End of the Road

[Sturdy]

Looks like End of the Road tickets are being resold via Twickets as of today! I've had a flurry of alerts so it may be worth jumping on that site if you're looking (and have £300 to spare).

[Violin_Thing]

I'll be there for work, we're playing before Jarvis' son's band, hopefully he's knocking around!

[Weed]

I am considering it! I'm off that week & keeping a close eye on Twickets... just gotta press that magic button really!

[Lipglossed]

I've spent about forty bajillion quid on Ubers at Wythenshawe. And I'm starting a Master's. And I imagine you can't do the payment plan with Twickets. And food and camping is going to jack up the prices considerably. It would be a hilariously stupid financial decision — easily the worst I've made in recent memory.

I'm considering it.

[Lipglossed]

No, can't really justify it alas. Ah well.

If it came down to £150 then yeah, perhaps...

[eamonn]

It's a 2hr set apparently!

[Barcroft]

I'm wondering if they may play one of the smaller secret sets later that evening as well?

With CMAT playing also it is so tempting, but Dorset is such a long way to go.

I can't wait to see some clips.

[eamonn]

I think they're gonna throw in some complete curveballs.

[Cehora]

I am considering it! I'm off that week & keeping a close eye on Twickets... just gotta press that magic button really!

If you really want to go, try auto buy. It worked well for me and my friends – we all got tickets just a few hours after the resale started.

[Sturdy]

I've noticed a few coming on (and swiftly going) at slightly below face value in the past day or so. I still can't justify it though sadly, unless I get an unexpected windfall in the next 48 hours!

[Lipglossed]

No more Twickets listings I think — as it's only 24 hours until End of the Road starts (although Pulp aren't playing until Saturday).

I wonder if Facebook might be where tickets pop up? (But so will scams...)

[Lipglossed]

Probably time to give up I imagine...

[Lipglossed]

Well don't I feel silly missing out on THAT.

[LeoVK]

Word is that Death II, Deep Fried In Kelvin, We Are The Boyz and Little Girl With Blue Eyes were all played... 

[Lipglossed]

And Lipgloss...

[LeoVK]

The Mark Of The Devil and Forever In My Dreams...!

I *knew* that mention of MOTD on a previous setlist wasn't a joke! Someone had better have captured it! 😵�💫

[eamonn]

Pulp saved their best setlist ever for 20,000 people who didn't recognise most of it.

*Slow Clap* Well done lads and lassies!

[Lipglossed]

Pulp saved their best setlist ever for 20,000 people who didn't recognise most of it.

*Slow Clap* Well done lads and lassies!

For the one gig where you have to shell out £300...

Bring those songs to the cheaper venues, please!

[hawalius1]

Now here's a concert I wish we had a cinema release of! Wow.

Pulp Czechia has been sharing some brilliant videos already this morning... I completely agree with her muttering "what is happening...?!" before Forever In My Dreams. I would have lost my mind at this setlist.

[Violin_Thing]

Ah I'm very sorry to those not there but it was amazing. A very grumpy Jarvis, amazing songs, cried and danced and sang as much as I could.

[Violin_Thing]

He also kept saying this was likely not the end!

[Sturdy]

Now here's a concert I wish we had a cinema release of! Wow.

Pulp Czechia has been sharing some brilliant videos already this morning... I completely agree with her muttering "what is happening...?!" before Forever In My Dreams. I would have lost my mind at this setlist.

Thanks for the tip off. Just watched Mark of the Devil. Goosebumps.

[eamonn]

I am delighted for Violin Thing and the angel barriers as you've made big travel efforts to go to Pulp shows where it's a standard set. The wonderful thing about Pulp is that Jarvis' showman abilities makes the standard selection worthwhile (as well as those songs being brilliant). I had no complaints at Manchester last week. I'd seen all those songs many times but they're performed so well, experiencing them through a less- knowledgeable crowd who were fully up for it, with everyone happy, is a great vibe.

Last night is just nuts though on many levels. I don't like camping festivals and I couldn't afford to go anyway but to play an opening salvo of legit deeeep cuts to an audience primarily made-up of casual fans blows my mind. It's not hard to imagine hundreds of folk drifting off to Seasick Steve or whoever in a nearby tent wondering where the hell were the songs they recognised.

