Pulp

OVO Hydro, 7 June

A game of two halves with music from the present, taken from the album More released 24 hours before the gig, blending seamlessly with music from the past to a packed audience that had already taken the new songs to their heart.

There was an old fashion Variety Show feel to the stage setting, the pre-start introduction, the half time intermission and the ‘Cheerometer’, used to select which of two songs the band would play after the interval – Seconds or Dishes with Seconds winning by a clear decibel or two.

While the show itself kicked off with Spike Island, Grown Ups and Slow Jam from More, it wasn’t long before the venue floor was bouncing to fans favourites Sorted For E’s & Wizz, Disco 2000 and F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E. and to make the more mature audience members feel at home, Help The Aged.

What was striking by this time, was the level of production that had went into the show – a full orchestral string section complementing the rock’n’roll standard instrumentation, the backdrops to each song, how a lift at the back of the stage was used to introduce Jarvis Cocker to be followed by leather lounge chair and two further backing singers later in the show.

It is difficult to take your eye off Jarvis Cocker when he is in full flow, arms and hands waving in apparent timing to the songs that only he could get away with. He is though the consummate showman, stories from the past providing clues to the next song, moving up and down the stairway to sit, stand or even lie down as was his desire, remembering his previous visits to the city.

It’s been a while since the band toured in support of new music, though you would never have guessed it. The first half ended with Sunrise while Something Changed kicked things off after the intermission. The latter was a stripped-down acoustic version featuring just the core remaining Pulp members of Jarvis Cocker, guitarist Mark Webber, keyboard player Candida Doyle, and drummer Nick Banks. With the large purple velvet acting as an immediate backdrop, it re-enforced the variety show feel about the whole event.

As one would expect, the band were gearing up to the grand finale, Do You Remember The First Time, Mis-Shapes, Got To Have Love, Babies and Common People were met with rapturous cheering and full-on audience participation.

And while the curtain closed across the stage, there was still time for Jarvis to enquire whether we wanted More? Of course! was the response and peaking from out o the stage curtain, the entire ensemble gathered for an acoustic version of A Sunset. A cheeky wave. A gracious thank you and they were finally gone.

Pulp have been around for more years than many of us would care to admit to. While the production theme hankered back to an earlier period, this wasn’t a retro gig by any measurement. It merely re-enforced that Jarvis Cocker and crew have been able to re-imagine their music for the current times we find ourselves in.

The You Deserve More Tour did everything it said on the tin, and a good bit more.