York Barbican 21 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. / Joyriders / Bad Cover Version / I Love Life / This Is Hardcore / Sunrise / Sorted / Babies / The Fear / The Trees / Underwear
The Fat Truckers went down even more badly here in York than anywhere yet - the atmosphere didn't help, something between an empty sports hall and airplane hangar...not good. But they gave it their best shot and at least they gave people something to talk about. Pulp livened things up a lot, despite the ridiculous no alcohol / smoking in the auditorium rule..crazy! Nice to hear Joyriders again, and again the cries for Common People were ignored - good on ya is what I say, they don't need to do it - this isn't a greatest hit(s) tour after all....
A fantastic performance by the band as they
visited a city that produced Shed Seven, but is not usually
graced by big name bands. York usually is replaced by nearby Leeds as a more
suitable venue. Jarvis was quick to apologize for the fans not being able to
bring any alcohol or food into the gig saying that
this was a stupid rule and that Pulp did not know it was the case beforehand
joking 'No wonder they call it the Barbican.' Jarvis continued to say when
requests were shouted from the crowd to the band to do 'E's and Wizz' that maybe
pills could be a happy replacement for the lack of alcohol at the gig. The
rendition of Weeds soon excited the audience with the dramatic video backdrop
used at this summers festivals showing a gigantic weed growing from the ground.
There was to be no Common People or Disco 2000, instead we were treated to
Babies, which was fantastic as ever sending the audience wild. Jarvis had apologized
before the song saying that it probably would not be very good as the band had
not played it for so long. The encore and final song brought us the Different
Class classic 'Underwear,' a velvet bra had been thrown on stage to Jarvis'
amusement he complimented its owner for its size. The crowd did not seem a
typical Pulp audience, with even some very elderly people being seen, maybe Help
the Aged has reached a new audience. But Pulp did seem on good form, Jarvis was
very genuine in thanking the crowd for coming. Richard Hawley gave out alcohol
to a few people at the front from the rider to the annoyance of a grumpy
security man at the front. The most requested song that night was surprisingly
Dogs are Everywhere, but everyone seemed to be in agreement that even though
this wish wasn't granted Birds in your garden was performed incredibly on stage
to cheers from their audience. Whether Pulp will come back to York must be in
question, as the venue was not up to much. The band did look well, although they
were not all smiles, Candida looked stunning in a long sparkly skirt and pink
cardigan while Richard seems to interact with the Pulp audience more than ever
before. Roll on this tour, Pulp are going from strength to strength. ( Matt
Maher)
Pulp were excellent (as usual) but the Barbican itself and the majority of
the crowd were absolute rubbish!! NO SMOKING OR DRINKING IN THE AUDITORIUM????
There was a great mix of
tracks and it was good to hear Laughing Boy again. Birds in your Garden and Bad
Cover Version were superb as was Babies. Hopefully going to Manchester Apollo on
Sunday - lets hope the venue does Pulp the
justice they deserve?
P.S The Fat Truckers were really good - didn't deserve a non-reaction like that
P.P.S Candida rocks!
(Richard, Barnsley)
After missing Pulp in Sheff. I went to see them in York. COME ON!!!! They we're great, even with the draconian smoking and drinking measures in place the crowd were whipped into a frenzy in places and stunned by beautiful tunes the next. Think it was a good job everyone had a day off, after the Monday night Aftershow to end all Aftershows at The Washington in Sheffield. Fat Truckers were cool too. Venue sucked but Jarv and the boys (and Candida) rose above it beautifully. Mackey had a good time I'd just missed him during the carnage . Love the Warrior
Welcome to the Jarvis stand up side show, as much an essential feature of Pulp live as his elegantly scuffed songs from the streets and now the back garden. Over the course of 100 minutes he talked "rubbish" (his word) about Mike Yarwood, Keith Harris, Shaw Taylor and the smoking and alcohol ban in the Barbican, making a joke about the alcohol free lager of the same name. He is that rarity in British rock, a true front man, showman, and entertainer, still the pipe cleaner slim spindly dancer, still wearing the cast offs from second hand shops..and still working his band to the max. Significantly, too, Pulp seem keep progressing. They left out Disco 2000, Help The Aged, Do You Remember The First Time, and, unbelievably, their anthem Common People and yet, trust me, it was still a magnificent show, constructed around the cornerstones of 1995's Different Class and this autumn's grandiose We Love Life... (Charles Hutchinson, Yorkshire Evening Press)