I had the best Britpop weekend ever last weekend, starting with Pulp’s triumphant return to the District of Columbia a mere 27 years after their last performance. If that wasn’t enough I flew out to LA first thing on Sunday to see Oasis for my fourth show on their Live 25 tour, this time at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (it was fucking mega).
As such, I am jet lagged and a bit fried, so I will once again lean on the crutch of random thoughts fashioned as bullet points.
- Last year I said “Jarvis Cocker is undoubtedly the best frontman from the Britpop Era, and I don’t think it’s even close,” and I stand by it. After the weekend I just had, I feel extremely qualified to back up my assertion. Jarvis is the best combo of singer, songwriter, entertainer, and MC. He easily connects with the crowd and does an amazing job ushering his band and crowd through the show. Liam Gallagher is the coolest man on the planet, but he’s not a performer like Jarvis. Damon Albarn isn’t on Jarvis’s level as an entertainer. Richard Ashcroft is too laid back on stage. I’m not the biggest Suede fan but maybe Brett Anderson has the biggest argument here?
- Pulp are touring behind their new album, More, which was released in June and is waaaaay better than it has any right to be. “Spike Island” is among the band’s best work, and “Slow Jam,” Tina,” and “Grown Ups” would easily be included on any double-disc greatest hits collection. If this turns out to be the band’s final album, it’s a much better note to end on than 2001’s “We Love Life” (which has gown on me quite a bit and is the Pulp album I listen to the most these days).
Watch the official music video for “Spike Island” by Pulp on YouTube:
- The production for this tour is much improved compared to their bare-bones set up from last year, although I missed the starting bit from last year when they told you what number Pulp gig you were attending.
- Unsurprisingly, Different Class was featured heavily in the set with six songs, including three of the first four in Sorted for E’s & Wizz, Disco 2000 and F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E. A stripped down, acoustic version of “Something Changed” was also a highlight.
- In “Spike Island,” Jarvis sings, “I exist / to do this / shouting and pointing,” and as you can see by the photos from the Sept. 6 show at The Anthem below, nothing truer has ever been said.
- Jarvis forgot the opening lyrics to “My Sex” and, after a false start, had to get one of the supporting musicians onstage to pull the lyrics up on their phone. Was it a bit? If so, it was still great. Also, he threw grapes and chocolates into the crowd while introducing “Farmers Market.”
- I was shocked at the size of the crowd at The Anthem. I had no idea what kind of crowd Pulp could draw outside of NYC/LA and I expected it to be half full but I was way off. It was packed with people dancing, singing along, and having a great time. Way to show up everyone!
- Before “Do You Remember The First Time,” Jarvis mentioned the few times the band had played DC in the past — including the famous (infamous?) brief set opening for Radiohead at the impromptu Radiohead concert after the Tibetan Freedom Concert in 1998 (I was there! /humblebrag). Then he threw a 9:30 Club t-shirt into the crowd.
- “Common People” still hits so hard, even after 30 years. It’s a perfect song and undoubtedly *THE* Britpop anthem.
- I loved the theatericalness (is that a word?) of this set. “Help The Aged,” “F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E.,” “This Is Hardcore,” “Sunrise,” and “The Fear” are all showstoppers and to have them all in one set is an incredible thing.
- Before performing “Help The Aged,” Jarvis remarked that before the tour, the band had to decide if they would play all the songs in their original key (which would push his voice every night) or drop them down to make them easier to perform. They chose the former, but the audience had to sing the high notes in the chorus because they were the one but of the set he could no longer sing.
- “Joyriders” and “Sunrise” both made their tour debuts at this show.
Was this the last time I get to see Pulp perform? Maybe. If so, I feel content with this being the show to go out on.
Here’s the setlist in full:
Sorted for E’s & Wizz
Disco 2000
Spike Island
F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E.
My Sex
Farmers Market
This Is Hardcore
Sunrise
Something Changed
O.U. (Gone, Gone)
Acrylic Afternoons
Do You Remember the First Time?
Mis-Shapes
Got to Have Love
Babies
Common People
Encore:
The Fear
Joyriders
Help the Aged
Like a Friend
A Sunset
Here are some more photos of Pulp performing at The Anthem on Sept. 6, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Kyle Gustafson.
