Why are Pulp so unpopular now?

Marcello your argument applies to U2's G.Hits too. The question is - why does Pulp seem only to have committed fans? Ppl who *do* have all the stuff already so don't need this. Obviously GH records are designed to catch people who remember one or two singles they liked.

With Pulp I think there's two factors stopping their Hits being big.

- Pulp became prominent on the back of Britpop, they didn't drive Britpop's popularity. They started having big hits later than Blur, Suede or Oasis, for instance. I was at a wedding reception in '96 and the DJ played Country House, most people liked it - Roll With It, the place went mental - Common People, the floor cleared. Every kid who liked Britpop liked them, but they never really crossed over I think.

- Britpop now is pretty unfashionable. Pulp and Blur were the poppiest Britpop bands - Blur came back quicker with "Song 2" and shook off ideas about their sound, but Pulp's changes of sound never really caught people's imagination so they're still associated with their disco-fied, keyboard-driven big hits. That sort of sound has very little appeal to current NME readers, who seem to all love their rock'n'roll and would probably frown on the 'compromises' they'd hear in Pulp. So they dont even get big sales from that end of the market.

2. britpop unfashionable, and pulp never escaped being synonymous with it

3. terrible sleeve

4. too redolent of particular era (this is point 2 again really), but they seem more tied to 95 than anyone, and, until 95 becomes popular again, they'll be unfashionable (strangely, when it does become popular again, i think they'll lag behind oasis/blur again even though both of those are less specifically tied to 95).

the strange thing about pulp 'of the moment/the moments over thing' is just how quickly it was 'over'. that moment was feb96 when they did 'something changed' on top of the pops, and it did indeed feel that something had changed. right then. that time was gone. that minute. they've seemed out of place and wrong ever since, unable to escape this period

also, the difference with U2's GH2 is precisely that other people want to buy it - namely the ten-CDs-per-year people.

I don't recall the Best of Blur doing all that well; they certainly haven't crossed over.

The Elvis and Stones comps have done well, the Nirvana comp is doing OK, the Manics comp has sunk like a stone. Go figure.

I think there was just a sombre, post-fame mood about "This is Hardcore", I dunno if Russel's departure had much to do with it. They didn't seem to lose their sharpness, musically, they just lost some of their fizz.

(I have nothing to say about Pulp as they were never popular in the U.S. to begin with, it's everyone else's loss)

Speculation: wonder how well greatest hits compilations by Suede or Supergrass would be selling if they were to be released now?

My pet theory is that stuff 7 years old at any given time is at its least fashionable.

The shift from Senior to Webber as musical leader is a big deal I think - We Love Life is very much a Mark Webber album. I liked the transition but listening to the Hits comp the earlier stuff sounds a lot more focussed.

Reasons for commercial disaster are never cut and dried, though. There are probably hundreds of examples that go against what I've just said.

i felt they took too long to come back (or it certainly felt that way).

There are too many reasons not to buy :

The Kids - Pulp too old and square
Serious Rock Fan - will take Radiohead, but Pulp too flip and awkward
Non-loyal 'music fan'(me) - has everything they want already
Real Fan - only one new track
Joe Public - not interested/not heard of/too weird
Casual music fan 30-40 CDs a year - has Common People on one of those 'Best Album ever' (or whatever they're called) Britpop comps.

My own opinion - Hardcore and Life are by far the best albums they've ever done.

(then again, as a music writer who now buys zero CDs per month 'cos I get 'em all for free now hah! i can afford to be, er, slightly blase about this state of affairs)

I am currently ploughing through the 24-CD Throbbing Gristle live box set for Uncut. This may also be a major factor in my previously noted problems with fatigue.

well, i dont read Q, but i probably buy this amount, maybe a bit less

Ally unaware of a Manics release = Armageddon is nigh.

Yes, I know. I'm sorry but I fear I have caused the end of the world with my ignorance. I don't know how it slipped my radar when I have been so dilligent. I did go and check it out, I'm not too impressed with their decision as to what are their greatest works, but I guess it's what you need to sell records??? Plus the bonus CD, there's no tracklisting on the case. I can't justify spending $20 when I have no idea what's enclosed. I might already HAVE it.

Favorite Pulp video?

mine= 'Help the Aged' for that stair-chair move

Funny, every time I hear that song I imagine a full-tilt all singing, all dancing bloody great stage routine with twirling parasols and grubby urchins...

The Pulp DVD will sell more than the album, overflowing as it is with all sorts of fun stuff. Hits itself won't sell much, sadly, due to many of the reasons outlined above, but mainly because Pulp never fully capitalised on their moments in the spotlight - unsurprisingly, since they're not really capitalists. I can't imagine Pulp ever allowing one of their songs to be used on an advert, for example (lest we forget, they turned down Coca-Cola when they wanted to use "Sunrise" last year).

As to Jarvis appearing on ads and stuff, I think he (rightly IMHO) sees his own image and metastar status as being totally separate from that of "Pulp" the concept, so can use it however he likes without compromising Pulp's collective image.

Me, I love the last two albums, even though they both contain a couple of stinkers and half-finished water-treading exercises. Unlike any other recent band I can think of, they both lay bare in surprisingly candid terms the band and singer's mental state at the time of recording, and that's a sign of greatness from where I'm perched. Intro's still my number one tho.

I think, in time, Pulp will become one of those critics' bands like Squeeze, forever critically lauded for lyrical ingenuity, quirky charm and odd pop suss, but never again selling the huge amounts they once did.

btw excellent interview here: http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=353311

HEY! Some bastard was impersonating me above. Whoever posted as Dr. D - CUT IT OUT!! Any ideas who from IP address - moderators?

