Venue:
Hammersmith Apollo
Date: 28/07/2023
Pulp are the greatest band of the 90’s IMHO. In fact probably my all time favourite so the chance to see them in a relatively smaller venue was too good to miss
They were magnificent. Played the hits but also the best of everything post 92, oldest song they played was Razzamatazz (and what a song that is) and they finished with Hymn to the North, a song I had never even heard before
Highlights for me were This is Hardcore and Glory Days from TIH, a great great underrated album. But to be honest as they reeled off song after great song, it’s hard to quibble with anything they played.
We Love life is probably my least favourite of theirs from that period, but they played Weeds and Sunrise and both sounded bloody great.
Jarvis wouldn’t like the comparison I expect but he’s getting Mick Jagger esque, looking the same age and putting in the same stage moves as 30 years ago. He’s nearly 60, but looks same as before
A brilliant frontman
Steve Mackey was missed from the band, he was such an integral piece, and they played a nice tribute film beforehand and dedicated a song to him. Pulp are now down to Jarvis, Nick, Candida and Mark so their best line up is clearly a thing of the past but they sounded spot on, they had a multitude of extra musicians plus orchestra so definitely threw everything at it
Last time I checked there were still tickets for tonight’s show at Hammersmith. I implore you to catch them whilst you can
The audience:
Surprisingly leary in places. Was standing for a while next to a coke addled beanpole. Plus a bit of pushing and shoving from now grey haired male britpoppers who really should know better. But I was near the front so hey ho.
As usual the only negative from going to gigs are the other people there
It made me think..
Oasis vs Blur was always a contest for second place. I like both but Pulp are better
I really hope they are filming this tour for release. I watched my get_iplayer rip of their 1995 Glastonbury set and it was as great as I remember from when I was there and full of hot cider and spicy noodles.
So I peeled the shrinkwrap off the …Supermarkets DVD I bought cheap in Fopp about 15 years ago and watched that, too.
Much as I’d love to go, unreliable health means I no longer pay out for gigs like this, but I’d buy a Blu-ray in an instant.
I think you might be in luck as I know they were filming last nights show for sure
Has to be some sort of tour Blu Ray I’d expect
Great review! Re the crowd – I was surprised at the party hard vibe of the crowd at recent PSB gig in Brighton. Couldn’t be doing with it – pissed-up beerguts waving plastic pints around bellowing along to Alwsys on my Mind, gaggle of hen party participants waving sparkly sticks and screaming at each other, frantically snogging middle aged couple chewing each other’s faces off throughout. I had quite a good spot near front when it started but scarpered to back of the hall just so could watch without all that malarkey