Nottingham Rock City 18 November 2001

Set List:  Weeds / Minnie Timperley / Birds / A Little Soul / Laughing Boy / Live Bed Show / F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E. / Trees / Bad Cover Version / I Love Life / This Is Hardcore / Sunrise / Sorted / Babies / The Fear / Party Hard / Underwear

Oh my god! What a great first night. We are all in for such a treat on this tour, let me tell you. Get ready for Babies (no kidding!) and a very unusual version of Laughing Boy... both total surprises! 

From Different Class we got Live Bed Show, F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E. and Underwear (as a final encore); from This Is Hardcore there was The Fear, This Is Hardcore plus A Little Soul... then of the new songs  Minnie, I Love Life, Birds in Your Garden, Bad Cover Version, and Sunrise. Did they do Weeds? Yes I think they did. The packed Rock City - err, definitely rocked.

Here's what you thought...

Comedy email of the week: I attended the Rock City gig last night. Although I did enjoy the show I was very disappointed that Common People was not included in the set. I appreciate that the group wish to play the newer tracks (I have bought and enjoy the new album) but when I pay £19 for a ticket I expect that any band will play their biggest, best known hit single. I don't care if they wish to change it to a Kraut Rock Anthem or Techno version, just play the song. The previous time that I had seen Pulp was supporting Sultans of Ping FC at the Leadmill in 91 so I have never seen them perform Common People. Over the years I have bought all the albums from His'n'Hers onwards but missed them live for various reasons. £19 is a bit steep for a set minus Common People. (Bob Stevens)

Yes, Rock-City rocked alright. It was a brilliant night. Easily topping Birmingham, not just cos the set seemed twice as long either. The sound was better & the more intimate hall really suited Pulp. It was a long wait & the Fat Truckers have damaged my ears irreparably I think [how? from being too ace? - Ed.], but finally they were there. And we went mad. Weeds is a great opener, this time with Jarvis shaking the little maraca thing in his mic in a way only he can! I resisted looking at the setlist so it was all a surprise. What a wonderful surprise too. It was fantastic to hear Laughing Boy, I've always loved it. F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E. was another highlight & Live Bed Show was totally unexpected & done brilliantly. Jarvis seemed on top form, throwing himself around in brilliant Jarv-style (though the Fat Truckers have quite an unusual way of 'dancing' it didn't have the same effect at all!!!). He spent alot of time on top of the monitors & it was so exciting to be on the front row again. He even managed to look sexy in the fluffy purple hat someone chucked to him - good catch too! Sadly no customary jumper removal, but instead we were told about the contents of his stretch cords - which seemed fair exchange! Brilliant to hear Bad Cover Version which came out really well live. And I'm glad they keep Hardcore in the set, it wouldn't be complete without it. Sunrise was excellent was a high point as it always is. We were treated to two encores which even included Babies. The final song was Party Hard & it was the best Party Hard I've ever seen. Jarvis gave everything. I can't wait for the next show ... Thank you Pulp, thank you Jarvis (Toni Sutton)

Nottingham rocked! - one of the best concerts I've been to yet. I love the extended vision of Live Bed Show - and I wasn't expecting that at all! I didn't like the fact the Jarvis banned photos. In Nottingham this wasn't stated before the show so when I got mine taken away in the middle of the gig, as I'd met the band before hand, I had important pictures on that film so I got really up set (I'm always an emotional wreck when I go to see Pulp) Jarvis saw me crying and grabbed my hand and smiled at me then a song later gave me the traditional cigarette!!!!!!! - That made my night! And during Underwear I threw a bottle of water over him (yes that was me!) I didn't mean to, I just got too excited - but he laughed it off which was cool. Pulp seemed to be their old selves which was really nice to see. (Rachel Seed)

Wow it was EXCELLENT!! Jarvis is such a great performer, and sounded the same as the CDs which makes a change to the last few bands that I have seen. They played fab songs but sadly finished on one that we didn't all love so we left on a bit of a low rather than if they had finished with something like Babies or F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E. that everyone rocked to, or even my new favourite 'The Birds in your garden', which I think is the best song off the new album!! and everyone seemed to enjoy!!! Also the Fat Truckers are BONKERS!! Great though, I will be going out and buying some of their music soon!! Great show !! (Carly Hay)

I saw them at Rock City on Sunday night and thought it was fuckin brilliant. (Chris Jackson)

What an amazing show. I've seen Pulp three times now and been to Rock City many times to see other bands ... this was truly the best concert by a million miles! It's so nice that they can to Nottingham (because they make such good lace apparently!). Pulp rock ... and Jarvis is a hero. The night was a real bobby-dazzler. Jarvis - you wouldn't need a 2:1 male female ratio to cop off in this town! (Matt & Jo)

Pulp, the best band in Britain: It's fantastic to see Pulp in an intimate venue they outgrew half a decade ago....yet Pulp are strong enough to dispense with the top ten smashes and still leave you thinking, "Hmm, best live band in Britain. By miles". A five - song finale from Sorted..on was so thrillingly exhilarating it left you gasping for air. (Ian Drury and Simon Atkinson, Nottingham Evening Post)