Do they even have any good videos besides the one for THis Is Hardcore?

Yes, good videos a-plenty -- all three versions of "Babies" (seriously), "Common People," "Do You Remember the First Time," "Lipgloss"...

this video also features the main guy looking in the mirror and asking something like "who's the ace-est one of all".

Oh blimey, obv. my opinion would be totally diff if I knew that factoid prior. Proof that people should stick to what they know best, but then again most indie videos are shit. Tho I did forget about Disco 2000 because I used to dislike the song quite a lot, that is a pretty funny video.

I admit I wanted to do this as well. I just limited myself with the second part of the equation.

Oh blimey, obv. my opinion would be totally diff if I knew that factoid prior.

Hahah...oh wait.

Actually never seen the "Disco 2000" video since it's not on Sorted for Es and Vids.

incl. "Disco 2000" obv.
(it's the video that most closely follows their "Different Class" style guide)

Maybe I'll bring a VCR to the LA/OC FAP if it ever happens!

Of Pulp's own vids, Jarvis only directed the original "Babies" and the "Do You Remember The First Time" doco as I recall. He also did Tindersticks' "City Sickness" and, I think, Aphex's "Donkey Rhubarb"!

is the video filmed in sheffield city hall? (or was that misshapes?)

!!!!

We need to talk tape trade. Or SOMETHING.

Donkey Rhubarb? You're kidding me.. he didn't really do that, did he? That's like the best video ever. Jarvis also did that Polyphonic Spree video. The band, or members thereof, directed all their earlier videos, and Jarvis co-directed Razzmatazz, Lipgloss and Bad Cover Version.

Apologies. I think he actually did Aphex's "On" - the stop-motion one on the beach.

NB the "Disco 2000" Video was filmed at Eve's Club on London's trendy Regent St - the cool multi-coloured dancefloor's still there I believe.

Years and years ago I met him for a coffee and he described to me these amazing short films he'd made, one all about finding a secret something in Mile End.

I still love Pulp (I consider them more contemporary with St Etienne rather than Oasis/Blur etc. due to going to see every show in London they did between '91 and '90-something) and am going to Auto, their perverse Sonar in Sheffield in winter-type festival.

P.S Is the new Beck album worth buying?

I doubt Blur stopped producing chirpy hits due to their integrity.

As for Pulp...I love all of their albums, I'm an unabashed fan, yet I probably wouldn't buy the hits compilation. In the age of file sharing, one has to be stupid rather than cynical to expect the die-hard fans to re-purchase all the stuff they already have just for a chance to hear one new song.

I always thought of Pulp's success as flukey and odd, so I don't find their lack of success now all that surprising.

we (laura & i) loved them anyway, had done since the days of "my lighthouse" back in '83 or whenever it was. the gigs at drury lane (just before they became massive) and shep bush empire (when they were at their peak) were wonderful nights.

we had tickets to see them at brixton academy last october :-( couldn't face going there on my own

An extra CD of bonus remixes or whatever may also sway the diehard fan who wouldn't purcahse it for the one new song.

Hits has tremendous sleevenotes, though. And I like the cover very much, even if others don't. And not buying it would have left a gaping hole in my CD collection that I was all-too-conscious of. These are my excuses, if I need any.

(if you've not had the pleasure, it goes - and you'll be shocked by this - "we are raving, we are raving" etc.)

it was actually less good than this suggests.

'on a pink quilted eiderdown i'm gonna...(deep breath)
pull y' knickers down...net curtains blowing slightly in the breeze,
lemonade light filters through the trees and it's so soft
and it's warm just another cup of tea please...'

What's on the Pulp one then? Mind you I pretty much agree with you about the Manics' one, I mean fucking hell I now own not one but two CDs that include the song "Tsunami". I have come to quite enjoy If You Tolerate This... though.

Because from within my grime, crunk, and general beatheadfuckery haze, I suddenly felt the urge to listen to "59 Lyndhurst Grove" and wow, this band could be really good sometimes, couldn't they? His N Hers sticks out as particularly great, but I particularly like all of the second half of Intro - where else can I find the good, weird stuff? I used to have that album with the green cover that preceded Intro, can't remember the title...

Anyhow, does Beck at #1 and Pulp at #10 really represent, any longer, a true consensus of American rock critics? I doubt it...The result is a poll that's entirely predictable: I told Schumacher-Rasmussen weeks ago that Beck would win; I would not have predicted that Pulp would muster enough support to make the Top Ten but that's because it's hard to imagine the degree to which weenie critics remain devoted to their Anglophilia, no matter how many bullets Britpop shoots into its own brain.

This is at http://www.addict.com/html/lofi/Columns/American_Grandstand/303/index.html -- go to archive.org for the full text.

-- El Diablo Robotico (nicolew1...) (webmail), March 2nd, 2004 5:19 PM. (Nicole) (link)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

OMG

"I've been writing some songs. When I've got enough ones that I think are fit for human consumption then I'll try and decide what to do with them."

the PULP dvd is a-mazing. truly a How To...
for pop bands making a dvd.

Someone needs to cast Cillian Murphy in a Pulp biopic asap based on that "Monday Morning" video.

so, US tour includes NYC (Radio City)

http://www.pulppeople.com/

Right?? I revived another thread this morning and have been refreshing ILX to see who wants to talk about that! Trying to weigh the odds of them adding a Toronto show or me dropping $400+ on airfare and hotel (if I can even GET a ticket to this..) ....Sigh.

Saw em in the '90s, may try Music Hall b.o. on Friday... bcz common people don't pay Ticketmaster.