I've a friend who was in attendance, the definition of a casual fan. Knows most of Different Class, and a few other singles. Always goes to EotR and always does his homework before going by looking at recent seltlists of acts he doesn't love - to get the likely songs they're going to play, on his ear. He will be gutted that he didn't hear Sorted, Disco, Misshapes, Feeling etc. I doubt he's the only one.

Meanwhile, us geeks would have given our whole lives to see it (or at least happily paid over £200 to see Pulp do their own gig with these songs).

Obviously the band are under no obligation to play certain songs by royal decree from a few hundred obsessives who they could never fully satisfy anyway given that everyone has their favourites. And they did say this would be a "special" performance. But c'mon... at least meet us halfway and do a special warm-up/fan-friendly billed live show with it advertised as a non-hits show.

Giles Acrylic mentioned that five unheard live songs from this 2023-2026 era would bring the total number of songs played these last few years to 60. And Nick posted that it was apparently their 600th show. They also have referenced having rehearsed lots of songs that haven't had a look-in. Doubtless of which there are more that never got aired - we have that rehearsal performance of Trees from 2023 on the free Mojo CD last year as an example. Maybe they thought why not just lash-out a few of these for the craic at the last gig. A bold move at a festival, but it's famously a friendly festival with far fewer nobs per square metre compared to others. Russell would surely be proud - win over the casuals with the weird shit. Freak out the squares.

And I don't begrudge them doing that. I just wish they had given more of their loyal, giddy fanbase of misshapes the chance to experience it too - and truly appreciate it, no questions asked!
Sturdy mentioned that it was a little reminiscent of the Drury Lane Dec '94 show. Opening the set with songs from the bad old days that few would know before gradually taming those who only knew Babies amd DYRTFT as the show went on. It was also the end of an era performance. Common People was recorded a month later and Pulp immediately knew they'd entered a completely different world. Today, the sound of that ridiculously heartbreaking child's ride outside is us bunch of losers who weren't in attendance last night.

One lovely consolation would be if Pulp gave away a download file for free of last night's performance. Doesn't have to be remixed and mastered, just raw from the sound desk. They have form for being good to fans in a similar vein - the After You Xmas card, secret pressie give-away after Sheffield 2012 a lovely precedent.

And it's clear that they have embraced their back-catalogue and with Jarvis saying it's not the end...maybe this is an exciting nod to the future. Mark said before that Jarvis wanted to see if Pulp could still slay at massive outdoor (and indoor) events. Spend lots of money on production, an extended backing band, a string section, lighting and background screen films to give a full, immersive show. There's no doubt they've proven they can do that.

By the time Pulp next appear, half of the core four may be pensioners (Jarvis will be 63 this month, Candida turned 63 a couple of weeks ago). Doing small, indoor venues (and theatres - can you imagine?  ) with disclaimers that these ain't hits shows no more, they're back-cat excavations with lots of slow jams...sounds ideal to me. They've surely all made enough money since '23 to top-up their retirements. But if there is a joy of playing live together still within them - and it genuinely seems there is, what a future late-Pulp could be. That's not even to mention the possibility of further new material. But I'd be more than happy with the former.

If all that sounds entitled/selfish, I guess that's just how it is when you spend a lot of money and time on the group that changed/saved/made a huge impression on your life. Pulp didn't ask to be put on a pedestal but we've given a lot back to them. Especially during those dormant years after 2002 when being a young Pulp fan, never mind obsessive, waa painfully uncool. We all wanted the right to be different, Pulp helped give permission for that. And the fans last night who knew every single word of every song, from Kelvin to Forever, Devil to Death II, I'm proud of you lucky lot. I just hope that love of their lore is spread a little bit wider next time 

[liltman]

Gutted, but taken consolation in Jarvis saying on his Insta it's not over for good. One thing that's driven people mad in the past is the uncertainty.

[eamonn]

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[Sturdy]

Been watching more of Pulpczechia's videos. Death II is just so good. And Kelvin... Just incredible. Goosebumps and actual tears.

Sounds ridiculous but I kind of don't care that I wasn't there. Would have loved to be, obviously, but I'm just so psyched that it actually happened, and that we can watch these performances now. I might change my mind on that once the shock's worn off...

