Primed the previous weekend by the Showroom’s screening of Pulp: A film about life, death and supermarkets, a film which indulges, in equal part, super-fans, common Sheffield OAPs, band interviews and gig footage, we headed out on a dreary Friday eve to catch a packed tram down to the Utilita Arena.
‘Is there something on?’ a non-native asks me, clambering for a seat.
It’s been 11 years since their homecoming show wrapped up their last tour. This time Sheffield is sandwiched in the middle of the cheekily titled ‘This is what we do for an encore’ and, much like hanging around to catch its namesake’s last few songs (and nearly missing the last tram home), it was certainly worth it.
Photo credit: Glenn Ashley
Giddy with anticipation, the audience and I spy Jarvis raising up to the backdrop of a full moon. The crowd didn’t have long to wait for the Britpop hits that propelled Pulp to household name status; we were abruptly confetti cannoned into Disco 2000, which given that we’re now 23 years after the date, felt strangely surreal to be dancing and singing along to with youthful 90s exuberance.
Jarv is a frontman whose theatrics are on an inverse curve graph to his age; he exuded the charm and down-to-earth warmth that is well… all very Sheffield, interspersing intervals with humour and colloquialisms, ‘we were having it, or ‘avin’ it?’
Photo credit: Glenn Ashley
A heartfelt dedication was made before ‘Something Changed’ to Pulp’s recently deceased bass guitarist Steve Mackey, which the Elysian Collective string section added an ethereal depth to. They rattled through Pink Gloves, Weeds, Feeling Called Love, This is Hardcore, Sunrise, Babies, Do you Remember the First Time? checking off the versatility of their back catalogue replete with lasers, smoke, carefully crafted visuals which nodded back to the single’s videos and lyrics, and pyrotechnics.
Multiple dedications were made to the city that made the songs even bemoaning that they did ‘fill in the fountain down the road.’
Leaving the biggest hit until last we were teased ‘are we forgetting anything?’, leaving the audience to beg for Common People.
Photo credit: Glenn Ashley
The encore contained the chronological contrast of ‘Razzmatazz’ followed by last tour’s Christmas present ‘After you’.
Two hours didn’t feel long enough but I’m not sure my face could take much more smiling.
Words: Kate Beer
Photography: Glenn Ashley