I saw them in the 90s too.. doing the Pulp poll really rekindled my love affair last year and they're back in my top rotation nowadays. Plus who knows, maybe ENBB will split hotel costs with me? :D

i'm definitely going to try to get tickets to the show in nyc, and talking about maybe going to see them in spain!

I saw this earlier and have basically been freaking out ever since. I have never seen them! There is no way I'm not going to that NY show. Tickets go on sale Friday, right?

Lex - we should totally do that.

yeah, friday at 10 am. i bet it's going to sell out so fast!

I know. I am nervous about not getting tickets. AHHHHH! So exciting.

I hate that it's on a Wednesday. Guys, I don't want a vacation in New York on a Wednesday! Eeeee. E!!! I will have to crunch some numbers and figure out if I can do this. E - what's your job like in terms of being around for a 10AM sale? BRB, signing up for radio city mailing list in hopes there might be a presale.

What'll the cheapest seat in the house be, $35? Any fee on top of that and I'm out.

Morbs, that's so unfair. Think of the deprived Canadians who might not even get a show!

BRB, signing up for radio city mailing list in hopes there might be a presale.

i did this too! haha.

I can't find any sign up links? Like, even to make an account before the sale? I feel dumb.

it's here: http://www.msginsider.com/

ahhh, wonderful. Thank you!

Siging up now.

Lex - sounds good. The Wednesday thing BLOWS but for this I'll make it happen even if it means taking a half day and jumping on the Fun Wah that afternoon.

Well I'll be at my desk on Friday at 10:00 so I should be able to try and get them. A pre-sale would be awesome though.

man, all the flights I am seeing are $400+ round trip 0_0
I wish I knew if I would be able to get a deal somewhere, I am afraid to risk it. Maybe my ability to get a ticket will be what decides it? Eep. I'm at my desk at 10AM (or 8:30-5 any day, if presale) too..

Okay, yes. If I can get a ticket, I will be there. Even if I have to take the stupid bus!

presale begins on wednesday:
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1D0048329556510A?artistid=747247&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1

and i may actually be going to spain!!!!!

Yaaaaay!!! Spain would be amazing. I can't even begin to think about considering that since we're going to Cuba next month and I'm whining my ass off about a simple flight to NYC, heh.

I don't have an Amex! Fuckers!

i can try to get you a ticket and you could paypal me? i am pretty sure i have an amex.

i found a flight to madrid for $580 which isn't bad and i've always wanted to go to spain.

Rereading the top of the thread. Smh at the wedding reception where everyone went nuts to Roll With It and Country House but Common People cleared the floor. I hope Tom is no longer friends with these terrible people.

dude, I would love that! I could very easily and happily paypal this. We need E to weigh in re: her ability to get a ticket as well. Perhaps Americans tend to have American Expresses, I unfortunately have a Mastercard and a VISA and that's enough for me, haha.

Hey! I dont have amex is that the only card u can get the.presale tix w?

I've seen that before - why did I never get an AMEX knowing that they frequently have this Ticketmaster exclusivity clause? Grrrrr. I don't want to screw up b_g's chances at getting a single ticket!

alright i found my amex card! i'll see how many tickets i can get. happy to try to buy them for you two!

Awww, you are so lovely :) if you can only get one, feel no guilt - ill tough it out amongst the commoners! Thank you!

haha hopefully you never live like common people!

it sounds like they have several tiers of tickets - let me know if you want the cheap seats or the spendy ones.

Well, might as well go for it right? I'd be happy just to be in the room but if I'm going all the way..

Casual music fan 30-40 CDs a year

I love the idea that someone who buys a new album more than every two weeks is only a casual music fan.

alright i am sitting here with my amex card ready to go! ENBB did you want me to get you a ticket too??

I'm pretty sure she did. Eeeeee!! I cannot tell you how thankful I am. !! (But again: if you can only get the one, I totally understand. And amazing Common People pun!)

OMG L, really? Like Lex said if you can only get one I totally understand but if you could get me one too I'll PayPal you the $$ today! Ahhhhh! Fingers crossed.

This reminds me of the time in 1995(?) when my friend organized about ten of us to be on Ticketmaster's website & dialing on the phone to try and get through for Spice Girls tickets, heh.

How I knew I was getting old: being unable to discern between particular years in my favourite decade. Sigh.

i'll definitely try to get three but i'll let you know what happens either way!

i was supposed to have a meeting at ten but pushed it back to 10:30 so i could get tickets, ha.

Hah! Amazing. Good vibes and speedy clicks your way!

omg tense

Haha me too!

Pulp
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 08:00 PM

Details: Pulp

Seat location: section ORCH6, row B, seats 605-608

:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

OMFG

OMG LINDSAY!!!

I AM SO FREAKING EXCITED

Holy cow. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Lex - we're gonna get to hang out and see Pulp while doing so. OMG.

And hang out with BG too!!!

YAY!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Linds - can you webmail me your details so I can paypal you the money for the ticket?

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
E - YAY ILX PULP FAP!

L - me too! Or on FB, wherever!

I'm not going to be able to concentrate on my work for a while now.

I know me neither. I've never seen them!!!

hi ladies! the ticket price with fees was $89.50 (yeahhhhh i know) and my paypal is lindsay6 @ gmail.com! no rush though!

Eh, I sent it! Best to get it to you before I spend it on a million dresses to wear to see PULP IN NYC!! :D :D

Sent!! Wow, I am so excited about this. Best day. :)

On the first day of sale, tickets for concerts are not sold at the Radio City Music Hall Box Offices, and may only be purchased via Ticketmaster.

Fuck Ticketmaster, Radio City, and Pulp.

