Pulp are finally giving us ‘More’. After 24 years, Jarvis Cocker’s anti-Britpop icons have announced a new studio album, promising more endearingly awkward jams about the working class day-to-day. The release will be accompanied by an arena-sized tour across the UK and Ireland, which will kick off in Glasgow on June 7 before swinging through Dublin, London, Birmingham, Manchester and later Sheffield, with a massive homecoming planned for Tramlines at Hillsborough Park.
It’s a new era for a band who are no strangers to reinvention, having split up and come back again and again over the past two decades. So, with fresh music getting released and the potential for some bold setlist change-ups coming with it, we have some suggestions for what Pulp could and should play when they hit the road. This is Stereoboard’s Setlist Draft for the champions of the Common People.
When the moment calls for…a pulse-pounding opener
Ever since Pulp’s latest reunion in 2023, the band have opened their sets with I Spy, gradually immersing their audiences in the show by using slow, symphonic textures. As we’ve established, though, this is a new era. What better way to prove that than by kicking things off with an explosion rather than a warm-up? Disco 2000 isn’t just one of Pulp’s most recognisable songs; it’s also among their most energetic. With the barrelling, rock ‘n’ roll chords of this ‘Different Class’ single, the band guarantee fervor from the get-go. By the time the crowds have sung that iconic chorus three times, it’ll be fever-pitch.
When the moment calls for…some necessary darkness
Maybe the best thing about Pulp is that they have a song for every feeling out there. From horniness to disenfranchisement, Cocker’s lyrics have touched practically every spot on the emotional spectrum. But, while countless listeners relate to the romance of Something Changed and reflection of Do You Remember the First Time?, the anger that drives Razzmatazz is underrated in its importance. This 1992 diatribe against an ex-girlfriend is a vital, venomous statement, rejecting British culture’s embedded ‘stiff upper lip’ attitude. No showcase of Pulp’s complete moodboard would be complete without it. Plus, for the thousands who attend their upcoming concerts, it’ll provide some pure, brilliant catharsis.
When the moment calls for…a reflective deep cut
Since breaking through in the mid-1990s, Pulp have banned their earliest material from their setlists. We get it: ‘It’, ‘Freaks’ and ‘Separations’ were the sound of a band still blooming, promising but immature. That era still deserves some celebration, however. I Want You, from ‘Freaks’, wasn’t a chart-topper, and it saw Cocker dabble with a vocal style well below his natural register. That said, its loungy verses and climactic choruses were the first signposts that Pulp knew how to write a killer song. As they bring out new material for their next tour, it would be just as exciting for the ancient stuff to re-debut as well.
When the moment calls for…something brand spanking new
Even though the album was only announced in April, Pulp have been playing material from ‘More’ since shortly after their return in 2023, such has been their excitement to air some new songs. So, expect a huge number of them when they tour next month. Of all the current-era tracks the band can and will play, Spike Island is the most likely to appear, plus the most likely to stand out. Released when ‘More’ was announced, it will have had weeks to worm its way into fans’ hearts by the time touring kicks off. Learn the lines if you haven’t done so already.
When the moment calls for…sending everyone home happy
A Pulp show without Common People would be like a Deep Purple show without Smoke on the Water or a Rolling Stones show without (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction: unfinished. After affirming Pulp’s commercial takeover, the lead single from ‘Different Class’ forged a rich legacy all its own. From the time it got busted out at Glastonbury ‘95 to the fans who still question who exactly this song was about, this class-conscious odyssey is a generational symbol. Everyone knows it’s going to come out. So, do it at the end and it’ll close the night with thousands of feet bouncing and voices wailing.
Pulp Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sat June 07 2025 - GLASGOW OVO Hydro
Tue June 10 2025 - DUBLIN 3Arena
Fri June 13 2025 - LONDON O2 Arena
Sat June 14 2025 - LONDON O2 Arena
Thu June 19 2025 - BIRMINGHAM Utilita Arena
Sat June 21 2025 - MANCHESTER Co-op Live
Fri July 25 2025 - SHEFFIELD Hillsborough Park
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