Pug Life

How a Chicago songwriter went from construction sites to open mics to the Folk Fest.

by Mary Armstrong

	print	email	reply

Published: Aug 12, 2009

[ folk ]

Amber Meairs OPEN SEASON: "Three years of playing to five people," Pug recalls about his open mic days. "I was happy to have five people."

Theatrical indie kids The Decemberists? Sure they'll be there. So will the understatedly acoustic Iron and Wine and southernly rocking Derek Trucks. Can't forget hardcore bluegrasser Del McCoury or stalwart folkie Tom Rush, either. Those are some of the obvious draws at this year's Philadelphia Folk Festival.

But the fest is known for its stellar undercards, too, and you'd be a fool to miss Joe Pug. He has the kind of sound that takes Gene Shay's Folk Show listeners from casual putzing around to laser focus. You don't want to miss a word, either of the lyrics or the next break which will reveal the singer's identity. And when Shay says Joe Pug, it's a delight to confirm that the buzz has been deserved. There's power in that voice, and the words, and the solo acoustic guitar seals the deal. No wonder people are talking about him.

Pug lives in Chicago, but his sound suggests that his people are those who followed the Hillbilly Highway north in search of a living wage. Nope. He grew up in Greenbelt, right outside D.C. Pug is short for Pugliese. He can even tell you the name of the Italian village his dad's side is from. Still, D.C. has plenty of roots music, especially bluegrass, not that Pug noticed. He proves the point when he starts searching for names he does recall and stalls after Doc Watson and Ralph Stanley. It's not because Joe Pug has been at it so long that it's all a swirling mist of past shows attended. Pug is now 25.

Less that five years ago he had no intention of being a performing singer/songwriter. Until burnout sent him on the road, Pug was a playwright-in-training in Chapel Hill. "I left college without getting a degree. The trades are the only place for a person without a degree to make a livable wage. My dad was a carpenter. I never went out to the job site as a kid, but I knew it was an option. I started as a laborer, then went into framing. I was serviceable, I wasn't that bad."

Pug fell for Chicago after visiting a friend there. "It's happening, it's metropolitan, lots of arts, but cheaper than New York or L.A., and it's got the Midwestern no-bullshit sensibility."

Working by day in construction, Pug frequented open mics by night, slowly turning the play that would have been his senior project into song. "Three years of playing to five people. I was happy to have five people! I was basically supporting music with my day job, losing money on gas."

He confesses this secret to success. "At the end of the day, anybody in entertainment will tell you it's getting a break or two, like Steve Earle hearing my CD, liking it and asking me to go on the road with him."For sure that doesn't hurt. But ask Earle's son, Justin Townes (also appearing at the festival): After the spotlight turns to you people are quick to figure out if you belong there. Lucky for us, Earle is particular about sharing the stage.

(m_armstrong@citypaper.net)

Philadelphia Folk Festival, Thu.-Sun., Aug. 13-16. More info at folkfest.org.

John Legend
Drug Rug
Eavesdrop Sessions
Tori Amos
Good Vibes
Folk Fest Bets
Wye Oak
Marduk