When Jarvis takes to the stage to massive cheers, suited and brandishing a cane, he gives of the air of a randy history teacher. Jarvis has still got the moves as he tears about the stage throwing his trademark shapes in front of an enraptured audience.
Although he acknowledges his approaching middle age in songs such as album highlight “Leftovers” (“Trapped in a body that is failing me, Well, please allow me to be succinct, I wanna love you whilst we both still have flesh upon our bones”), his libido shows no sign of waning on the dirty rock stomp of recent single “Angela”, a paean to a girl half his age.
The biggest cheers for the night are kept for the old favourites “Black Magic” and “Don’t Let Him Waste Your Time”. Unsurprisingly, there people hoping for Pulp classics (possibly buoyed by the presence of former Pulp band mate Steve Mackey on guitar), but Jarvis isn’t one to rely on past glories. Jarvis Cocker has always proved to be one of our most enigmatic front men, and tonight he stays true to form, a real national treasure.
