When they first appeared in 2010, PUP’s combination of wild, punk irreverence, rock ‘n’ roll-adjacent mega hooks and off-the-wall live shows fuelled a quick rise to cult success. Originally named Topanga, the Canadian quartet rebranded in 2013 after singer-guitarist Stefan Babcock’s grandma said that playing punk was a “pathetic use of potential”. But PUP’s difficult-to-deny appeal comes from being real, and has so far proved her wrong. Records about self-deprecation and anxiety spirals (2016’s The Dream Is Over) and accepting one’s own mortality (2019’s Morbid Stuff), built with catchy melodies and infectious energy, have grown the band’s popularity. Over time, PUP have found significant mainstream success for a punk band, including a couple of JUNO Award nominations (and a win for Morbid Stuff)—hopefully making grandma proud in the process.