Depends what you were expecting. Some people would probably have been happier with a short and snappy blitz of hits, where last night was a proper history set list, with lots of chat and banter. Classic. And Richard Hawley came on stage for a couple of tracks.
Apologies for coming across as a 'I was there first' w@nker, but... I saw Pulp in The Duchess of York in Leeds 1993, which is about the size of a living room in a detached house. Also saw them at The Phoenix Festival that summer, they were in an indoor tent and there were about 20 of us dancing. Between songs Jarvis put down his mic and just spoke to us. Within the next couple of years I saw them at bigger and bigger venues, The Leadmill, Leeds Uni and finally the MEN in Manchester, but it's the tiny places that really stand out as being the amazing gigs.
Someone came with us last night who paid £2.50 to see them right at the start at some place on Trinket Lane. Small gigs are always the most memorable, no disputing that. In 15 years I'll be posting the same 'I was there first w@nker' posts about plenty of bands from the last decade. Saying that, a good in is a good gig, regardless of the venue.
I also thought they were really good last night and like Loko I suspect most the people moaning only really know them through Different Class and/or the Greatest Hits so they were a bit lost when the band played songs like Countdown and Sheffield: Sex City.
Agree with Loko. Me and the wife's first night out together since we had our little one 3 months ago and it was awesome. Usually hate arena gigs but it was up there with Alt-J at The Cockpit for my gig of the year. Was like a massive party, everyone was buzzing right from the first bars of 'Do you remember the first time'. It was a bit of an indulgent set list, but they've earned that and some people there will have been following Pulp since before I was born. My dad taught Jarvis at City School too, top bloke and very bright, turned down Oxford to pursue the dream. Certainly paid off!
I've been to gigs at the Duchess and I wouldn't even say it was that big! Room where the stage is, is "L-shaped" so if you aren't there early you can only see half the stage!
