24 April 2007

Jarvis Cocker @ Webster Hall - 23 April 2007

One of my big concert regrets is not ever having seen Pulp live. The first time I got any hint of how amazing their live show was was when I purchased an import of their concert film F.E.E.L.I.N.G. C.A.L.L.E.D. L.I.V.E. in 1997. I used to watch that VHS tape over and over again imagining how awesome it would be to live in England and be able to go see multiple Pulp shows. Instead I lived in the southeast and had the chance to see Jimmy Buffett every year (though I never did). Needless to say, last night was somewhat of a realization of a dream in that I got to see one of my musical heroes for the very first time. Jarvis Cocker and his band did not disappoint.

In general I've found Webster Hall to be among my less favorite venues in the city but last night everything was perfect. The sound was outstanding, the bass at times out of this world. Like, move your body a few inches to the left kind of out of this world bass. But not ever too loud, just perfect. And such spot on sound is exactly what Jarvis's current music needed to come across really well in a live setting. Well, the sound and the perfectly engaging lead vocalist...

For the whole show the entire room was transfixed on Jarvis. Above you can see him reading stories to us from a book titled This is New York.

The set lasted about an hour and included every song from his recently released album (an album which, by the way, appeared at #10 on EF's Top Albums of '06). Last night we even got to hear "Black Magic", which is something the audience from Sunday night's show did not have the pleasure of seeing the band perform, and it was amazing. It was, unsurprisingly, the highlight of the show and the final song of their set.

When Jarvis and crew returned to do an encore the anticipation in the room was palpable. Pretty much everyone was wondering if they'd play any Pulp songs. The people next to me kept muttering "Common People", "Common People". Yeah right. I knew better. They obviously didn't read the internets as much as me. We were going to hear some cover songs, right? I mean, he played "Heaven" by the Talking Heads and "Paranoid" by Black Sabbath the night before. What tonight?!

Well the first song of the encore wasn't a cover. It was, in fact, the final song from Jarvis's album called "Running the World". Then Jarvis proceeded to fake everyone out by saying he'd run out of his own material and was going to play an old song. The room waited, breathless. The guitar started before the rest of the band. It sounded a bit like..."Eye of the Tiger"?! No. "Burning Down The House"? Yes, maybe. But no, Jarvis then announced that they were playing a song written by someone who lives not too far from here. A song called "State Trooper". That's when I screamed out loud - "YES!" I think I was the only person in the room familiar with the song. To that end, I've posted the original version below so you Pulp/Jarvis Cocker fans can get an idea of what Bruce's version sounds like. Jarvis and the guys started the song slowly, more true to the Nebraska version of the song, and then stretched it out into an E Street style live jam. It was honestly the perfect ending to what is sure to be one of my favorite shows of 2007.

Listen:
Jarvis Cocker - "Black Magic"
Bruce Springsteen - "State Trooper"

Visit Jarvis Cocker on MySpace.

More pictures of Jarvis Cocker (from this show) HERE.

Setlist and other pictures @ Music Snobbery.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

What pretension! Don't sell your fellow audience members short! There was a bunch of applause when Jarvis started into "State Trooper." Bruce Springsteen isn't exactly an obscure artist... and Nebraska certainly isn't overlooked in his canon of great albums.

Matt said...

wow, lots of attitude from anonymous commenters lately. good, i like it.

but...seriously? i'm not selling anyone short or anything, just telling the tale from my point of view. when he announced he was playing "State Trooper", and i was excited for it, it appeared to me that i was one of very few who were. and even seemed like those around me were like "huh, wha? you know this song and are excited for it?" i only made note of this because Nebraska is such a heralded album. that's all.

Anonymous said...

ferris bueller you're my hero

Anonymous said...

i was there last night and the room was silent when jarvis announced he was covering "state trooper". just a fact. deal with it anonymous.

Anonymous said...

Oh come on. I was there, too. There weren't uproarious cheers, but I was standing in the back & heard a respectable amount of applause. Nothing crazy. But not "silent." And that's a fact. Deal with it, Beth.

Why the hell are we even talking about this?!

Leilani said...

Seeing Jarvis last night was an absolutely magical experience for me. I'd been waiting so so long! What an incredible show, and incredible man.
I think it's safe to say that it was perhaps the greatest show I have ever, ever seen (and I've seen a LOT of shows).
wow.

Anonymous said...

"Why the hell are we even talking about this?!"

haha! because, um, you brought it up? anyway, the show last night was out of this world. and these are some nice pics. now when will Pulp finally come back to NYC?!

Anonymous said...

Magical is right! And hey, I didn't know that cover song he played and I'm happy to hear the original now. More US shows Jarvis pretty please please!

Anonymous said...

brilliant! well done with the pictures here Mr. Farm.

Anonymous said...

He ended his show in Sydney last month with State Trooper as well. Fantastic.

Anonymous said...

great photos! i just wanted to share mine as well, i got plenty of action shots of him ballistically dancing!
flickr

Matt said...

Hello to the first Anon commenter -
Far be it from me to not admit when I'm wrong. I've just found YouTube evidence that you're right... From the perspective of a camera directly in the middle of the room there's clearly an audible response when Jarvis announces what song he's playing. Though I still stand by my account of what it sounded like from where I was standing, it seems as though this great argument/mystery has been solved.

If it matters at all, proof is HERE.

Anonymous said...

good sleuthing work.

so who shot kennedy?

Matt said...

Frauke shot Kennedy, it is why she is on the FBI's most wanted list

Anonymous said...

Anyone have a link to poster art for Jarvis Cocker? I have the poster advertising the Saturday April 28th show, but wanted to see if there was a bit of damage to mine. Seems hand writing on the turntable, on the Ruby bottle, and guitar are incorporate into the poster, but not sure, anyone know?