Music
Touring Canadian bands kicked out of Alberta thrift shop for wearing tight pants and being too tall
by Tyler Munro
November 12, 2013
via Facebook
Toronto go-getters Pup are headfirst into their first big cross-country tour, and in between updates of them dressed like Batman and peeing in front of beautiful landscapes comes an interesting little story: on November 8th, singer Stefan Babcock was kicked out of a Lethbridge, Alberta thrift shop because his pants were too tight.
Sure, there’s more to the story, but in this case, the details only make things even crazier.
“Zack [guitarist, The Zolas, who joined Pup for some shows] goes to try on this jacket and the old fucking psycho owner of the store comes tearing through the shop screaming ‘don’t try on these clothes! You are too tall to be here,'” Babcock told AUX from the road. “I thought it was a joke, but he was clearly senile and started screaming about respect for elders in how we should never come back and, in fact, leave town.”
That’s when Babcock intervened and, in turn, where things went up a notch.
“I say, ‘are you fucking kidding me?’ to him and he flips out, like, ‘get the fuck out of my store! You come in here with your tight pants and this guy who is like eight feet tall and you’re trying on clothes!'” he continued. “I guess you’re not supposed to try on clothes in a clothes store. Anyway, I smile nicely and said as sweetly as possible ‘go fuck yourself’ on my way out the door.”
For what it’s worth, Babcock, a not-so-tall man by his own admission, says he figures Zack is about 6’3″. The story ends as most do, however, with a bit of a twist. According to Stefan, James from The Zolas kept quiet during the altercation after finding a shirt he’d liked. He apparently left the store having bought eight (!!!) shirts. There was another customer in the store when it happened and, according to Babcock, he left saying “Wow man, you really make shoplifting seem appealing.”
“We don’t dress like punks. We look normal and are friendly enough guys,” said Babcock. “Clearly the dude is just fucking bat shit.”
Life on the road, everybody!
Catch Pup and The Zolas in support of Hollerado, dates below:
November 12 in Kamloops @ Blue Grotto
November 13 in Kewlowna @ The Habitat
November 14 in Vancouver @ Commodore Ballroom
November 15 in Cumberland @ The Waverley Hotel
