Pool Kids, Joyce Manor and PUP
The Showbox // Seattle, WA // March 16, 2023
Review and photos by Rachael Dowd
Selling out two nights at the historic Showbox, Joyce Manor and PUP’s tour came rolling through Seattle last week. With the first night going off without a hitch, the two bands, alongside opener Pool Kids, took the stage once again for a night full of crowd surfers, mosh pits and a truly rambunctious crowd.
Pool Kids
Opening up the night was the Florida-based band Pool Kids. The quartet had just seven songs to show the crowd what they’re made of and they truly didn’t disappoint. Kicking things off with “That’s Physics, Baby,” one of the singles off their self-titled album, Pool Kids proved they are well-seasoned musicians with a tight, professional set.
Their rather spiteful songs about relationships that have long since passed resonated with the audience, earning them loud headliner-worthy cheers from the very start of their set. Pool Kids’ performance included other newer tracks like “Conscious Uncoupling,” “Pathetic,” and “Arm’s Length.” However, they also incorporated “$5 Subtweet,” their most streamed song to date, which the crowd was clearly the most excited for as they cheered uncontrollably and sang the honest lyrics back to the band.
With a set full of high-leg kicks, shredding electric guitar and lyrics you can’t help but relate to, Pool Kids is a breath of fresh air to the scene. It won’t be long until they are back, headlining their own shows soon.
Joyce Manor
The members of Joyce Manor are no strangers to Seattle. In fact, it appeared as many fans were there to see them as they were PUP. As a band with songs that last about two minutes each, Joyce Manor was able to fit a staggering 22 tracks into their setlist. Strategically incorporating new songs off of 40 oz. to Fresno and old favorites, the career-spanning set proved why Joyce Manor is still one of the most talked about bands in the scene.
Joyce Manor brings a sense of familiarity to their set, almost like you’re watching your friend’s band play in the basement of their house. Their set is worn in from years of back-to-back tours, but still intriguing and wickedly entertaining to watch. Performances like the highly-requested “Heart Tattoo” and “Constant Headache” brought crowd surfers over the barricade as frontman Barry Johnson smiled into his microphone, soaking in the energetic crowd.
Despite many in the audience wanting to hear old favorites, they were still receptive to Joyce Manor’s new songs, going as hard in the pit as they were for the likes of the Never Hungover Again tracks. “NBTSA,” the second song off 40 oz. to Fresno that lasts less than a minute and a half, caused the mosh pit to open up, shoes and hats flying everywhere as fans lost their minds to the track.
Closing out the night with the classic “Catalina Fight Song,” Joyce Manor’s set showed how their old songs continue to age like fine wine, gaining new fans alongside loyal listeners after so many years.
PUP
PUP’s 17-song setlist represented the many different album eras the band has gone through over the years. From Morbid Stuff to The Dream Is Over to the latest THE UNRAVELING OF PUP THE BAND, no era was left untouched, allowing fans to get the most out of the performance.
Early on in the night, PUP paused their set to remind everywhere in the crowd that they were in a safe space. Reminding the audience to help each other out, pick each other up and have fun, PUP made it clear that they are all about inclusivity, safety and a good time when it comes to their shows.
One thing you should know if you ever go to a PUP show – no one is as happy to be onstage as frontman Stefan Babcock. Interacting with the crowd during high-energy tracks like “Free At Last,” “Old Wounds” and “Waiting,” Babcock would throw his guitar over his shoulders and scream the lyrics along with the crowd, an authentic exchange you don’t see often at shows anymore. In fact, Babcock even found himself on the barricade during the night, interacting with the lucky fans in the front row as if he was ready to hop into the pit and join them for the rest of the night.
“Matilda” was a particularly memorable moment in their set, Babcock setting the tone by letting fans know it’s a love song about his guitar, which goes to show how well his love life is going. The guitar-heavy track is laced with poetic anecdotes of emotions and thoughts, greatly representing the type of music PUP has become known for.
PUP closed the night out with a bang – giving fans performances of the classic “If This Tour Doesn’t Kill You, I Will” and “DVP,” off of 2016’s The Dream Is Over. Both songs set the band afire onstage, each member giving it their all while a sea of people floated over the barricade, crowd surfing as if they would never get a chance to do it again.
A PUP show is truly unlike anything else you will experience. Creating a foundation built on acceptance and inclusion, PUP’s onstage performance is unmatched in the industry and is truly captivating to watch. Whether you’re a Morbid Stuff, The Dream Is Over, THE UNRAVELING OF PUP THE BAND or self-titled fan, there is something in PUP’s live set for everyone. Once you see them for the first time, you’ll be counting down the days until they are back in your town.
