Live Review: PUP & Joyce Manor Sold Out Show Night #2 at Wonder Ballroom on March 18th, 2023

PUP is a Canadian Pop Punk band that is currently on a tour through the Mid-West with support from Joyce Manor and Pool Kids. These shows are extra special for the fact that they are playing two nights in each city. Here at Manor 208 we were lucky enough to witness Saturday’s sold out show.

Pool Kids opened the show up to an eager crowd of fans, hauling all the way from Tallahassee, Florida. They’re a largely unknown emo band that has gotten some praise from Hayley Williams herself. As put by Williams, “This is what Paramore wished we sounded like in the 2000’s”. Not afraid to say what’s on their mind they talk about practicing safe sex, about navigating life’s greatest challenges, and having no will to make it out of bed some days. The setlist included “Arm’s Length,” “Swallow,” and “Talk Too Much”. Really they were the highlight of the show with their punchy guitar riffs, electric energy. After their set they managed to sneak out for a bit and crash Free Throw’s show down the street at the Mission Theater.

Joyce Manor were the next band up, it’s really cool to see like minded individuals playing music together on the same tour. Joyce Manor is a American punk band from Torrance California. It’s hard to believe that they have been around 14 years and have put out 6 albums. Joyce Manor’s sound is at the heart of the lyrics and they talk about growing up, the challenges of fame, & learning to navigate relationships. It’s catchy, punchy, a little bit messy and in your face cheeky wordplay.

A fan from the other night’s show pointed out that they were switching up the setlist tonight, to make each night feel fresh. They played a 22 song set with hits like “Derailed,” “Eighteen,” “Stairs,” “Heart Tattoo,” “Catalonia Fight Song,” & “Leather Jacket”. You could really feel the energy in the crowd. You had a good mix of new and old fans with some younger kids in the audience.

Last but not least the legendary band PUP made it to the stage. At this point in the show the room was completely filled and everyone was fired up for more. Starting the band in 2010, PUP has been an active band that toured for a good 13 years prior to the Pandemic and for their 2014 album did 400 shows in total. Given the pandemic, it had been awhile since PUP played these venues.

You could feel the energy in the crowd; everyone was cheerful and happy singing the songs that meant so much to their youth. The setlist included hits like “Dark Days”, “Morbid Stuff”, “If This Tour Doesn’t Kill You”, & “DVP”. It wasn’t until halfway through the set during the song “Waiting” the lead singer took a nose dive into the crowd and surfed his way back up. This tour isn’t one to be missed. Every band is super talented and encouraging of everyone. There are couple more dates on this tour if you’re on the east coast and then they are off across the pond to France, Spain, & Austria playing Primavera Sound Festival.