(I realize u ppl in yr 30s are used to this, but I am intolerant)

Morbs: this isn't technically the first day anyway, just the Ticketmaster/AMEX presale day.. but, boo :(

no, they mean I can't go buy a ticket AT THE VENUE for face value til Saturday, ie, liars.

They'll be old and feeble anyway.

Oh man! That is pretty jerky. I hate lining up in person for tickets. We used to get there super early, get wristbands, and then they would draw a wristband number and REARRANGE the line randomly 'to make it fair'! How about I got here at 4AM and you should respect that, jerks?!

Maybe they'll still be available Saturday, ie, at least one indie geezer I know prefers the Shatner version of "Common People."

Hah! So does my husband. Gimme a break. But that means we get a ~ladies night~!

apparently tickets are on scalper sites already for $300. i am so happy we got awesome seats!

So I'm looking at the seating chart now and it's a little confusing but, uh, those seats (at least the ones I think they are) look AMAZING!

i know, i'm amazed at our luck! other people i know paid the same for like row zz and mezzanine seats.

Damn girl, you did good! I am so so happy. :)

You got the paypal $, right?

yeah! got it! thanks guys!

I actually almost forgot to do a report I distribute everyday at 11 because of my elation about these tickets, heh. Remembered at 11:45 and frantically rushed through it! These look to be better tickets than I had when they were in Toronto in 98! I saw them as well at Reading 2001 from a million miles away, so this? Amazing. And I finally get to meet ILXors! Almost had my chance when ljublana came up here, but I got the flu the same week, so sad :(

Don't get the flu!

You know what's funny, Lex? Even if you'd never posted ITT I would still have associated you with Pulp from way back in the DL days so it's pretty fitting that we'll meet to see them. :)

I think Reading 2001 was the first time I saw Pulp live! xpost

Hahaha! No flu! I can't believe we'll finally get to meet each other after what, 12 years? And I love that Pulp makes you think of me!

Colonel Poo: that's amazing! That was a truly great show. First time I heard Minnie Temperley sticks out for me.

Today is all-Pulp, all-day on my iPod. Yay!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/188672_4478583577_516053577_33039_9391_n.jpg

A young FFM at Reading, in a Pulp shirt that was just a picture of a dog??, with a man who later showed me his pierced penis (he was not my travelling companion, just a guy standing near me.. in a kilt) 0_o

another presale:
Presale tickets for this show are available TOMORROW, Thursday, January 26 from 10AM - 10PM, before they go on sale to the general public Friday, January 27 at 10AM.

USE PROMOTIONAL CODE: HEPULP

A friend of mine who isn't on ILX and I guess hadn't checked FB and I was like, "Lady, I'm so on that already."

:)

its sort of ironic that the last completed artist poll on ILM was Do You Remember The First Poll? - ILM Artist Poll #11 - PULP - Results Thread!

anyone seeing them in San Francisco?

hate that this is the thread (because of the title) that gets bumped for Pulp on ILM

it's yr lil secret!

i thought our seats were really really good but then i realized that the double letter seats are closer to the stage - however they are still really good seats! people seem to be getting 2nd and 3rd mezzanine in today's presale mostly.

FFM and I both did the same thing yesterday. LOL. I think they'll still be really great seats though.

A friend of mine who was a Pulp fan before me (inveterate NME reader for decades) said when I asked if he had any interest in this show, "No, I'd rather see Wayne Newton or The Platters."

Re the B vs BB seats: yup, me too! But honestly, still closer than I've ever been AND 14 years of epicness behind it will make us feel like we are sitting on the stage! Apologies in advance for the fact that I can be sometimes kind of annoying in a shouty/cheery kind of way when I am excited. Will try to stay subdued and cool.

According to RCMH, camera policies vary by concert.. any hint in your ticket details, L?

Bee: I tried to bump another Pulp thread! But no one saw it and then this was bumped and now this is our current Pulp thread ;_; But I am pretty sure running the Pulp poll is a large part of why I decided a ticket was worth me travelling to NYC in the event they do not add a Toronto show! Heh. Revived my love just in time. <3

(inveterate NME reader for decades)

in high school i read NME, melody maker, and select magazine despite growing up in the US.

uhm i am totally going to be jumping up and down and shouting all the lyrics too FFM!

i didn't see anything about the camera policy in my ticket email, but maybe when i receive the actual tickets in the mail?

My parents are divorced, so every other week when Dad picked me up the first stop *had* to be the bookstore so I could pick up Select, Q, Melody Maker and NME. Glory days! Even better to know you will jump & cheer with me! Toronto concert-goers can be such losers. I got pushed once for whistling at a Belle & Sebastian concert, and come to think of it, a spitball thrown at me at another B&S show! Maybe Toronto B&S fans are the losers.

though i have no interest in this band, ya'lls enthusiasm is making me smile. have fun girls!

:D

uhm i am totally going to be jumping up and down and shouting all the lyrics too FFM!

HI, SO WILL I.

i also saw belle and sebastian in toronto once! i think we are sisters from another mister FFM

yeah this show is going to be fangirls gone wild

I saw Belle and Sebastian last year though admittedly that was mostly because I wanted to see Dean and Britta play Galaxie songs as the opening act. It was still good but I haven't gotten into the last several of their albums. I saw them one other time. I think it was 2003 in London and that was amazing. They played my favorite song! I may have teared up. OK, I totally did.

I read all that stuff too as often as I could get my hands on it at least. Hell, when I moved to England I still read a lot of them just because I could even though they weren't nearly as good.

