The British rock band, Pulp, visited San Francisco’s Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on September 16th after almost 12 years of not hosting a concert in North America. After more than a decade of not touring the band came back together to sing some of their classic and most famous songs from albums that date back from 1995 through 1998. Albums such as Different Class, His N Hers, This is Harcore, and more!
The opener, Escape-ism, created by the artist Ian Svenonius followed on stage by Bass player Sandi Denton set the stage. The small rock band finds their words and passion in music through lyrics following political stands as well as electronic instrumentals from using piano, bass, and an electronic box that plays funky sound cues. The band’s outfits shined out from the stage with their jewel shiny 70’s inspired costumes. The experimental performance prepped the stage for Pulpe.
Each band member of Pulp,, came onto the stage one by one, each recognizable for their incorporation into the band. Candida Doyle, the keyboard player started with a high pitch melody mixing with the visual aspect that was projecting on the back of the stage. The logo of Pulp revolving over and over in a circle, playing small clips of San Francisco that they took the morning before the show of things that captured their eye around the city. That’s when Jarvis Cocker the lead guitarist and singer came out, starting this concert with “I Spy” a track from their 1995 album Different Class.
Jarvis Cocker worked with stage’s space to transform it into a place where they were able to bring back past songs that their fans enjoyed and created memories with. Cocker’s electric dance moves followed the beats of each song moving and waving his hands and arms with each beat. The hand moves reminded me of the way Flamenco dancers move around with the sound of each melody and beat. Continuing each song with such dance moves and ending their set with “Glory Days” before the encore began. Not only did they sing their most well known songs such as “Common People” and “Glory Days”, but extended their set until the last minute. They sung a new song that Pulp has never performed before named “Spiked Island”, bringing forth a new era for the band.
Overall, the band’s respect and love for one another throughout the years of performing was shown through this set and expanded through their love for San Francisco and fans living in the Bay Area. The British band curiously wondered the correct way to call San Francisco and whether people in the Bay Area actually do call it “Frisco” or not. As well as reading and sharing a poem they came across while exploring San Francisco. The band’s respect and love for San Francisco’s fans was shown through the time and dedication they shared with each song and time passing by in the auditorium.
Review by Kathleen Rodriguez
Photo from Fire Records
