never a big fan of pulp or jarvis cocker so - convince me
i go into this film with that attitude - let's see what i have missed
the opening scenes a brief look at a large farewell show in sheffield
big venue, big crowd, big show - the adoring masses of their hometown
then wind back from that and we start meeting the band and fans
jarvis cocker up first - seen clumsily changing a wheel on a car
an obvious setup and i presume trying to prove his normality
he almost looks embarrassed at being filmed - not his idea?
then we are in the heart of sheffield and looking very tired
a toothless, rotund newspaper seller declaring his love of pulp
ditto quite an elderly lady sitting at a bus stop - jarvis is the man
a trans-sexual musician also a fan of pulp but also of sheffield
tried to live in london for a while but got tired of being mugged
at least in sheffield you know who is mugging you - said seriously
a scene at the market and the butcher where jarvis used to work
dispelling any thoughts he could be a pacifist/vegetarian/hippy dude
the heavily tattooed interview-ee there with an indeciperable accent
not a fan of pulp or cocker it seems and happy to take the piss
cut to a scene of older women in an acapella group warming up
blue and silver glittery uniform and performing common people
ah - i get it - pulp's biggest hit and we're seeing the inspiration
next off to a football pitch and a young ladies team practicing
the word pulp proudly emblazoned on their red satin tops
on the sidelines one of the fathers explains - he the drummer
nick banks - apparantly the lads were up for a bit of sponsorship
though he says when his daughter is asked to explain the branding
'oh that - pulp - that's the crap band that my father drums for'
laugh - typical english self-deprecation coming to the fore now
other members of the band past and present also interviewed
most impressive being candida doyle - keyboards player
she talks quite candidly (oops) about her arthritis condition
which makes playing very difficult - but she pushed on through
richard hawley (yay) also makes a talking head appearance
speaking fondly about the hardcore album - he most proud
and in all honesty he is the main interest for me in pulp the band
(pulp being the launching pad for his own successful solo career)
on the day of the big final show there's interviews with fans
many waiting for hours outside and some coming from a-far
mostly gushing young girls - i just l-o-v-e jarvis so much
shots of the truckloads of gear being hauled in and set up
the band walking backstage and the grand entrance
lights down, the crowd roars and the band fires up
finally some footage of the band in action - good
their hometown fans going nuts with delight
lots of (pasty-faced) whitey boys and girls
so the film ends on a big high
...kind of saved it really...