Oh and one of my closest friends got a ticket this morning so I might have a ride down if he chooses to drive. Don't worry though Lex, I have already informed him I'm staying the night.

wooooo for Toronto B&S shows! Was it at the terrible, large hallway of a 'Sound Academy,' out on the water? B&S were the only band I've ever enjoyed there, and I think that might be because I love them so much I would listen to a symphony of their burps. (I'm a classy broad.)

I never liked the stuff after Boy With The Arab Strap until I met my husband, who didn't like anything before Fold Your Hands.. - we worked on each other until we both fell in love with the whole catalogue! /teamwork

Jumping!! I am going to practice my jumping in the air. Gotta get my legs in Pulping shape! I also have to figure out how to become cool by April, so as not to let you guys down since you seem to think I am alright. Heh.

Ian: expect to see our shiny, excited faces all pressed together in a gleeful April WDYLL, coming soon!

i think it might have been there, it was down by the lake, definitely. there was a maze of fences within blocking off different parts of the club. we were supposed to get to go backstage because my friend new the trumpet player from the SINISTER LIST, but we couldn't make it anywhere close. they played electronic renaissance though so i was happy.

this thread title is particularly funny in light of them selling out radio city in about 2 minutes.

Wait they did?

WOAH.

well, i was trying for tickets again because so many of my friends didn't get tickets and i didn't want them to have to go through scalpers. i started exactly at 10 and did not get through once. i tried the second presale yesterday and the same thing happened. basically, we got super lucky!

Wow, that's amazing. I am so excited about this! I will buy you drinks after the show, if you're up for it!

Sounds like you were at the concert I was talking about - too bad you couldn't get backstage! That venue is notoriously horrible, but B&S were so great they transcended its shittiness.

FFM and ENBB: here's an update on tickets! eeee we are one step closer!! Let me know if you want me to mail them to you ahead of time or meet up before the show, I'm happy to do either!

Hello LINDSAY,

The ticket(s) you ordered on January 25, 2012 for PULP have been printed! They will be shipped to you shortly via US Mail.

Order Number: 3-31102/NY5

PULP
Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Radio City Music Hall
1260 6th Avenue
New York, 10020

also this is happening:

Recinto: Recinto Ferial La Fica
Dirección: Avda Primero de Mayo S/N, , Murcia
Fecha: 04/05/2012, viernes Hora: 12:00h
Planta-Zona: 1 localidades en ABONO 2 DIAS

I don't know what "Recinto Ferial La Fica" means but google translates it as "The fence Ferial Pussy"

Knowing no spanish whatsoever, ABONO 2 DIAS looks threatening. Heh. I guess best if you keep the tickets, and maybe we can all have dinner or something first? I don't want to chance them getting lost in the mail JUST in case!!

I spaced on this in the two days of the presale/actual sale, so if anybody has an extra ticket to the NYC show, or has any good suggestions as to the most economical way to find one at this point, plz reply!

I've been told my middle-aged NY connections might have one for me... hesitating

Do it!

Don't hesitate . . . DO IT!

they were amazing here last year, don't deprive yourself

(except that a seated venue sounds a bit stupid)

Shut up, showoff

:)

/deprived, angsty Canadian

it was only the 5th or so show show they've ever played on this continent!

BILLL jeez how is this even a question?

xp to sic: fair enough, sorry. I assume all Pulp fans are Britishers and that Jarvis plays in their backyards, if they ask him too :)

Just finished Owen Hatherley's Uncommon. Very insightful and passionate, though I wish he appeared to like any music apart from Pulp. He tends to use them as a stick with which to bash every other band of the past 20 years. But then it's the intensity of his fandom that makes the book work so maybe you can't have one without the other.

I AM SO EXCITED GUYS.

I am probably getting ahead of myself here but what time does the show start? If possible do you think it would be cool to organize a post work pre-show FAP? Also, Lex and I are staying over night so I assume we'll go out afterwards but I know it's a school night for most people. I CAN'T WAIT. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

People keep saying "lex" ITT and I keep thinking "wait, the Lex at a Pulp gig??!"

THIS LEX AT A PULP GIG!! :D

The show is 8pm IIRC but yes, we should arrange any FAP time possible!

Going to have to look into this Uncommon book - hadn't heard of it.

Total Megabus ticket price: $2.50 (round trip, taxes included)

YAY!

:DDDDD

Had my phone on shuffle this morning and Babies came on at which point I got insanely excited and sorta started dancewalking my way into the building. I wish we didn't have to wait so long!!

Hah! I tried to introduce Andrew to the glory of 'Separations' and he just got hung up on the snippet of Vivaldi(?) that is played on the fiddle as it begins.. pfft.

Seriously, $2.50, ridiculous. A Toronto bus fare will run you $3!

Yeah, that's nuts. In a good way, of course.

I guess buying the ticket way in advance helped.. the other day, they didn't even have April dates up but I thought I'd check since new month and.. yay! Sorry, I love saving money. Especially when it means I can buy a Pulp shirt or something! /15yearold

I also ordered 'Uncommon,' the book mentioned upthread, for the bus ride! ~$14 on BookDepository.co.uk!

jeez how is this even a question?

maybe cuz I saw them in the mid '90s and don't remember a damn thing about the show? (I wasn't sorted for E's and wizz, either)

hey ladies....
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Hy161r33bzE/TytIRNbRYeI/AAAAAAAAASI/JTQawOgH1-A/s640/Photo%2520on%25202012-02-02%2520at%252021.34.jpg

It's allllll happening!

YAY!

don't worry, they were placed in a very safe drawer as soon as i took this photp :D

Second show just added. Just sayin, for all those who didn't get tickets first round..

you could have re-migrated it to the C or D thread this time! don't fall for Morbz' tyranny

Heh! I figured since recent concert discussion had gone down here I'd keep it here. The "second" show is the day before the one we got tickets to; bastards inadvertently relegated us to sloppy seconds. I was looking forward to the "first North American concert in 14 years" or whatever. Poop. I am sure it'll be fine, but it still irks.

