Pulp. In Sheffield. That’s going to be good surely? That’s what I thought and after seeing them in Manchester 11 days ago and I’m excited for round two. Sheffield Arena ticks a new venue for me too. It’s a bit of a mission to get in, but that’s arenas for you. Inside there’s no surprises either, it’s like a slightly smaller Manchester Arena, okay quite a bit smaller, but it’s not cozy. It’s pretty full though, even early doors.
That’s probably because it’s another local favourite in support tonight, Mr Richard Hawley. He’s someone I’ve only ever had a passing listen to, so I’m as cold to these songs as can be. Right away though we’re bathed in some retro warmth. This is the sound I associate Hawley with, but as the set goes on, there’s dark introspection, slow tempos with cutting guitars, whiskey soaked desert menace and full on harmonica majesty. It’s rather beautiful, cinematic even. The bloke stood next to me even opens a bag of Twirl Bites, but some of it feels a bit out of place in an arena. It would be lovely in a more intimate space, but I’m glad I got in early to see him. I like being proven wrong when I’ve got preconceived ideas about an artist. There’s something for everyone in his set and I’m left pretty stunned by the end. “That was epic” he says at one point and I couldn’t agree more.
After chatting away with a lovely couple about gigs gone by and how wonderful The Leadmill is, Pulp time comes. The place heats up and its fever pitch as the cinema curtains that have hidden the stage part. Jarvis appearing atop the stage set before descending the central stairs during ‘I Spy’. It’s much more intense than Manchester and goes absolutely nuts for ‘Disco 2000’. You know the drill beer everywhere. “Last night was good” coos Jarvis, cue boos from the crowd. “Raise the bar then” he suggests and raise it does. I mean I wasn’t here last night, but surely it wasn’t as full on as this!? I’ve been in some insane crowds but this is bonkers. The line “fighting in the streets” seems apt as it kicks off during ‘Mis-Shapes’. Too many people with too much booze, but again, arena crowds. One guy was dragged out after he collapsed 5 minutes before Pulp came on. Why?? He’s missed an incredible set. Some respect returns for ‘Something Changed’ dedicated once more to Mackey, whose family are thought to be in the audience. This was great in Manchester, but it’s word perfect in here, by what sounds like every single voice. Hilariously loads of people have brought marigolds to wave around during ‘Pink Glove’, with some of them getting inflated to bounce around as they play ‘Weeds’ and ‘Weeds II’. None of the kids in here know this from We Love Life it seems and it calms down a lot. Which is a welcome break as the songs driving rhythm reverberates around the walls, before it gets all trippy for part 2. Still it’s time for me to move toward the back a bit as they play ‘Feeling Called Love’ (I’m not putting all the dots in this time) and my least favourite ‘Sorted for E’s & Wizz’. I want to be more comfortable and less bruised for ‘This is Hardcore’. This is my favourite and doesn’t disappoint. Jarvis back at the top of the stage sitting in armchair under a mock chandelier. It’s a grand look for the best come down song ever. It’s a fucking monster, tearing through every muscle and sinew in my body until I’m a puddle of putrified joy. Jarvis has always been a great front man and a brilliant performer, but tonight he’s in rare form. Maybe because it’s Sheffield. Maybe because it’s a Saturday night. It feels like a pivitol moment. The anchor of the set. You could finish here, but they don’t of course. They’re only just getting going. ‘Do You Remember The First Time?’ sees I think every couple in here grab each other before bouncing around like it’s an indie disco in the 90s for the the chorus. It’s bloody loud, but you can hear the crowd sing over the band. Phenomenal. “You don’t wanna go home do you?” Jarvis asks as the song finishes and the bloke behind screams “No, never again!!!”. The ticker tape canons go off for ‘Babies’ with me back in the throng. It’s not as impressive as Manchester but I guess there’s no wind in here to carry it, but a load still goes in my pint. Hawley comes back on to provide slide guitar on ‘Sunrise’. Jarvis banging a giant drum and throwing shapes as it builds and builds. Finishing with him dancing in front of a megawatt light that leaves your eyes convinced it is really the sun. It’s moments like this in live music that I live for. ‘Like a Friend’ leads us into some new territory from Manchester and sounds really good. This crowd are here for stuff like ‘Underwear’ though and of course ‘Common People’ which I’ll be honest, I could do without, but you’ve got to do the hits haven’t you. I’d have liked maybe ‘Lipgloss’ instead, but I’m a miserable pain I know. If I thought the crowd was singing loud earlier though, dial it up to eleventy stupid for this. Even if it’s not my fave, when I came here tonight, this is what I hoped it would be like. I’ve been in some truly wonderful crowds, but Sheffield I tip my hat. This is where we finished in Manchester and some of the uninitiated masses start heading for the doors. This makes me chuckle every time, I hope they realised their error and got back in. After a short interlude where surely Jarvis gets to freshen up, having spent the night bouncing around in a suit. They return with ‘After You’ which I must admit like many around me I don’t know, but it’s bouncy Latin rhythm is infectious. I was still hoping for ‘Lipgloss’ but will forgive them as they launch into ‘Razzmatazz’. I’m not sure I’ve heard this since I was a teenager in my bedroom. It feels a bit odd jumping around and singing it with thousands of people, but yet again it’s marvellous. The plan was apparently after 2 hours to close with ‘Glory Days’, which would’ve been fine, but they’ve got 10 minutes to curfew, so we get treated to something called ‘Hymn of the North’ which again I don’t know, but with Jarvis joining Candida on keys and the string quartet filling alongside some tingling percussion, it feels special and a it’s lovely way to slowly usher us back out into the night. Manchester was brilliant, it really was, but Sheffield definitely topped it. “See you soon” says Jarvis as they wave goodbye. I hope so. Pulp are back!
