Blur live at Wembley Stadium 7.7.2023 with Self Esteem, Sleaford Mods and Jockstrap supporting; Pulp live at Cardiff International Arena 11.7.2023 with Baxter Dury supporting.
A wonderful week. My 37th and 39th gigs of 2023 which I rank as the best two this year to date. Two Britpop essential bands returning after a time and taking different approaches.
Blur, the original line up and Pulp with Jarvis Cocker as the sole original. Blur in the massive 90,000 Wembley Stadium and Pulp in the 7,500 capacity, nearly all standing, Cardiff International Arena.
Saturday’s Blur support bands were to my ears just awful and inappropriate. I have seen the Sleaford Mods on tour and I was absorbed then. I get it. I walked away from their Victorious Festival set and Wembley? Bonkers. The other two acts: I just fail to see how they made the bill – Jockstrap (knob twiddling electronica with light vocals) and Self Esteem, who seem(s) to be have been eaten up and swallowed by an adoring London media. I just don’t get it or maybe I can see through these Emperor’s new clothes. On Sunday it was Paul Weller and Selecter and that date went on sale much later.
Pulp meanwhile had Dexter Dury supporting. Fascinating and I thoroughly enjoyed him and his band. A selection of albums to choose from. Surprised I haven’t seen him before – son of Ian Dury.
As regards the main acts – both brilliant. Both loved by participative audiences. Pulp, notably Jarvis, feeding off the atmosphere and tension created and Blur overcoming the echoing vastness of Wembley Stadium with their celebration of the return and their achievement in getting there.
Both bands delivered the crowd pleasing sets that the audiences deserved and had turned up for. Blur had more work to do on such an enormous gathering but they did it.
I saw Blur first almost by chance, back on 3 May 1991 at Coventry Tic Toc Club, before the first album Leisure had been released.
It was the indoor Wembley in December 1999 before I saw them again – a singles set – and then on 12 December 2003 at Bournemouth International Centre for a quiet gig, heavy with the then recently released Think Tank album.
This Wembley performance topped those other times. Damon was so overtly happy to be there and to be back. Although the new Blur album was due out the set drew from the back catalogue. I’d been singing Tracy Jacks to myself for days beforehand and it duly appeared early on. Beetlebum soon after with its slow grinding start that draws everyone in.
We are a long way back but pleased to be enjoying front of block unobstructed seats. Camera on full zoom to see what was going on.
Stereotypes and Country House, from the number one Great Escape LP, were the chart topping hits – I had thought they might avoid such celebrated pop but not tonight – Damon even put his deer stalker on for Country House.
Under the Westway was a quieter special moment – as London a song as they could muster. The quality of the playing just about conquers the overchallenging stadium sound but oh to hear that one in the Cardiff venue where Pulp played a few days later.
Parklife was the centrepiece of this Blur party. Phil Daniels emerged from one of those work man’s tents to deliver. Magnificent. Yes nostalgic.
Song 2 another top song before the break for encores. After the break another goody, Girls and Boys.
As Tender was playing I made the misjudgement of thinking it was the last song. On came the gospel choir and as we contemplated the crowds and tube station mayhem, we thought let’s beat the inevitable. We did…and escaped back out to Ruislip and the car but missed the last few songs unfortunately. An awful place to see a band but what a wonderful performance.
And four days later it was Britpop nostalgia round two and on to Cardiff International Arena (what was the Motorpoint Arena).
A giant moon appeared on the backdrop and slowly a rising silhouette of Jarvis appeared to crowd roars. The tour is tagged ‘This is what we do for an encore…’ and the gig started like it was an encore, with an announcement to welcome Pulp back on, after years away in the wings. What an atmosphere.
Much more intimate this experience – 7500 but yes intimate. Jarvis talks nicely to the audience. No shouting.
I’m was with gig buddy Dave (DPi) and we found a spot adjacent to the mixing desk barriers – something to lean on eh. You can get a decent view from anywhere in here – not many seats in the balcony at all here.
The set drew heavily on the wonderful 1995 album Different Class, with eight songs performed from that. It started with I-Spy and then, playing along with the encore idea, Disco 2000. Yup second song. Tickertape blasted into the air like a finale to start. Woodchip wallpaper on the backdrop.
I remember woodchip on my Coventry walls back then. I first saw Pulp on 22 February 1996 at the NEC Forum Birmingham. By then I had got married and already split up so I was a bit ahead of those anthemic lyrics. Quite a night that gig was – it followed the Jarvis invading the stage and mooning moment while Michael Jackson was performing at an awards do. I haven’t seen them on tour since.
Very much the Jarvis show. All eyes on him. The band on the right of the stage and something of an orchestral input from the left: Jarvis, all the while, centre stage.
Pink Glove saw a few devout fans wearing one: Jarvis asked to see them in the air after. Do You Remember the First Time sounded as bouncy and fresh as ever.
The expected highlight came: Common People, building beautifully until the floor erupts. Jarvis succeeded in making a big hall feel like a cosy little venue. Perhaps Pulp will have a crack at Wembley Stadium – NOOO! Don’t do it!
Two hugely enjoyable gigs. The experiences all the better for the fact these bands hadn’t played for so long. Not just any old favourite band but bands that defined the 90s.
All photos from my trusty TZ90 Panasonic pocket zoom.
Gigs with Ivan 