Joe Pug: An old voice at a young age

Note: Photo courtesy of No Door Agency.

Joe Pug has a voice that sounds like he's 50. Thing is though, he isn't 50.

Pug, a Chicago transplant by way of Maryland, employs the gruff, weathered voice mainly heard in older blues and folk artists. He's in his 20s, but it suits his music.

Despite his age, he said that's just how it comes out.

"It's just been my most natural voice," Pug said. "When I open my mouth, that's how it comes out."

Pug, along with alt-country band Horse Feathers (check out their newest album House with No Name as well), and My Dear Alan Andrews, will be playing at The Canopy Club in Urbana on Sunday.

Pug in particular is getting a lot of attention, with write-ups in the Chicago Sun-Times and being featured on NPR's "Second Stage." Not bad for a singer who only started singing and performing a few years ago.

"I wrote and people responded to it, so I went with it," Pug said. "I sort of felt compelled to do it, like it was something I was supposed to do."

His music speaks well on its own. His 2008 debut EP, Nation of Heat, is a good introduction to his folk-influenced ways. Some of the lyrics come off as carefully-constructed, others as stream-of-conscious rambles.

And some meet somewhere in the middle, like standout track "Hymn #101." The song has a (cliche) Dylan-esque feel to it, but Dylan was never so clear-sounding.

Pug said that song came out of one afternoon, even though the contents of the song (which is certainly open to interpretation) had been brewing for some time.

"It just flowed and sounded right," Pug said. "I don't know if I can analyze it."

Later this year, Pug's full-length debut album will be coming out, and he said that some of the songs will feature more instrumentation (his EP is just him and a guitar), and some will just be him. It all depends on what the song calls for.

"It's a little less lonely with a band," Pug admits.

Until then though, he will be out on the road, and even though the economy isn't great, he is thrilled people are still showing up.

"For as much as everyone talks about how bad the economy is, there's a turnout at the shows I play," Pug said. "People will pay $10 for a show, they are still coming out and enjoying themselves."

Joe Pug, Horse Feathers and My Dear Alan Andrews will be at The Canopy Club, 708 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, Sunday, May 3 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance.