The opening night of Pulp’s “You Deserve More: Live 2025” tour kicked off at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro. Jarvis Cocker asked fans to arrive early for an 8pm start, as announced on the band’s social media channels, which featured a photo of a stage draped with a red curtain. Keeping everyone in suspense until the last moment, the crowd—made up of fans of all ages sporting various Pulp t-shirts—waited patiently in long queues to enter the venue.
Inside the venue, anticipation crackled in the air as a massive red curtain shrouded the stage. There was no opening act—Pulp were set to perform two sets that night. As the lights dimmed, a woman’s voice echoed through the PA system, urging the audience to make some noise. Glasgow rose to the occasion, responding with enthusiastic cheers. The stage was ready; all that remained was for the curtain to fall and unveil the main event.
As the curtain rose, the band launched into the intro of their new song, “Spike Island,” perfectly setting the mood. Excitement rippled through the crowd as Jarvis Cocker appeared at the back of the stage, making his entrance. The audience erupted in cheers as he captivated them with his vocals. Jarvis then asked if anyone had bought the new album, which had just been released the day before, prompting another enthusiastic response. He introduced another new track, “Grown Up’s,” followed by the outstanding “Slow Jam,” which translated seamlessly to the live setting. The crowd could be seen dancing along, fully immersed in the performance.
Jarvis was at his best, and the stage setup was impressive, featuring everything from staircases and a massive LED screen to dazzling laser lights that illuminated classics like “Sorted for E’s & Wizz” and “Disco 2000.” The crowd sang along enthusiastically to the hits, and it was clear from the look on Jarvis’s face that he was thoroughly enjoying the opening night of the show.
Jarvis said to the crowd going in Pulp tradition we are using a female name this time it is Tina. The First set finished up with the excellent Sunrise before the band took a short break letting the crowd to go top up their drinks, and get ready for the second set.
The band reappeared while the curtains remained closed, performing a semi-acoustic set that included a superb rendition of “Something Changed” with several band members. When the curtains finally opened, they thrilled the audience with an outstanding version of “The Fear.” It’s hard to remember the last time this song was played, but it sounded incredible, with the Glasgow crowd singing along at the top of their lungs.
When the song finished, Jarvis asked the audience if they would help out. He invited one side of the crowd to sing “O” and the other side to sing “U.” As the yellow and orange ball moved across the screen, everyone was to sing along in time. The effect worked well, with the orange and yellow ball sliding smoothly in and out of the centre of the screen.
As the set progressed, it was time for all the big hits—Mis-Shapes, Babies, and Common People—to be performed, culminating in a massive singalong to close out the show. The band ended this part of the set just as they had concluded the first, finishing with the outstanding A Sunset. Taking a bow, they left the stage to a thunderous ovation from the Glasgow audience.
The tour’s opening night exploded with streamers, confetti, and pyrotechnics, delivering a flawless performance from start to finish. From the very first note, Jarvis Cocker and Pulp took Glasgow on an unforgettable musical journey. This is a must-see show—one of the year’s true highlights—proving once again that they’re in a Different Class.
Review by Karen Edmond
Photographs by James Edmond Photography
