Sheffield Octagon 19 November 2001
Set List: Weeds / Minnie / The Birds in Your Garden / Something Changed / Laughing Boy / Live Bed Show / F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E. / The Trees / Bad Cover Version / I Love Life / This Is Hardcore / Sunrise / Sorted / Babies / The Fear / Wickerman / Anorexic Beauty / Underwear
Wow, what a night! Kicking off with the fantastically groovy Fat Truckers to get us in the mood, the sold-out Octagon was treated to an outstanding set...I mean, Anorexic Beauty?? Blimey. Last time they did that was in Doncaster in 1996 and the time before that would have been about 1987. Jarvis dedicated it to Russell Senior, although we don't think he was at the concert... It's always pretty special when Pulp return to their home town and this really didn't disappoint; looks like I wasn't the only one who had a good time....
The concert was brilliant! I was right at the front, and there was an intimate atmosphere, and I felt like I was right in there with the band! So cool! Jarvis was on top form, and so were the rest of the band. They all seemed really happy to be playing to us, and the crowd loved it! Anorexic Beauty - what can I say! I hope that Russell was there to hear such a perfect rendition! I think the best bit for me was Bad Cover Version - to hear it sung live was fantastic. Another highlight was the Live Bed Show, and the extended version too! Been ages since they've played that! All in all, I think they played a fantastic set, and the choice of songs was perfect...we got a taste of Pulp, old and new! (Charlotte Lewis)
After just being at the after show party in Sheff. They love it! They are back after 6 years. That was the last time they played Sheffield. I didn't even go to gig, but from what I heard they enjoyed it. Jarv didn't stop rambling. Hawley was awesome as ever. Banksy hit things well. Candy was V cool. Mark even said more than two words to me but where was Mackey? Rog from crew were in good spirits and so was Shabby Banks (PA and Nick's elder brother). Come on you lot buy the album. (The Warrior)
What a night at the Octagon! Brilliant set from Pulp and an introduction to the sound of Fat Truckers. I even bought their single (you were right, it IS top) I was standing at the right of the stage and saw Jarvis, Richard, Nick and Steve all enjoying the Truckers' set. Am trying to recover my hearing today though! (Andy Coles)
"I live on the edge," remarked Jarvis Cocker, explaining to the audience why he had foregone a pair of shoes to go with his Man At Oxfam outfit. "Brincliffe Edge!" Once upon a time, a long time ago, a month rarely went by without a Pulp concert in Sheffield. But since then fame has intervened, making them a national name instead of a merely local concern. And this was their first live performance in the city for almost five years – the last time being at the Arena at the height of Jarvis's post Jacko-baiting notoriety.
The band later admitted being nervous beforehand, but as soon as they stepped on stage, it was clear the homecoming was going to be a triumph – even if the lanky frontman did get his poor bare feet all dirty. You get the feeling that if Jarvis – now based in London, like all but one of his companions – had just stood there for an hour and a half and mentioned Sheffield districts the quickly sold-out Octagon crowd would have lapped it up. But he did drop a few names – Hackenthorpe, Park and Arbourthorne Labour Club and the possibly fictional 'Intake Posse' all got a mention. And in between the chatter Pulp played some songs – although surprisingly not their biggest and best-known hit, Common People.
Even more surprisingly, they did Anorexic Beauty, a song from their early-day doldrums, to mass scratching of heads from those who had not heard anything pre-1994. Luckily, there were a few old timers in the gathering – for them it must have been just like being transported back to the Hallamshire or Marples in the mid-1980s. Or maybe not. The other band members – Steve Mackey on bass, Nick Banks on drums, Candida Doyle on keyboards and Richard Hawley and Mark Webber on guitar – are often ignored in favour of Cocker's charisma, but they proved they are an integral part of the line-up, attacking their instruments with gusto, while a spot-on sound system made sure it was all very loud and clear.
