CONCERT REVIEW: PUP Unleashed The Dogs Of Punk In Amsterdam

On the 18th of May, Canadian punk band PUP came back to the Netherlands to turn the Melkweg Max into a space of mosh pits, screams and singalongs. Known for their emotionally raw lyrics and explosive energy, the band returned to Amsterdam for a night packed with noise, distortion and pure punk joy.

The band walked up on the stage with the song ‘Who Let The Dogs Out’, referring to their new album called ‘Who Looked After The Dogs? ’. The mosh pits and energy immediately started floating in the venue when opening the show with ‘No Hope’. From there, they went through songs like ‘Olive Garden’ and ‘My Life Is Over and I Couldn’t Be Happier’, keeping the energy high and the crowd jumping.

PUP’s setlist was a rollercoaster through their entire discography, playing tracks from Morbid Stuff, The Dream Is Over, PUP and THE UNRAVELLING OF PUPTHEBAND. Fan favourites played like ‘Free at Last’, ‘DVP’, and ‘Sleep in the Heat’ had the crowd screaming every word back at frontman Stefan Babcock. Before playing ‘Totally Fine’, Stefan joked on stage that nobody likes the record where the song is, but when they started playing it, the crowd exploded into a mosh pit party and showed the band that even though it might not be their best record, it still is amazing.

Then we move into the most known song from the new album called ‘Paranoid’; it keeps the momentum relentless, and the crowd was going really hard on it even though it’s relatively new. Later during the show the crowd showed the band why they love to play in Amsterdam; during ‘Familiar Patterns’ a group sat down in the pit and did a rowing motion in perfect sync; it felt like a moment that perfectly fits the vibe of PUP and was one of the most iconic moments during the set.

During ‘Hunger For Death’, guitarist Steve Sladkowski got his moment of fame when playing the solo at the end of the song. They also played ‘PUPTHEBAND Inc. Is Filing for Bankruptcy’ and Scorpion Hill’ during the set of the night. There were a lot of fun jokes made during the set, and you could clearly see from the band that they were enjoying being back in Amsterdam for a show. And once again this PUP show was chaotic, just like the last time they played in the Melkweg back in 2022.

PUP didn’t bother with a traditional encore; the chaos never really stopped, but the final notes left the room buzzing with adrenaline. Whether you were crowd-surfing, screaming along, or rowing in the pit, this was a night to remember. PUP once again proved that no matter how dark the lyrics get, their live shows are all about connection, catharsis, and community. And they do it louder than almost anyone else.

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