Thinking Spaces: Steve Sladkowski—”‘What Can I Get Away With Here?’: Improvisation in Punk Rock Performance and Community Making”

IICSI is pleased to present a Thinking Spaces presentation by Steve Sladkowski—guitarist for renowned punk band PUP, and U of G alumnus—in ImprovLab at 12 PM on Tuesday, November 18th! As with all of our Thinking Spaces events, this presentation is free and open to all.

Here’s how Steve describes his talk, and himself:

“Over the past 15 years of touring the world in a loud and sweaty punk rock band, I’ve learned a lot about improvising in musical and physical space by asking the question “What can I get away with here?” Some of the lessons gleaned from repeatedly asking this question are profound; some of the lessons are very, very silly. Through a lively and open-ended discussion with a healthy dose of Q+A, I’d like to offer insight into the practical uses of improvisation as it relates to onstage performance, to music venues as safe spaces, to the art of songwriting and composition, and the many other parts of my lived experience as a touring musician in the age of streaming and social media.”

Steve Sladkowski is a guitarist, improviser, composer, and writer best-known for his lead guitar work in the Juno Award-winning and two-time Polaris Prize-shortlisted Toronto punk rock band PUP. He has performed and improvised in 26 countries since graduating from the University of Guelph’s SOFAM in 2010. When not playing the guitar, he can be found reading, cooking, or cheering on the Blue Jays and Raptors. He resides in Toronto with his wife, dog, and cat and remains tremendously uncomfortable writing bios.