O₂ Arena, North Greenwich – Friday 13 June 2025
The O₂ Arena hosted a night of Britpop resurgence as PULP rolled into London for the first of two sold-out shows. Fresh from a surprise No. 1 on the day with More (their first album in 24 years), Jarvis Cocker and co. proved their creative mojo is far from spent and that they can still fill 20,000 seats with both new cuts and class-A nostalgia.

The Journey

The usual trio of Neil, Hammy and I set off mid-morning after a hearty breakfast at Crescent Café. Neil, our Director of Transport and Logistical Services, nailed a parking spot a mere three minutes from High Barnet tube station. Five stops later we checked in at Finchley Central’s Travelodge, then hopped back on the tube for Canning Town. The wonderful STREETIES pub delivered three pints for £12.50 and believe me we left well-watered. A pasty from the co-op sufficed for tea before getting to the arena an hour before the start.

The Support

No opening act—PULP went straight in. Zero faff, though a prompt start at 8 pm slipped to 8:15 pm. Annoying but forgivable given we got a full two sets.

The Main Event

Jarvis Cocker crashed through the roof with magnetic swagger and should be on everyone’s list of charismatic front people. He was backed by group long termers Candida Doyle (keys), Nick Banks (drums) and Mark Webber (guitar). Five extra players—including Emma Smith’s violin—fleshed out the sound. Strings on “OU (Gone Gone)” and “Sorted…” weren’t just window-dressing; they added genuine depth and weren’t out of place.

Setlist Highlights

• Set One (11 songs): Three More openers (“Spike Island,” “Grown Ups,” “Slow Jam”) kicked off things off; a trio from Different Class (“Sorted for E’s & Whizz”, “Disco 2000”, “F.E.E.L.I.N.G. C.A.L.L.E.D. L.O.V.E.,” whipped things up nicely ; two more from More and two from This is Hardcore before “Sunrise” from We Love Life brought the first set to a close.
• Set Two (11 songs): An intimate acoustic “Something Changed” showed off Cocker’s voice; then arena anthems “Common People,” “Mis-Shapes” and “Do You Remember the First Time?” sent the crowd into orbit. If set 1 closed with “Sunrise” then perfect symmetry saw set 2, and the night, come to close with “A Sunset” from More.

The Venue

O₂’s sightlines are ace and the stage visuals—giant video backdrops, discreet disco steps—kept the focus on the music. Bar prices remain daylight robbery; if you are attending then do as we did. Fill up before you go. £9.80 a pint of warm lager is not on!

Overall Verdict

PULP’s O₂ debut wasn’t a nostalgia cash-grab—it was a blueprint for the next phase. They balanced bold new material with Britpop classics, Jarvis was in imperious form, and the band sounded tighter than ever. Fix the minor audio issues and stick to the timetable, and night two should be even sharper. Thirty years on from Common People, PULP remain essential.