[Lipglossed]

I mean, I've been at some pretty bloomin marvellous ones, to be fair. Lipgloss at Hogmanay. Sex City and Miner's Strike at Tramlines. So many incredible Pulp moments.

Surely they can't be gone for good... surely! You know, the band turns fifty in 2028...

[eamonn]

Are there full vids of all the rarities played up, yet?

[eamonn]

Just seen them all on Insta. Fair play to Eva (PulpCzechia) for capturing them. Death II and Deep Fried In particular are just mega.

And you're right, I feel more at peace missing the performance having seen these vids. Sorry Pulp, you're still the best.

[liltman]

I mean, I've been at some pretty bloomin marvellous ones, to be fair. Lipgloss at Hogmanay. Sex City and Miner's Strike at Tramlines. So many incredible Pulp moments.

Surely they can't be gone for good... surely! You know, the band turns fifty in 2028...

I think there might be something in that anniversary, now you mention it!

Three years is a decent break and then maybe they'll have a new album for us and/or some kind of recognition of their anniversary, which could be commemorated with something similar to last night?

All those obscure tracks sound so good on these clips from last night... they could easily win over mainstream audiences by playing more of these!

[Pip]

I'm doing my best not to feel bitter about these latest developments... but having failed miserably to get a ticket for the 'More in full' gig at Royal Festival Hall earlier in the year, suddenly forced to miss Wythenshawe Park and the pop-up pub last week due to injury, and generally not having the sort of spare cash floating around to go travelling here there and everywhere as some are lucky to do, it does feel like I've missed out on the party this year.

But I'm happy for those that made it and I keep my fingers crossed they'll return once more... and maybe I'll finally get to hear Bob Lind one day.

PulpWiki entry up x

[eamonn]

Death II & Boyz are immediate bops and Deep-Fried came across very impressively in the video I saw with the visuals also powerful. I think Devil and Forever might be slower burners.

Given Jarvis was effectively doing a show and tell of Pulp's history last night, it's a bit of a surprise they didn't start it off with My Lighthouse. I wonder if the current incarnation have practised it (as it was played at the Teenage Cancer Trust gig in 2012).

[eamonn]

I'm doing my best not to feel bitter about these latest developments... but having failed miserably to get a ticket for the 'More in full' gig at Royal Festival Hall earlier in the year, suddenly forced to miss Wythenshawe Park and the pop-up pub last week due to injury, and generally not having the sort of spare cash floating around to go travelling here there and everywhere as some are lucky to do, it does feel like I've missed out on the party this year.

But I'm happy for those that made it and I keep my fingers crossed they'll return once more... and maybe I'll finally get to hear Bob Lind one day.

PulpWiki entry up x

Yes, Bob Lind for the absolute win! The Only Way Is Up, Pip!

[liltman]

Death II & Boyz are immediate bops and Deep-Fried came across very impressively in the video I saw with the visuals also powerful. I think Devil and Forever might be slower burners.

Given Jarvis was effectively doing a show and tell of Pulp's history last night, it's a bit of a surprise they didn't start it off with My Lighthouse. I wonder if the current incarnation have practised it (as it was played at the Teenage Cancer Trust gig in 2012).

Yeah, bit baffled by the lack of My Lighthouse - they also played that at the 2012 Sheffield gig.

[nautjordan]

Unreal setlist that, thought it was a pisstake when I saw a post in Instagram about it.

Very jealous of those in attendance but also chuffed for those who were there who knew the deeper cuts and got to experience them!

Glad that Jarvis said it's not THE end. They deserve a nice break after this album cycle now but I hope for some more dates and maybe more music when the time is right.                                                 

[LeoVK]

Although it is a gift to hear all the old material be played, going to voice one possibly unpopular opinion...

I've never really enjoyed hearing them play "Little Girl (With Blue Eyes)" post-around 1991 and onwards. It's a great song on record, but the live performance to me has always felt completely devoid of any of the melodrama that made the original single recording so compelling. There's kind of this sense of dread and doom when it goes into the chorus on the record, but live it just doesn't hit the same way. There's no real peaks and troughs... it just plays through rather inoffensively. That's just me though...

