SarahAWilson wrote:

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I'm over in 219. I'm dressed in black. Will wave a torch. Don't know if you can see it but look towards the furthest right hand corner.

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 You're not too far away. Have a good one...again!

lipglossed wrote:

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I am so profoundly envious of you all, by the way. Cannot emphasise that enough.

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 Well, this has just been ratcheted up a notch.

Bar Italia, how are we feeling? :D

Thanks so much to Jayjay of this parish who gifted me her accompanying ticket.

One thing that I clocked from the beginning was that they started five minutes earlier than last night so I was hoping all through the gig that it would mean we had time for one extra song.

At various points towards the end, Jarvis teased Styloroc Nites Of Suburbia and My Legenday Girlfriend (which Mark was only too happy to respond to by giving two quick blasts of the MLG pre-chorus riff) and I would happily have taken either of those but the fact we got to hear a brand new song obviously is the best news of the night.

joemc5054 wrote:

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God i was a muppet. sat in the wrong seat number AND wrong block. luckily was only told at the end of Hawley's setlist. Glad i was made aware as block 214 were the best (as it should be) and we danced like there was no tommorrow. Superb gig - and I'm sorry for anyone who was sat on row P next to me in 9 and 10 and 12 and 13, i was only trying to have fun with my awful singing and dancing

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Don't feel so bad Joe, I made exactly the aame mistake! Ended up in block 213 by accident, only realised my error when someone else came along and had done the same. Signage wasn't great.

And in the end you were only two rows behind me, I was on Row M, seat 14. Good atmos in that block, though there was the usual cooling off during Weeds/Weeds Ii - the couple next to me went to the bar and the guy in front went on Facebook! Heathens!

 

-- Edited by Pip on Sunday 16th of July 2023 12:58:06 AM

I ended up in Block 213 by mistake too!! Jayjay (Jodie) off here spotted my errant orientation and guided me back to where I belonged. Would have been nice to meet you, Pip!

Well it was a pretty special couple of nights in Sheffield this week. I thought seeing Candida up front and centre at the piano with Jarvis was just wonderful. In the end I didn't care it was the same setlist and it was just magical spending time with them again. All I could think during the gig was "I could do this every night".

Jarvis was embarrassed by Paula pretty soon after it was recorded, I think!

imagine if theyd given us a download code for Hymn Of The North or whatever its called at this point, like they did with After You as Jarvis seemed to reference the 2012 show a hell of a lot. At least us who were there have got the bragging rights to say we saw the Pulp lineup at that point perform it live first

For years I regretted not going to Leeds 2011 and Sheffield 2012 (for various reasons), as I was convinced that Pulp would never play live again, and so I was taking to the grave the fact I missed two chances to see one of my all time favourite artists. How thankful I was that all these years later, I was given another chance to see this wonderful band. This time there was absolutely no way I was going to miss out, I made a point that I needed to right my previous wrongs, and man oh man, was last night worth that very long wait!

It's really hard to name a standout song from the set because each and every single one was a genuine contender for highlight of the night. All the big hits were exceptional as you can imagine, but the deeper cuts were just as good. I loved the slightly theatrical and thematic performance of E's & Whizz, the way they had strobe lights, lasers, smoke machines and the orchestra were decked out in rave clothes and blowing whistles, emulating a '90s rave. This Is Hardcore was pure goosebumps from start to finish, as I finally got to witness this cinematic masterpiece of a song live in all its dark, sleazy glory. Weeds 1 and 2 brought a brilliantly eerie and psychedelic atmosphere. Something Changed felt even more poignant with the Steve Mackey tribute. Playing After You was a nice touch. Sunrise was beautiful. Glory Days was empowering. And the supposed new song was quite interesting, it reminded me a little of the Room 29 album Jarvis did a few years ago.

I've seen other bands during second reunions and felt underwhelmed because at that point I knew they were just going through the motions, and I had concerns Pulp would be the same, that the magic was all spent up in 2011/2012, but I felt like last night was the band at their absolute best. Jarvis, in his '60s, owning the stage and making it his domain, with the same energy and charisma that he had in 1995.

-- Edited by TheDev on Sunday 16th of July 2023 09:02:46 PM

Long shot but can anyone remember who it was that Jarvis recited before Like a Friend on the Friday night? All I can remember is one of the quotes was saying that singing is one of the best ways to get your point across. 

Well its only 24 hours since last nights show - and im only just getting to do a write up. What an insane 24 hours its been.

I was walking the dog around dinnertime with my sister, and ended up getting the crap scared out of us with some loud cracks of thunder that came out the blue. Poor Pipi bolted and wanted to leg it home, but soon calmed down. When dried off at home, I get an alert from TheTrainLine.... my train to Manchester has been bloody cancelled. Great. I quickly packed my case and get to Chorley to make the slightly earlier train.

Sheffield. 345pm. Pissing it down. South Yorkshire never ever changes. Grab an Uber to my AirBnB and get checked in. By this point, I have established that I am the wrong end of Sheffield - the next Uber was from the AirBnB to the Arena. £14. Have a stroll to the Arena and queue up and get talking to a few lads from Geordieland - at this point, I started to feel excited for the night. The queue starts shifting, and were walking up the steps and getting checked by security. I only get sniffed out by the Police Dog - that in all honesty scared the crap out of me as I havent been around anything other than my diabetic medication. The grumpy police dog handler let me go and off we go....power walk to the front of the stage.

Time seemed to drag on for some time, and one thing the whole night pissed me off.....why on earth would you go to a concert and SIT ON THE BLOODY FLOOR !!!! It just made it feel a little awkward for those around them. Anyhow, rant over....Richard Hawley hits the stage, and says his favourite "Tonight Matthew, The Streets Are Ours"....and what a wonderful rendition it was. I have heard a few tracks by his Hawleyness over the years - but never got right into them. In my opinion, his is a better live performer than studio. That said though, having listened to his music tonight - its growing on me. Loved his "dance like a knob" comment.

Now then.....Pulp........

I noticed that the show had started early....and didnt really think much of it regarding the time.... however as the set progressed - I was getting gut feelings. The usual start of I Spy, Disco 2000 certainly got the crowd in fine voice. Misshapes sounded the best its sounded ever. I usually get bored during Feeling Called Love, and Sorted - but tonight they hit home, and they sounded like they were on form.

Before we know it, Sunrise has finished and we start with the first encore. Its 1010pm. At this point, im seriously thinking that something else is going to happen. Like A Friend, Underwear and Common People run like clockwork - and the second encore is here. After You definately hit the spot, as did Razzmatazz, but the highlight of the night was without doubt - Glory Days. It was as good today as it ever was then.

Then the electric piano is getting wheeled out, and Jarvis becomes visably nervous, and I scream "a new song!!!!"

The rest......is history.