Hmpf - Yeah!

*ponders Jarvis' sloppy seconds for a while..*

plz just consider thread title a pleasant irony

Has anyone picked up the recent reissue of Freaks? I'm wondering if the sound quality is terrible like the last CD version (all muffled & distorted - ugh)...

Wish I could go see them in NYC - lucky bastards.

So...

April 17, Warfield, San Francisco
April 19, Fox Theater, Pomona

Tickets on sale March 30, I gather.

This better be leading up to Toronto on April 5th or so!! Damn them.

so i now have a buddy who is willing to go with me to the show in Pomona on April 19.

Tickets Onsale: Friday, 3/30 at 10am
Ticket Price: $50 GA / $60 LOGE

i have to go, i think, not sure if he is going to be into that price however. i reminded him earlier today that he has seen Pulp before because they opened for Blur at the Palace way back when. he has good memories of that show but really doesn't know Pulp.

Ned are you going to go? would like to finally say hello if all goes well in the convincing.

so worth it

Just realized I haven't registered my excitement in a week or so. Ahhh! I am not gonna be able to sleep the night before.

Eeee! 26 days!!!

:)

Which reminds me that I need to find us a hotel. Will do this weekend. I promise. I am the worst!

I have faith in you!

so i get a text back from my friend "I'm out for the show. They r a Suede ripoff band."

so i text back saying that they are much better than Suede (though i love them) with a dance element and that he will not be disappointed. so right now it doesn't look good. i told him he needs to listen to Different Class

sigh...

^Doesn't deserve to see them^

also point out they were going for almost fifteen years before Suede's first single

well, no one buys music anymore... you're not that unpopular if you can headline Reading/Leeds

find new friends-alert!

my friend is fine, i just moved to San Francisco in 1995 and he lost touch of good music.

Attention:

Jarvis Cocker, lead singer of Pulp, will play live on the Whitney Museum's fourth floor, according to a source with knowledge of the event. The British musician will perform Apr. 5–8 with his side project, Relaxed Muscle, alongside Michael Clark's dance company, organized as part of the Whitney Biennial.

Cocker formed Relaxed Muscle in 2002, following Pulp's break up. He performs as "Darren Spooner," using a violent performance style and over-the-top goth costumes and make-up. The group has maintained a relatively low profile since their sole album release in 2003.

Pulp reunited in 2011 after a nine-year hiatus and is slated to play at next month's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

Tickets are required to attend, and advance tickets are sold out. A limited number of tickets become available each day of the performance.

Awww!

E MAYBE PULP ARE STAYING IN OUR HOTEL. Clearly the reunion of bands I liked when I was a teenager sends me shooting right back into teenage mode.

Hahaha oh my can you imagine?! Jarvis probably has his own apt in NYC. I certainly would if I were him.

You've got a good point. Celebrities: they're not like us!

I was looking up our hotel and apparently that is where Don Draper lived when Betty kicked him out. Except for how they filmed it all in California. Yay.

Hahah really? Sweet. I figured if we were going to pay the same for that or a best western or holiday inn we might as well stay somewhere with character!

omg so excited

Realized hadn't registered that in a while

going outfit shopping this weekend!!! What time does your bus get in, btw? I'm gonna try to persuade K that we should leave really early. I want as much time in NYC as possible.

Sorry pulp thread - A, you can msg me offboard if you want. :)

Yeah, I'm quite excited to see it! And everything else! I'm so glad I finally got a passport and can wander around outside of Canada.

LOL this is "our" Pulp thread now. This is related to their tour! I get in at something ridiculous like 8AM! I don't know what I want to do. I'm just excited to get to do it!

lol We'll probably leave arond 7 or 8 and get there around 11 or 12. We'll have to come up with some sort of plan between now and then. YAY!

w00t!! (I promise not to w00t IRL.) I suspect my first stop will be to find some sort of cafe with wifi so that I can tweet about drinking a latte and eating a bagel in NYC on a beautiful, sunny, spring morning. :D

BAGEL

omg

THAT IS ON MY LIST. I must have a real bagel and real pizza. NY Pizza for dinner, please? You have no idea how bad Boston pizza is.

That's pretty funny.. there's a chain here called Boston Pizza - don't know if it's worldwide or not. Terrible pizza :( I'm up for a NYC slice! I am a bagel freak and sought them out in Montreal.. could not find any other than crappy coffee shop ones! I WILL HAVE AN AMAZING BAGEL, thanks.

I didn't find out about the whole Montreal having bagels to rival NY's until after we'd gone there. :/ Next time.

ENBB, I wish I had time to show you some good silent comedies while you were here ;)

(or even pre-1990)

E - I do bodyguard work on the side, btw. ;D

Morbs!!! *shakes fist*

I like a lot of pre 1990 movies. I promise!

In truth though I wish you did too.

wow, Jeffrey Lewis is a curious opening act for the Music Hall

Wait.

Jeffery Lewis is opening for Pulp?!

I actually really like JL but that just seems like a very odd choice all around.

He opened for solo Jarvis a couple of years ago in the UK

Never heard of this dude, but enjoying the youtubes I clicked. Recommendations?

I will get some for you from RS. He's a bigger fan though I have seen him live and he was enjoyable. I'm not hell bent on getting there early enough to see him though esp if we arrange a FAP and it would mean having to leave early.

Radio City is too big for him though. That's going to be weird.

*plup*

hate u

FFM you can check out The Chelsea Hotel Oral Sex Song or anything else off of "The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane".