Agree with an earlier poster that "My Lighthouse" could have worked!

"The Mark Of The Devil" though... now that sounded much more successful in that respect to my ears. The choruses may be too long and droning for the masses, mind...

[Cehora]

Just seen them all on Insta. Fair play to Eva (PulpCzechia) for capturing them. Death II and Deep Fried In particular are just mega.

And you're right, I feel more at peace missing the performance having seen these vids. Sorry Pulp, you're still the best.

My pleasure! (I have many names )  I´ll wait a bit if someone uploads better recordings on youtube – if not, I´ll upload mine.

[Barcroft]

Death II & Boyz are immediate bops and Deep-Fried came across very impressively in the video I saw with the visuals also powerful. I think Devil and Forever might be slower burners.

Given Jarvis was effectively doing a show and tell of Pulp's history last night, it's a bit of a surprise they didn't start it off with My Lighthouse. I wonder if the current incarnation have practised it (as it was played at the Teenage Cancer Trust gig in 2012).

Yeah, bit baffled by the lack of My Lighthouse - they also played that at the 2012 Sheffield gig.

They also played Countdown at that gig which I haven't seen feature in the recent evolution of the band.

[Sturdy]

Although it is a gift to hear all the old material be played, going to voice one possibly unpopular opinion...

I've never really enjoyed hearing them play "Little Girl (With Blue Eyes)" post-around 1991 and onwards. It's a great song on record, but the live performance to me has always felt completely devoid of any of the melodrama that made the original single recording so compelling. There's kind of this sense of dread and doom when it goes into the chorus on the record, but live it just doesn't hit the same way. There's no real peaks and troughs... it just plays through rather inoffensively. That's just me though...

Agree with an earlier poster that "My Lighthouse" could have worked!

"The Mark Of The Devil" though... now that sounded much more successful in that respect to my ears. The choruses may be too long and droning for the masses, mind...

Kind of agree with you on Little Girl. Great to hear it, but when they've played it live they tend not to capture the magic of the original. Mark of the Devil, as you say, probably worked a bit better. Quite jarring to hear something where the bleak spooky vibe of '80s Pulp in the context of a set like this, but what a powerful flashback.

Death II and Kelvin, on the other hand, were just awesome. No notes whatsoever.

[Ian]

Well... quite possibly the most interesting set they have ever performed. I wasn't there but kind of regretting that now. I have been watching some of the clips on Instagram and it seems great.

Seeing them perform "Deep Fried in Kelvin" has been on my bucket list for over 30 years. I sincerely hope that they reunite for some smaller shows in a few years and play it again.

I agree with the above comments around "Little Girl (With Blue Eyes)", it does sound a little bit plain compared to the studio version. I said the same about "She's Dead" when they performed it in the 1990s.

"Forever In My Dreams" is a particular highlight. It seems to come across really well live. And "Death II", well I wasn't expecting that! I think the only thing that would have made it better is if they had launched straight into "Live On" afterwards. Imagine?

[Frisko2000]

Wow. What's next, The Professional?

[eamonn]

He's tired of tryna give you what you've come to expect, just another song about single mothers and sex.

[Lipglossed]

Well... quite possibly the most interesting set they have ever performed. I wasn't there but kind of regretting that now. I have been watching some of the clips on Instagram and it seems great.

Seeing them perform "Deep Fried in Kelvin" has been on my bucket list for over 30 years. I sincerely hope that they reunite for some smaller shows in a few years and play it again.

I agree with the above comments around "Little Girl (With Blue Eyes)", it does sound a little bit plain compared to the studio version. I said the same about "She's Dead" when they performed it in the 1990s.

"Forever In My Dreams" is a particular highlight. It seems to come across really well live. And "Death II", well I wasn't expecting that! I think the only thing that would have made it better is if they had launched straight into "Live On" afterwards. Imagine?

Live On!!! Bloody hell.

And Eamonn — really agree with your earlier post. It would have been so lovely if these deep cuts had been aired somewhere more accessible for more of us. It's lovely that we can all take joy in them via video, but still. Perhaps one day...

[Cehora]

Now here's a concert I wish we had a cinema release of! Wow.

Pulp Czechia has been sharing some brilliant videos already this morning... I completely agree with her muttering "what is happening...?!" before Forever In My Dreams. I would have lost my mind at this setlist.

