PULP BRING THE HOUSE DOWN IN MANCHESTER WITH TOUR FINALE MASTERCLASS

Pulp were the eccentric, seductive voice of the 90s, and even three decades on, while today’s charts are often stuffed with samey pop and backflipping Benson Boones, the band still radiates their signature spark. On Saturday night, Sheffield’s shining beacon of Britpop wrapped their tour in Manchester with one of the sweatiest, most electrifying gigs Coop Live’s pit has ever witnessed. As always, the show was a cleverly executed, endlessly surprising affair brimming with beloved hits. In short, it was bloody brilliant.

From the first flicker of smoke and the grand theatre curtain’s rise, the tone was set. Jarvis Cocker emerged with theatrical flair to debut “Spike Island,” a new track from the album of the same name. The setlist masterfully mixed fresh material with old favourites, and the crowd knew every lyric. Pulp fans aren’t just loyal, they’re fluent in the band’s unique dialect, which made for an especially rich experience.

The new album, More, released on 6 June, was met with roaring acclaim. Fresh cuts like “Tina,” “Slow Jam,” and “Farmers Market” landed hard, proving that new material can still shake the foundations of a legacy band. During “Grown Ups,” Cocker joked that keeping rhythm while clapping is a mark of adulthood, prompting 25,000 fans to follow Nick Banks’ drumming in a deafening, rain-like roar. Still every bit the showman, Jarvis Cocker quieted the room with a look, powerful stuff I’ve only ever seen Springsteen pull off at this venue. Oh, and yes, tea and chocolates were launched into the crowd. One fan claimed the grape they caught tasted like “grape and floor alcohol.” Classic.

The string section deserves a medal. Even the most familiar tunes felt new as they slipped into bucket hats and blew whistles during “Sorted for E’s and Wizz.” “Disco 2000” and “F.E.E.L.I.N.G. C.A.L.L.E.D. L.O.V.E.” reminded us why Different Class is still an untouchable, no-skip masterpiece. “Help the Aged” and “This is Hardcore” followed in all their brooding glory. The first set wrapped with “Sunrise” before a cheeky vote-off: “We Are the Boyz” versus “Pink Glove.” The latter won by a mile, and while I backed the former, I’ll happily admit defeat. It became one of the night’s most electrifying moments, complete with a pink marigold waved proudly from the crowd.

Between the rave-ups of “Do You Remember the First Time?”, “Mishapes” and “Babies” came with an unexpectedly tender acoustic version of “Something Changed,” played by the band’s original line-up. In a cavernous arena, it felt warm and intimate, a lovely look back at how far they’ve come. After the sweaty climax of “Common People,” they slowed things down with a serene encore of “Sunset.” With its Wes Anderson-esque melancholy, it brought the night to a close on a perfect note of calm and gratitude.

Pulp took Manchester’s hand and gave it a glorious shake. The people asked for More, and the band proved the album alone wasn’t enough; they delivered a riotous, genre-blending, visually stunning spectacle like only they can. And best of all? It was just bloody fun.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Photos: Abi Chilton Film and Photography