Jarvis Cocker - London Koko - 15/11/06
4/5
By: Thomas Hannan
"Seeing as you've been good, would you like to hear an old song?"
Funny, up to this moment it had never occurred to this particular Jarv-fan that he'd play any Pulp songs tonight at all. Still, I guess it'd be nice to hear one.
"...it's not one of my old songs."
Oh Jarvis, of course! 'Space Oddity' will do nicely. As a matter of fact, I didn't need to hear any Pulp at all. After having explored his self titled record, and witnessed this mini-comeback show, I'm completely convinced of the worth of Jarvis as a solo performer, as a solo artist. On his own, removed from his band, removed from any mention of his past, purely on the merit of the new songs and the way he puts them across, Jarvis is the finished article.
It is, however, very much like a Pulp gig. Richard Hawley's on guitar. Candida Doyle does a bit on the keyboards. Steve Mackey's up there too. And though the song sheet has changed, Jarvis' mannerisms haven't one bit. He's still shaking his arse, mincing about the stage, looking totally uncomfortable when the time comes to pick up an acoustic guitar. Still singing like the sleazy northerner refused membership of the Rat Pack on the grounds of having a silly name and greasy hair.
The song sheet's changed though, and yeah, I'll say it - for the better. I don't honestly remember Jarvis sounding as impassioned as he does tonight on 'Black Magic', as endearing a fellow as he comes across on 'Don't Let Him Waste Your Time' or as hilariously, hauntingly satirical as he does on the opening 'Fat Children' or the glorious protest sing along of 'Running the World' the close. Not ever. Nor do I remember him seeming to enjoy the whole music business quite this much, revelling in it all being on his terms and nobody else's now.
World, your instructions are to lavish this guy with praise to the extent that he never gets tempted to take a break again.
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