Alright!

Lex fact: My Dad calls them Plup because when I was a kid I always wanted a 'Big Glup' at 711. I'm 29 now.. he did it the other night when I told him about this concert :)

'Chelsea hotel oral sex' maybe the weirdest Youtube search I've ever done - glad I can youtube on my phone rather than work computer!

Liking it so far.

x-post - Aw, cute.

Oh god sorry for the many posts. But yes, since we have seats I am in no rush to get there early - happy to FAP away beforehand if it's an option!

happy to FAP away beforehand if it's an option!

Really unfortunate acronym.

I know, I love it.

And guess who has tickets for the standalone LA area show...

Yay Ned!! You sent me that great disc of bsides years ago so it bummed me to think you might not be there.

Haha thank you for that reminder, I really couldn't recall who I'd sent those to. And yay indeed!

Haha yes one was me. I lost the disc but the songs live on! (Groan..)

I saw the NYC posters yesterday and did a doubletake re: Jeffrey opening. (He is friend o' mine though no relation, sometimes we draw comics together and talk abt The Fall). I think I will ask Jeffrey if he can wheedle any Scott Walker gossip out of Cocker for me...

BTW Haymarket Pizza in Boston is v v delicious, my wife took me there when we were visiting her fam

> I didn't find out about the whole Montreal having bagels to rival NY's until after we'd gone there. :/ Next time.

Ahh, St. Viateur in Montreal is the bagel capital of the world. NYC only thinks it is.....

x-post - Ha! I will look into it. Don't think I have had it before. :)

Okay folks this just got posted on my FB feed:

Tonight at the Albert Hall, Pulp performed "My Lighthouse" for the first time since around 1984, with Jarvis' sister, and one of his schoolfriends, on vocals.

I freely admit I would be bowled over if they did that out here. Now to search YouTube...

I was there. It was a fine night all round. Enjoyed Jarvis' comment before "I Spy" that he had been waiting his whole life to play that song in this venue, and the on-screen questions before they came on asking 'how many holes does it take to fill this place?'. Only disappointment compared to the London show I went to last year was no "Wickerman" this time.

Seem to be in the minority but I really like some of the early stuff. I wouldn't mind hearing "Blue Girls" and "I Love Love" too....

And indeed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrw3cMngNdo

Pulp were apparently on Fallon last night:
http://stereogum.com/996972/watch-pulp-play-fallon/video/

No sound on my work computer but I might just watch it anyway!

I may have just made a high pitched excitable noise and started flapping my hands with excitement as I heard the first couple notes of that. omg. Tomorrow. TOMORROW!! I honestly haven't been this excited to see a show since 1997.

Hahaha, me neither. I think there's something about bands you fall in love with as a teenager. Squee!!

Also bands you've loved for years and years and have never seen live before!

Right, of course! Jealous of those at tonight's show but at least we'll have an idea of when they'll be going on, for tomorrow!
Pretty much unable to concentrate today.

Yeah, same.

Compare/contrast:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba-aE0Vww_M

Ohh, that brought back memories for me. I think I had that on VHS once upon a time!

Hey guys, a show anywhere near the mid-Atlantic east coast area would be nice

NY was pretty mid-Atlantic last time I checked, dude. :/

yeah I'm coming from Toronto! Since they wouldn't come closer, I decided to..

opening act for tonight's is the Chromatics ... their new album is pretty great and they supposedly were great last night at Le Bain ... but I dunno how Chromatics at Radio City will come off. (probably said about every opening act at Radio City ever)

I am never going to see them again, am I? Bleurgh.

Where do you live, Nicole? I am bad at keeping track of these things.

Detroit. I just do not have the time/money to make a New York trip.

ah yes, that's too bad. Hopefully this will reawaken a forgotten love of touring on their part. I am not so sure..

> NY was pretty mid-Atlantic last time I checked, dude.

Still a 10-hour drive from DC, and I'm burned out from too many long drives lately

my high school boyfriend (for a VERY short time) who i unfriended on facebook for turning into a libertarian frat boy douche (well he was already a bit of a douce, just informed me (via facebook) that he is going to see pulp tonight and thanking me for introducing him to them.

finally a reason to be glad about seeing them tomorrow night instead!!!

sorry the second parentheses was supposed to be "(well he was already a bit of a douche in high school which is why it didn't last more than 3 weeks)"

i wonder how someone reconciles listening to "common people" with supporting drug testing for welfare recipients, haha i should probably call him out on that.

like pulp would have even existed in obscurity for so many years without welfare and drugs!

lol Pulp

Hah! Yes, the true/awesome/non-jocky fans will be there tomorrow :D

short of sleep or I'd go meet the tourists this eve, sorry

(I am not Hardcore)

> NY was pretty mid-Atlantic last time I checked, dude.

Still a 10-hour drive from DC, and I'm burned out from too many long drives lately

― everything else is secondary (Lee626), Tuesday, April 10, 2012 4:21 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

ok New York is TOTALLY not mid-Atlantic (unless you're from Canada or something) but it is not a fucking 10 hour drive from D.C.! more like 5 hours with pee breaks.

and i will echo that it'd sure be nice if they played more dates up and down the coast. i only saw Pulp live when they did a few songs at the Tibetan Freedom Concert right after This Is Hardcore came out, that might've been the last time they played D.C.?

Pretty sure they only came to Toronto once (unless I missed a tour for His n Hers) if it makes anyone feel better!
Anyway I have invaded the city. Nineish hours! Sorry we'll miss you, Morbs!

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

A little something I wrote:

http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/2012/04/five_pulp_obscurities_that_are.php

Rob Sheffield liked it.

