also what are the chances of me sneaking into the stalls with a circle unreserved ticket tonight?

Actually, perhaps I should be careful what I wish for. I think I would probably feel extremely embarrassed for the band if they were to actually do it! Haha. I suppose they could try and make it vaguely palatable by working out some kind of techno/dance reworking of it? Hmm.

Ahem, but on a more serious note, what makes you think that about Nick? Is he known for being keen on the "crowd-pleasers"?

What a frenzied 24 hours. Left my house at 11 am yesterday morning, arrived back home at 11 this morning (to find the cat wrestling a mouse on the door mat). No sleep, lots of time spent on buses, planes, walking, airports (the hardest part) but well-worth it for the few hours in Brixton last night for the show and meeting some of the people on here (I refuse to use the word ''boardies'').

Time was really tight on the whole thing, it would have been great to arrive earlier in Brixton though more or less everyone had to make the last tube back just after midnight so there wasn't much missed post-gig.

As has been reported, it was a fantastic concert (if you fancy a laugh read the Londay Evening's Standard review). At the start with Jarvis promising more obscure songs (though ruling out ''Silence'' which was quite funny as James had been telling me about his all-major (or was it minor?) 7ths cover version in the pub less than an hour beforehand), it really promised to be an unpredictable show. After an opening salvo of DYRTFT? (ok, by now the most predictable song and set-placer), Countdown (much to My Legendary Girlfriend/Paola's delight), Lipgloss (which saw Hawley joining the stage for the first time of the evening), OU and Have You Seen Her Lately I think we were all in dreamland. Especially me when (self-indulgence alert), I waved a sign I'd made on crappy fluorescent paper ''Russell: You Are The One'' which caught Jarvis' eye. He read it aloud, looking across to Russell who rather brilliantly, flashed a rare smile and gave a thumbs-up in my general direction  (not sure if that was something separate to what you were on about Jazza?). Some of us tried to scribble-up more signs before leaving the pub but they weren't great really were they?!

With a packed crowd it was inevitable I suppose that the ''fan-club'' type set would be opened-up to include more hits and album cuts that the causals would recognise so a lot of the stuff that's been played at the festivals got an airing (the presence of Different Class was trimmed however).
A lengthy introduction (I thought they were going to try Seductive Barry) preceded Wickerman with Jarvis admitting he needed the lyric sheet on-hand just in case he messed-up. Three backing singers joined in for this and Bad Cover Version with Hawley back on and Russell taking a break. To be honest the singers' warbling during the spoken bits of Wickerman was quite off-putting I found as I couldn't concentrate on the words and band playing.

Just as well that a fair few less well-known songs were thrown-in as it was pretty cramped and sweaty down the front for the likes of DYRTFT, Disco 2000, Babies and Common People. Jarvis straddling of the side amps, ten foot above the stage, and thrusting while clung onto them during This Is Hardcore was an, er, sight to behold.

Nice to see the crazy Mexicans get some acknowledgement for having followed the band around all summer (surely they've not been at all of the festivals have they?!). Jarvis was in fine form, sharing a big glass of wine and later a bottle of beer with some lucky people at the front (though not the same people as ''you shouldn't mix'') although at one stage he reprimanded poor Mark for tuning-up over him talking. Obviously it wasn't meant seriously but calling him a ''knobhead'' which caused the crowd to respond sharply rather than laugh, was not something I can imagine him saying to another band member. Still he did admit he can be a twat and gave Webbo a hug later.

Misshapes was a fine note to end on though I wonder if they changed their mind on playing a couple of more songs (Party Hard would have been great, the reworked version they tried in Australia is ace...while Sheffield:Sex City was tantalisingly left-off. Someone on facebook mentioned Steve being angry at the end(?) Maybe you lucky people will hear it tonight).

Most of us headed back to the Canterbury Arms, getting in before closing for one last drink before we went our separate ways.

Here are some Bar Italia people at said venue pre-gig (sorry, my camera is shite for night/dark shots. My pics of the gig are crap. The fella I asked to take the snap took three snaps, all with his finger in the lens!).

From left to right: Eamonn, Christina (Weener), Anet, Paola (MyLegendaryGirlfriend),  Dave (Deebs), Rolf (non-Bar Italia person. Really nice German guy I met at Suede at Brixton in May), Matt (Sleeve) and James.

It was also great to meet username Twiggy outside the pub after the concert

And me with the Russell sign:

Me Deebs and Anet are in the caterbury. Where is everyone else?

Holden wrote:

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And on that note, a little cheeky, but maybe a "Please Dont Break Up Again" sign tonight would be apt?

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Or "Please tour America!"

caetano wrote:

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ArrGee wrote:

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Eamonn wrote:

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...if you fancy a laugh read the London Evening's Standard review

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Mmmm, wasn't particularly funny just piss-poor.  "Right Said Fred with northern accents".  Some insight.  At least the responses are more real.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/review-23982886-pulp-o2-academy-brixton---review.do

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Eh! Chill. I was upset when I read that, then relieved when I saw the reviewer's name. After all the lashing-out, he still gave 3 stars. 

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 Thing is I saw Morrissey with my wife early in August and came away totally underwhelmed (my wife is a big Smiths/Morrissey fan and his previous show a few years ago at Brixton was infinitely better) yet that show got 4 stars.  We were gobsmacked as it was a very lacklustre show.  And after the 4 star review from the Standard from the more perfunctionary Hyde Park gig http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/review-23966852-pulp-wireless-festival-hyde-park---review.do  I would have expected at least the same for a far more ambitious set list.

I am okay with the Russell-less version of the reunion playing America. Something is better than nothing!

I arrived in Brixton too late for the Canterbury Arms so went straight to the venue. I thought the crowd was amazing - especially after Wireless! No pushing, no drunks, everyone was just so happy and at the front everyone seemed to sing along to most of the songs!

I was really surprised that they left so quickly after the 1rst encore, without saying a few words or mentioning anything about seeing / not seeing them again soon. They must have been pushed by time :( For a moment a few of us thought they might come back for a second encore!

The setlist was amazing ! Countdown, wow. It was HEAVEN on earth for 2 hours. I'm now feeling pretty depressed thinking this might be the last time... It was hard enough after Magna but somehow now it feels even worse thinking this might be it. I only wish that they enjoyed playing together again so much that they might want to give it another try... Jarvis looked like he had a great time but it was hard to tell for the others. Maybe some of you more at the front were able to see if they were smiling a bit ?

annsaphone wrote:

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Maybe some of you more at the front were able to see if they were smiling a bit ?

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 Nick definitely enjoyed it and even Mark was smiling, so it must have been good 

I'm sure there will be a few more dates announced in the next week or two.

Sheffield: Sex City!! I knew I should have foregone financial prudence and stuck around for tonight. Fuck! I really hope bootlegs for both nights appear at some stage.

From twitter...

 pre-encore

Jarvis: "it could be the last time we ever see you"

post-encore

"I hope we do meet some time in the future,"

Ah, teasing everyone again.

-- Edited by ArrGee on Thursday 1st of September 2011 11:29:41 PM