Pulp performs a classic and a new song during NYC tour stop
Times of discover News: With the recent reformations of Blur and Oasis, '90s Britpop has re-entered the public consciousness. Another sign of Cool Britannia nostalgia is the return of Pulp, which performs the first of two sold-out shows at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York, on Friday. The beloved art-rock group from Sheffield, England, performed a stellar repertoire of classics and deep cuts led by its charismatic lead singer Jarvis Cocker. The nearly two-hour celebration of Anglophilia was a joy for the New York fans inside the packed venue.
Pulp's recent stop in the Big Apple was part of the This Is What We Do for Encore Tour in North America, the group's first arena tour in more than a decade (the last was at Coachella in 2012), which kicked off in Chicago on Monday and will run through Sept. 21 in Los Angeles.
With a core lineup of supporting musicians including Cocker, keyboardist Candida Doyle, guitarist Mark Webber and drummer Nick Banks, the group played most of the songs from their acclaimed 1995 masterpiece Different Class (including "I Spy," "Underwear," "Disco 2000" and "F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L." The O.V.E. ") as well as His 'n' Hers ("Babies," "Pink Glove"), This Is Hardcore (the title song) and We Love Life ("Weeds" and "Weeds II"). The encore included the group's signature song "Ordinary People," which had nearly everyone inside the theater standing up and dancing. Those who go to see Pulp live for the first time at Friday's Brooklyn show may be surprised at how rough and raw the songs sound on stage compared to their finely crafted studio versions — and yet their live performances showcase the band's signature rock cinematic and energetic art, revealing Cocker's English and indelibly melodic voice. The singer upped the charm factor by interacting with the audience between songs and proving what a magnetic performer she is, especially when standing on the risers at the front of the stage. A poignant moment during the set was when Cocker acknowledged former Pulp bassist Steve Mackey, who died last year at age 56, before the band began "Something's Changed." The show isn't entirely nostalgic: In the second performance of their first show in Brooklyn, the band unveiled a new song, "Got to Have Love" - which Pulp did not release during this tour. The reprise of released material continues (such as "Spike Island" and "My Sex"), according to the setlist. It's likely an upbeat track on a potential new record, a nod to the group's last album, 2001's We Love Life. Based on the enthusiasm of audiences everywhere for Friday's show and the crowds, it's easy to understand why tickets for the Brooklyn dates sold out quickly when they were first announced - despite Pulp's long absence between tour and album, my tickets were selling out too. Hopefully American fans won't have to wait another 12 years for the band to return to the US.
