Jarvis Cocker Manchester Deaf Institute Solo Showcase April 3rd 2018

Jarvis Cocker

New Solo Material Showcase

 Manchester Deaf Institute

April 3rd 2018  #100thBlogSpecial

 

So this gig was a bolt out of the blue,'Jarvis' is playing some live shows here and there around the country at tiny venues such as 'Peak Cavern' (named The Devil's Arse) ,'Yorkshire', London, Manchester, and Liverpool.

 

 

 

It's inevitable that no matter what ,these shows will be special ..'Pulp' songs or not, so after the '2012' Epic 'Sheffield' show and  filming for 'Life, Death & Supermarkets' DVD appearance how could I not go?

 

 

 

The venue is 260 capacity only, and everyone wants a hot ticket to get in,48 hrs before I nabbed one a hours before the show,I bumped into the man himself and told him "I'm looking forward to seeing the show" he looks humbled "Oh are you? We're playing a lot of new songs hope you'll like them (he seems worried, perhaps nervous )..", wow he cares "Of course I'm sure they'll be great, that's Cool looking forward to the gig" I say and there's enough time to get a photo before he disappears to do the soundcheck. 

 

 

 Inside is a unique gig experience awaiting the fans tonight, unlike any other venue you can go inside and have a drink and a snack even some Vegan Ice Cream,theres plenty of time to wander round looking at the various gig posters and décor, the girls toilets had 'Dolly Parton' wallpaper on the walls, I heard a bit of the soundcheck , it's loud and the sound is going to be Amazing. 

 

 

 

The Doors are late opening than the norm, there's no support act,as you walk into the small area,you can see multiple speakers across the right wall, A Huge Disco Ball directly in  front,theres no barrier separating us from the stage so we stand hands resting on the stage floor lower than the Academy's it's an intimate set up like a rave in a loft. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

People are getting settled in with drinks, and chatting whilst we wait for 'Mr Cocker' to grace us with his presence, the music is playing over the PA and a dance mix of Blondie's Heart Of Glass is on and then the lights go down.

 

 

 'Jarvis's band arrive on stage and then the at least 7ft figure of 'Jarvis' arrives in slightly flared black trousers matching shirt and jacket and those trademark glasses,  followed by his band consisting of a woman on a harp at the left she also plays keyboards, a guitarist and drummer and then  pregnant female Violinist on the right, as he arrives on stage he scuttles about and arranges some written paperwork before beginning the show. 

 

 

 

'Jarvis' stands and turns his back to the crowd holding a small bathroom mirror & sings holding it in his hand,we can see his head and eyes through the mirror, as he plays new song  'Sometimes' ,Oh gosh we're so close that he's just standing above us towering.

 

 

 

He then he leans across with the mirror and points it toward the crowd puts it directly in front of my face for a few seconds I can see my face looking back in astonishment and the girl next to me also has the Mirror Treatment, it was an intriguing performance a bit like 'I Spy' part2. 

 

 

The next song was very catchy "Elvis Has Left The Building' it's lyrical roots clearly 'Pulp' well you cant take it out of the song  'Jarvis's deep 'Sheffield Country Drawl' has us hanging on his every lyric, his every move and every groove of his unique dancing he climbs atop the Pa speaker on the stage and now about 10 ft tall above us. 

 

 

He speaks to us and picks up an A4 sheet of handwritten paper where he proceeds to read "On This Day" and Quotes one about "Even Through The Darkest Times you can look up and still see the stars shining in the sky", "Remember that" he says.

 

 

 He tells us a joke from 'Eddie Murphy' about a bear in the woods a rude one ,he tells us on this day "The First Mobile Phone was invented, he reflects "It just so happens mine broke on me today" he says this is a song about that....

 

 

He begins the new title track of the Album 'Further Complications' and standing on the Pa speakers again he pointing at the people in the crowd and then he points out to the giant Disco Ball for 'Disco Song' before moving on to 'I Must Evolve'.

 

 

 

 

He Speaks about wanting to bring an experiment to the audience with no barriers which I why there was a strict no Video or Photos Phone policy based on trust  , he was too close anyway to achieve it and I enjoyed just being in the moment, in 'Am I Missing Something' he talks about distractions stopping us from finishing something we start as with social media notifications interrupting our daily life, it was funny but accurate .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Favourite song was 'Fat Kids' and he played 2005's 'Running the World' perhaps should be renamed as 'Anthem For Now' as it's very precise with the situation in the world today, as he comes to the end of the show he says "Well as you've been patient we're going to do a 'Pulp' song... but you'll only know it if you know the B sides".

 

 

 

Turns out I did know it, in fact I remember it being played on TV in the early days of Britpop, thinking what the heck is this!!??, its a very interactive performance with the crowd speaking bit ..called 'His N Hers' where towards the climax of the song 'Jarvis' asks the audience well some of them "What are you frightened of ?"...

 

 

 He walks over to the middle and chats to a bloke in the crowd then comes over the right and asks me "What Are You Frightened Of" without hesitation I tell him  speaking directly into the Mic "DaddyLongLeg's" he looks at me and walks away speaking a lecture on  the subject of "Daddy Long Legs' "You shouldn't be scared of 'DaddyLong Legs' they are harmless, they flitter around (Gestures with hands which terrifys me ) helplessly in the light", I'm still not convinced . 

 

 

 

Then it was time to say goodbye, he thanked us for coming and told us " 'Further Complications' is out now to buy over at the merch stand,Thank you very much". with that he left by side stage and was gone. 

 

 

 

What a truly entertaining show what a guy.... Legendary. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lmi xo