Many of the songs were from their latest album, We Love Life, an artistic triumph even if it hasn't sold as well as expected, while they also performed several old favourites such as Sorted For E's And Wizz, Something Changed, Babies and the bleak but brilliant This Is Hardcore. But the highlight of the night for many was Wickerman, an odyssey through the River Don, with poetic lyrics taking us to Forge Dam, Broomhall and of course The Wicker, where Cocker used to live and near to where – as he explained – he once tried to sail a second-hand rubber dinghy down the aforementioned waterway. Oh well, it takes all sorts... As homecomings go, Pulp's was an impeccable one. Let's hope they don't leave it so long next time.
At the after-show party, held – where else? – at The Washington, the city pub co-owned by sticksman Nick, Jarvis admitted to feeling slightly queasy before the show. "I was a bit nervous before, but I thought it went okay," he admitted with customary modesty. As for the decision not to do the song which catapulted them to national fame and almost to the top of the charts, Cocker explained that he and the rest of the group felt it was just becoming too predictable and boring to keep performing.
"We did Anorexic Beauty in rehearsals yesterday and thought it would be a bit of a laugh to do it live. As for Common People, we don't intend to do it on this tour. We're trying to get away from it and we don't just want to do what people expect." And despite the rapturous response from his fellow Sheffielders, Cocker also denied press rumours that he was planning a permanent move back to the city of his birth and inspiration for many of his lyrics. "It's something I've thought about, and I might at some point in the future. But not just yet.'" (John Quinn, Sheffield Star)
Just wanna say I had an amazing time at the Octagon on Monday, I've been waiting since Doncaster 98 and I was not disappointed. The set was fantastic, best moment for me had to be Babies. I queued from 5:30 in the freezing cold but it paid off as I got right on the rail bang in front of Jarv. They looked like they were really enjoying themselves, Steve looked gorgeous as usual, and I got my own personal smile from Mark and Candida which made my night. I could barely lift my arms on Tuesday after all the waving and clapping. The car is still there haven't managed to restore yet tho! Say thankyou to the band for me, for yet again giving me a night to remember. (Bridget, Conisbrough) [NB: Bridget was the lucky Pulp Person who won Jarvis's crushed up Hillman Imp! - Ed.]
Nottingham was brilliant, it is true, especially hearing Laughing Boy - a beautiful surprise. Could I believe my ears! Then came last night - Sheffield. I was both excited and anxious - how would the band perform in front of their home audience? Candida had said she was nervous but the band looked so comfortable, relaxed and most importantly, like they were having a really good time. The entire concert was FANTASTIC, with Something Changed, as usual, standing out. Nothing could compete however with the magnificent "experiment" that was Anorexic Beauty - so blown away to hear that after such a time - and of course, Wickerman. Wickerman played in Sheffield was simply sublime. I still feel in a euphoric daze. That does sound so O.T.T, but really the concert blew me away. A big thanks to Jarvis and Candida who agreed to having their photos taken and to Mark and James for giving their written squiggles. (Susan Scott)
Cocker's humour is a useful sweetener to the
bitter pill of the set list, which is unforgivingly tilted towards Pulp's
brilliant, but not exactly hit packed, new album..Even its most potentially
poptastic extract, The Night Minnie Timperley Died (anthemic chorus, chunky
guitar riff nicked from Primal Scream's Loaded) is about the radio-unfriendly
subject of a paedophile child murder. Usually, when a band refuses to wheel out
the hits, it's a worrying sign, indicating that they resent their fame and don't
want to be liked. In the case of Pulp, the less familiar corners of their back
catalogue are so good that you barely notice the absence of Lipgloss or Do You
Remember The First Time? "Anorexic Beauty, for example, is a song from the
days when only John Peel and Jarvis' Mum had heard of Pulp. Laughing Boy is a
song that even they didn't know, but I'm glad to make it's acquaintance.
We all have personal favourites of course, and when someone throws him a fluffy
pink oven glove with the inscription "Pink Glove", Jarvis admits that
they tried that song in rehearsals "but it sounded a bit crap".... Not
that the set is the set devoid of classics. It doesn't matter how many times you
hear F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E., those sudden staccato stabs still spear
you as sharply and and shockingly as a shaft of ice falling from the wingtip of
a 767. The orgasmic climax of Babies ("My God!") and a chilling The
Fear are also among many highlights... (Simon Price, The Independent)