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/04/pulp_radio_city_music_hall_april_11_recap.php

goddamn so jealous of people who saw that show. is there any idea of the likelihood of a larger scale US tour?

I doubt it. Even back in the day they didn't tour the US very extensively.

well yeah but reunion tours in general draw bigger audiences, better money, i'm sure they'd be able to sell more tickets in the U.S. than they did in all of the '90s several times over

It was so damm good.

you are all monsters

I love you

and hate you

It's just the way of things.

A...bonus, I guess: turns out someone's finally put the one 'lost' Pulp song from the mid to late eighties on YouTube, "Silence" -- this is the one that Jarvis refused to allow on the Masters of the Universe compilation and reissues since, according to this:

That features the only Fire track which hasn't been reissued: "Silence", from demos recorded in an old karate studio, written at that first rehearsal with Russell. Oh, it's so depressing, a two-note keyboard drone, someone playing one of those hunting horns you have on the living room wall and me alternately talking and screaming this story about a love affair that doesn't work out. I banned it from going on the Fire compilation, because it's terrible - I couldn't live with it being out.

And yeah, can't blame him for that:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o-8QOTEUOc

feeling like I missed the boat on these guys, Different Class came out when I worked at college radio but I was kinda down on Britpop at the time and never really got into them ... now friends my same age were all getting super hyped for the shows and posting camera-phone photos of the big PULP stage sign and I'm strangely jealous

Lol I totally posted a bunch of those last night.

it's an impressive sign

They opened the show with a drawing of a... dolphin? It was a little strange.

Yeah that was sorta weird, huh?

><i> NY was pretty mid-Atlantic last time I checked, dude.

Still a 10-hour drive from DC, and I'm burned out from too many long drives lately

― everything else is secondary (Lee626), Tuesday, April 10, 2012 4:21 PM (Yesterday)

ok New York is TOTALLY not mid-Atlantic (unless you're from Canada or something) but it is not a fucking 10 hour drive from D.C.! more like 5 hours with pee breaks.

― some dude, Wednesday, April 11, 2012 11:48 AM (2 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Perma</i>

Yeah I was thinking the long 10+ hour drive I often make through NYC to points northward, and <i>those</i>are 10hrs., it just seems NYC is the bulk of the trip due to traffis slowing to a crawl so often there. Anyway DC to NY indeed much shorter, but silll aways from DC., esp. if you start in the morning and arrive in afternoon.

Anyway, nice set list; I'll find a way to catch something.....

NY is actually considered a mid-atlantic state btw. Just saying.

I think it's about 10 hours from DC to here.

i see wikipedia agrees with enbb but i just can't accept that, what does 'mid-atlantic' even mean if it includes a state that borders canada, i always thought of ny as part of new england

Pulp Coachella:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twq9miTwYms

new york is definitely mid-atlantic and totally distinct from new england culturally.

it's as distinct from the mid-atlantic as it is from new england though! sorry i don't know why i keep talking about this.

yeah i don't know why it matters to me, either, but it does. western new york is more like the midwest, anyway, but new york is like pennsylvania imo. mid-atlantic.

aaaaaanyway, pulp

All I know is that it is technically classified as mid-Atlantic and definitely not part of New England. This was like middle school social studies basics guys. It doesn't really matter though. Anyway - Pulp! Best show I've ever been to probably. I want to see them again now.

lol x-post

Seeing them Tuesday :).

You will love it. We danced pretty much the entire time.

I haven't seen them since they opened for Blur, looking forward to it.

Oh that was good.

Yes it was.

Setlist!

"Do You Remember the First Time?"
"Monday Mornings"
"Razzmatazz"
"Live Bed Show"
"Disco 2000"
"Sorted for E's and Wizz"
"His 'n' Hers"
"Dishes"
"Mile End"
"Like a Friend"
"Babies"
"This is Hardcore"
"Sunrise"
"Bar Italia"
"Common People"

1st encore: "OU"
"Bad Cover Version"
"Mis-Shapes"

2nd encore: "Back in LA"
"Something Changed"

need to add "Help the Aged," but may strike a little close now.

god i'm so jealous at the west coast set lists i can't even deal!!! we basically just got the entirety of "different class" with a few other things from later albums. they better play more old stuff when i see them in spain!

Back In LA? wow.

YOU GOT OU? OH YOU ARE GOING DOWN, RAGGETT.

Seriously though that's super awesome and I am glad you had fun!

(Notices and adores her inadvertent OU/OH YOU wordplay)

Hahah. I KNEW some of those choices would inspire, how you say, jealousy...

And yeah -- a super long droney great version of "OU" -- and I still can't believe they did "Back in LA!" Imagine Jarvis on megaphone and the band making a huge racket -- if you had told me early Blur essentially ripped them off just from this I wouldn't've been surprised.

Yah, I saw them three times last year and still green looking at that.

Unrelatedly, I found myself in Bar Italia a few weeks ago. It's pretty great.

Oh and I forgot to mention: at one point, Jarvis doing an a capella (falsetto!) version of the chorus of Tina Turner's "Steamy Windows." Never in a million years etc. (Does make me think he would be a perfect dude for karaoke.)

Hahahaha! We got a little bit of Louie Louie which was fun.

Oh also, best T-shirt by a mile that night was some guy wearing a Suede shirt, classic logo and all -- on closer inspection, the small type above it was not 'The London' or any of that nonsense, it was 'Bernard Butler-era'

omg i want that shirt!! haha

My review is up!

http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/2012/04/pulp_at_the_fox_theater_april.php

Okay so

http://www.spin.com/articles/pulp-james-murphy-after-you-itunes-release

Just done on JRoss show.