Not a lot of love for We Love Life? It's my least favourite Pulp album (although maybe I'd change my mind if I'd seen any of the forest performances). I'd rather see Birds in Your Garden than Sunrise.

Also Jarvis talks a lot more in between too (a good thing, not a critism!)

Although apparently the headliners there normally do 90 minutes don't they?

liltman wrote:

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Although apparently the headliners there normally do 90 minutes don't they?

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 I think 1 hour 45 was the average last year but it may be more for Pulp as most people will be attending to see them.

 

I'm guessing that it might just be a "play it by ear" affair. Looks like Common People is the first encore song...and then maybe they'll throw in some extras depending on how many the festival management agree to?

 

Got some very mixed up feelings about the show in Toulouse.

The venue was bigger than I expected actually. Lots of instruments on stage. The band arrived on stage about 9pm and Jarvis was holding a screen displaying 'Bonsoir Toulouse'. The band was composed of Jarvis, Candida, Steve, Russell (despite that some people could not believe in this and said he was a look alike), Mark, Nick, and another guitarist. They started by playing 'Do You Remember The First Time?' which was very well received by the audience. Most of the people were very excited and the audience was really hot. 

After that, Jarvis asked us if we remembered the first time, exactly 17 years ago when they played at Le Bikini on 25th May 1994. He asked if there were people who attended the show at that time. And if there were people born on this day too 

Then they continued with another His'n'Hers song, a good performance of 'Pink Glove'.

Those 2 first songs really sounded like to the performance of that time. Then the band started playing mainly songs from 'Different Class' for the rest of the set:

'Pencil Skirt' which sounded really like a 1995 revival. Still good to see Russell playing violin however.

 After saying that we didn't get the feeling that we had changed, Jarvis introduced 'Something Changed'. This version didn't changed so much still. That ballad was still quite pleasant then.

'Disco 2000', 'Babies' which had not changed too.

After talking a bit about raving, the band played 'Sorted For E's and Wizz' which sounded a bit different: new intro, and some violin effects by Russell.

Then, some great tunes with 'F.E.L.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E.' and 'I Spy'; followed by 'Underwear'. 

After presenting us the fact that Russell was back in the band, Jarvis told us that he needed a rest and so the band played a couple of songs from their 2 last albums. First 'This Is Hardcore' which was introduced by the instrumental remix'. Jarvis was doing some kinds of effects with a sort of box in which he was singing. And then a rendition of 'Sunrise' during which before the last verse Jarvis thrown his acoustic guitar on stage that he left broken. It was one of the guitars he played with at the Galerie Chappe a few years ago, which also broke a little my heart then Despite the great performances of these songs, the audience seemed a bit bored of not hearing 'Different Class' songs anymore and talked a bit during the songs. 

Fortunately 'Sunrise' was not the last song, and Russell came back for a performance of 'Bar Italia' which is a great ender too.

Quickly the band came back for an encore 'we have forgotten something' and played 'Common People' which seemed the song for which most of the audience came that night. Most of the audience was singing 'I wanna live with Common People' which made those people looking really common. Despite the original sense of the song, this performance here was for the masses and to get the most of people coming to the festival. The band would not have left some place for sarcasm with songs such as 'Cocaine Socialism'. 

Hence the mixed-up feelings: In general the band sounded quite right, and in top form. Jarvis was moving a lot of stage and looked to enjoy the show. But what I missed the most about the show was the lack of 'great moments'. Yes, the global performance was good and there were some great tunes, but we couldn't really move on different feelings during the set. The set seemed to be just to give us a revival of the Different Class tour and didn't really bring anything new (not in terms of songs or performance, but of feelings). But as a festival set the band want to show during the whole set that they can still rock, and not many other feelings. But I have to ask if it actually makes sense today to hear the same tunes and the same tour as in 1995? (If they would have done something different people would have say it wasn't as good as before). The set is still enjoyable, but who can be aimed by such a show despite the brit-pop nostalgias (the same who are going to see Blur and Suede reunion shows) who want to dance as in their early years??! 

 

Fortunately the band came back for a small second set, which was more interesting (for me, but probably not for everyone as I saw a lot of people from the audience leaving during it) which proved the band was not here only to bring back their memories of a specific time, but still have more to play.

They started with 'O.U.', one of the greatest tracks from the Intro album, let's hope they will play Styroloc or Razzmatazz sometimes soon.

After say, Jarvis remind us that exactly 17 years ago, he played at Le Bikini, and added the fact that exactly 20 years ago on 25th May 1991 the band was playing at the Leadmill in Sheffield and played for the first time the next song: 'Countdown'. For me this was the highlight of the show. The version sounded a bit different from how it was played before I think, but the result was quite good. Let's also hope they will play more from 'Separations' or 'Death Come To Town' 

Then, someone asked for 'Master Of The Universe' but Jarvis said we will have to wait other 17 years. A bit of a shame as we could expect from the reunion they bring back some early hidden gems. This second small set, was more axed in 1990-1994 material however (while the main set sounded like a 1995/1996 show). So, after playing 'Joyriders' the band followed with 2 interesting performances of 'His'n'Hers' and 'Acrylic Afternoons'. Finally the band ended with 'Mis-shapes' and did not come back for another encore or any performance of the songs written on the second setlist.

As a conclusion, of course I was expecting a king of 'best-of show', but not actually a 'Different Class' show (despite the flyers which looked a lot DC). I'm not saying it's bad, just that it gave me the feeling to not bring anything new. It may sounds like a strange feeling, I know, but it was a feeling that have hopefully disappeared when the band started to play the second set ! :D

-- Edited by alphi on Thursday 26th of May 2011 04:05:40 PM

weener wrote:

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BTW was one of you from here wearing I remember the first time tshirt? If you were I was stood next to you for a bit, then in front..

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 Yeah that was me! Come say hello next time, I´m friendlier than I look.

Glad the gig has been well covered on here, lets me off reviewing duty. I´ve a couple of short crappy vids I´ll upload at a later date. Off to Primavera now!

-- Edited by Deebs on Thursday 26th of May 2011 03:14:14 PM

andy wrote:

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they're doing festival, and promoters want hits, they dont want obscure bsides, thats why you get this setlist. there's nothing unexpected here, bar the 2nd encore. if they make another album and tour "real" venues we'll get a different show.

i get your point, but you were aware of what you would get alphi ;) thanks for the review detailed though. cant wait for london.

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 Yeah, of course I was expecting a king of 'best-of show', but not actually a 'Different Class' show. I'm not saying it's bad, just that it gave me the feeling to not bring anything new. It may sounds like a strange feeling, I know, but it was a feeling that have disappeared when the band started to play the second set ! :D

 

Thank you Alphi for a great review.

I imagine if they have taken time to rehearse songs like OU andd Countdown, that they will be played at festivals. I just hope I get to hear Countdown live, so excited and very jelous of you were there last night and who will be there tomorrow!

I also imagine at Leeds where they are headlining, they will play a good encore, as it's their only Yorkshire date.

Brothers and sisters, this will be a great summer!!!

> Looks like Jarvis has been looking at PulpWiki!
Don't think so, as the fact they played Countdown at the Leadmill, on 25 May 1991 is not mentioned in Pulp Wiki. I'll add the info right now BTW...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9p0ivDezGo

That "Underwear" clip sounds amazing.