Ahah, the muttering was from a friend standing next to me, I just stared in disbelief and added an amazed "yeah" 😅
Anyway, I just added Lipgloss to Pulpczechia account and start to upload the videos on YT. You can also check my friend´s videos on YT, they´re already there ✌️

[hawalius1]

Fantastic - thank you so much! Between you and @casamammolo, your videos are almost as good as being there

[eamonn]

Now that the dust has settled and replaced the bulbs in all the lights (or EotR attendees have had a chance to "come down" from "trips" to the woods and report back), just reading some reviews of Pulp at End of the Road from casuals on a festivals forum for an indication as to how the obscurities went down. Bit of a mix of opinion which you'd totally expect. Overall mostly positive though:

Didn't think I'd type this but the only disappointment was Pulp. They could have done two songs they never play / not played before and die hards would have been pleased I'm sure. But to play five or six (?) then miss a couple or more of your biggest hits didn't go down well with the youngsters in our group who had not seen them before. We thought they'd come back out to a joyous encore, but no. Oh well.

Loved Pulp's set - their sound was amazing, and I admired their decision to play plenty of obscure and new tracks (none of which I knew but all held up well alongside the bangers we know and love).

Pulp.  Fantastic retrospective, though a bit of a low key ending - they should have come back with an encore of Disco 2000

Pretty surprised by the Pulp setlist.  Uncompromising for a festival.  Did they leak in advance that it would be a retrospective.  Might have been better for an individual show billed as such?  Would count myself as a pretty big fan and despite having a signed Trees/Sunrise CD single, I wouldn't have recognised Forever in my Dreams.  Is that a b-side from that era?  Wouldn't have recognised Mark of the Devil either.  I hugely appreciated them doing Sheffield Sex City at Tramlines last year but this is a whole other level of rarities.  I agree that ending on Sunrise tends to feel a bit flat.  Feel free to tag any Pulp experts.

When they were announced as headliners it was stated it would be a different set.

Pulp (Woods/The promised 'special set' turned out to be true. Two hours of historical overview and celebration. Euphoria reigned. One for the ages.

Coming down on the positive side of the Pulp debate, I was surprised at no Sorted For E's And Wizz and I thought My Legendary Girlfriend (one play since 1993) would get a run-out but Deep Fried In Kelvin was a very nice surprise and I admired the "history of the band as we pause again" framing. Glad of the screens too.

Pulp, was never a massive fan and only saw them once before in a rammed Glasto secret set in the Park, but Holy Moly. Loved it. Loved the deep cuts, well presented and the sound was incredible.

[Cehora]

Oh well, you can't please everyone...
And I wouldn't exactly say the sound was great. There were a few feedback issues, and Jarvis seemed to be having trouble with his monitors. He had to get the sound guys' attention a few times and looked pretty annoyed about it. But if most people didn't even notice, I guess that's a good thing.

[eamonn]

The whole audio of the 2hr set is now on YouTube. There's some audience chatter but it's still decent quality, maybe the best we'll get til the Pulp live boxset in 2050.

Nice description from the uploader including an amusing story about his mum seeing Pulp in Halifax in 1991:

[Ian]

I have uploaded MP3s of that here (split into separate tracks). It's certainly listenable.

I have had a listen. Whilst I love "Deep Fried in Kelvin", I can understand how it may come across as a bit hard-going to casual fans at a festival. That said, they did play 5 singles in a row from "OU" to "Do You Remember the First Time?" as well as "Common People", "This is Hardcore" and "Something Changed" so still plenty of recognisable material.

"Mark of the Devil" sounds fantastic and totally unexpected. I would never advocate the band re-recording any of their old material unless absolutely necessary but I think that they could work wonders with this. "Forever in My Dreams" is also a highlight. It is giving me visions of what a parallel universe album may have sounded in 2000. Strangely enough, I had a dream last night about Pulp performing "My Body May Die" in 2000 with Emma Smith on backing vocals, but I digress.

I welcome the exclusion of "Sorted for E's & Wizz" in particular. It's a great song but has been played to death over the years. Something like "Party Hard" would have been welcome and in that setting, "The Trees" would have probably worked well.