Pulp: Remembering the First Time (part one)

I confessed to my mother, “If I ever have a son, don’t be surprised if I name him Jarvis”. She laughed it off, “Your infatuation won’t last that long honey”. Then I scanned my memory for a time where I didn’t love, love, love him, I couldn’t remember one. I smiled to myself.

I had just spent the last week being as close to a Pulp groupie as I was ever going to get, going to see them in Sydney then in Melbourne.

I must admit my memory is rather rubbish and the reason I want to write this, I don’t want to forget! 

I never expected to see Pulp live. Nevertheless when they announced Splendour I was rather devastated I couldn’t afford it and would be missing my only chance to see one of my favourite bands. But there was a gap in their schedule so we prayed to Jarvis for sideshows. When I heard they were doing sideshows as I drove along I couldn’t help screaming out “YESSSSS!”. Best. News. Ever. I didn’t know it then but I was going to see Pulp, not once but twice. 

Pulp week started early on Tuesday watching F.E.E.L.I.N.G. C.A.L.L.E.D. L.I.V.E. singing and dancing along to all our favourite tracks. The next morning we hopped onto a bus to Sydney. In a few hours we would be lining up to see pulp, I couldn’t believe it.

We chatted for hours about our favourite songs and what we thought it would be like seeing the band we had loved for years. A band who we found we shared an appreciation for whilst sitting around in a dodgy St. Kilda hotel years earlier when Common People came on the radio.

I was pretty happy with second row middle. It wasn’t long before Belles Will Ring came on stage. For a change I enjoyed the support act, and thought it was really sweet how excited they were to be supporting Pulp.  

   

As Belles Will Ring left the stage the anticipation grew within the crowd and finally at around 9pm luminescent green messages started to appear on the thinly veiled black sheet that blocked the view of the stage. Within seconds it had the crowd screaming, laughing and ready to see the band. Then there they were playing the opening chords to Do You Remember the First Time? It wasn’t a hoax! 

Even though I was “practically dying from a cold” I sang, danced, and thoroughly enjoyed myself as Pulp played an epic set. As I had previously seen Jarvis’ do on his solo tour back in 2009 he had an amazing way with the audience, chatting away between songs, throwing out sweets, and moving how only he can.  

Moments to remember!

•  Falling even more in love with Something Changed
•  Realising they were about to play Disco 2000 then dancing like a giddy school girl to it
•  Nearly touching Jarvis during I spy, then wishing for longer arms
•  Losing the ability to breathe whilst Jarvis sang “want to see you standing in your underwear” whilst pointing in our general direction
•  Learning that Jarvis’ favourite chocolate bar is a Cherry Ripe and having intense cravings for one every day since
•  Realising spending all my money on going to see Pulp twice was one of my best decisions ever
•  GINGER PULP! <3
•  Going to a bar and ordering Vodka Sunrises afterwards