Joe Pug
Joe Pug talks about his music, his life and his name.
A few years ago Joe Pug was an aspiring playwright attending college in North Carolina. A few weeks ago I dsicovered the student turned musician on a local radio station, watched as he silenced the entire crowd at the Canopy Club in Urbana and got the chance to meet Joe after the show.
HEAVE: Alright, I gotta ask: is Joe Pug your real name?
JP: Actually my last name is Pugliese. I got the nickname “Pug” growing up and to be honest, it fit’s a lot better on the marquee.
HEAVE: So, you’re from the East Coast, right? How are you liking Chicago and what it has to offer?
JP: I like it a lot. The coasts seem to have a differing sensibilities, you know what I mean? The Midwest is definitely a friendlier place. Not that I’m trying to shit on the East coast, believe you, me. It’s just that there is a hard-working vibe out here and people are pretty straight forward.
HEAVE: Yeah, not a big fan of the coasts myself. But, why Chicago?
JP: I was visiting a buddy for awhile and I just love Chicago.
HEAVE: How long have you been here and playing music?
JP: Three years and some change. Seriously playing since I got here.
HEAVE: So the music is it right now then?
JP: Yeah, just paying the bills with the music. I’m not exactly buying a Beamer next week but it keeps a pack of smokes in my pocket and pork chops on the table.
HEAVE: Really? I mean I went out and bought your EP, Nation of Heat, like a sucker, only to find out you were giving it away. How can you make money when your music is free?
JP: I figure if I give the music away, the people will come to the shows to support me and see the music live. It’s much easier without having to support a whole band on the road. When I’m in town I’ll play with a band, but on tour it’s just me.
HEAVE: So, what would you be doing if the music wasn’t paying the bills?
JP: Probably some bull shit job to pay the rent. Go back to being a carpenter. But as far as something creative - I love writing, playing, recording and touring. It’s my passion and I think this is it for me.
HEAVE: I understand you are recording a follow-up to Nation of Heat?
JP: Yeah, I’m in the studio right now. The album should be out in April. It’s much more premeditated than N of H. More instruments on this one. I’m really diggin’ the way it’s coming out, but it’s a much different process than the EP was. Last time I just kinda played these songs that we recorded. I suppose there is an advantage to the ignorance of that. I’m trying to recapture some of the same stuff as last time, but its different altogether. I feel I have improved as a musician, a singer and even a writer.
HEAVE: Well, I have to say that you’re one hell of a lyricist and musician as is. You remind me of Dylan or John Hiatt. You’re a younger guy, where does all of this stuff in your music come from?
JP: Personal experience I suppose. I mean, writing a vast amount and just showing the audience the best of it is really what it’s about. You keep writing and writing until the best stuff come out; countless pages to get one good line. If five percent of what I write is useable, that’s good. You would be staggered by the amount of miserable bull shit that comes out on the page before we get to something useful. You have to hold yourself to that higher standard though.
HEAVE: So, have you found a label yet? And when can we expect to see you on tour again with the new material?
JP: No label yet. We’ve been talking with a lot of record companies but nothing has really struck my fancy yet. I want a record company that says, “We love this music as is.” rather than ask, “Can you write more of this, play more arrangements like that?” I am open to learning and trying new things but overall I want it to be my work. I’ll be playing South by Southwest and touring with a band out of Portland called Horse Feathers who I really dig. Not sure on the dates yet, but May 1 and 2 we’ll be having the record release shows at Scuba’s [in Chicago]
Check out Joe’s current EP, Nation of Heat, available for listen at joepugmusic.com
Posted by Ryan Brokamp on Mar 09, 2009 @ 8:00 am
