stuff’, the audience was screaming the lyrics to the title track and ‘Kids’ while jumping around. You could literally feel the floor bouncing underneath your feet.
The the show took place on the first day that BC vaccine passes were no longer legally required, but the policy remained in place at Capital Ballroom by request of the bands, which was completely understandable considering how one COVID case can derail a concert tour. The audience was mostly mask-less while two members of PUP were masked for the entire performance.
PUP performed a 19-song set with no encore. Lead singer Stefan Babcock told the audience that the band does not do encores and encouraged everyone to yell “Two more songs!” during the pause before the final two songs. He also took time between songs to check that everyone in the crowd were staying hydrated and safe while being in the sweaty punk pit.
Opening the evening, and making their Canadian debut, was Baltimore, Maryland punk band Pinkshift. The female fronted band performed a high energy and engaging 11-song set that won over many new fans. A long line of people were seen at their merch table at the end of the evening. Two days after Friday’s show, the band posted to social media that after only six dates of the tour they were running out of vinyl and would need to ration out the merch for the rest of the tour.
The concert was presented by Live Nation.
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