Pulp kicked off their first North American tour in 12 years on Sunday night (9/8) at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom. While most of the setlist was what they’d been playing across Europe this summer, they did have one surprise: a new song called “Spike Island.”
“When I say ‘new,’ I don’t mean last year or whatever,” Jarvis said. “This is going to be the first time this song has ever been played in public. Ever. No pressure. What shall I tell you about it?” He looked to his bandmates and said, “I guess you’ll just have to make up your own mind about it.” Midtempo and on the dreamy side, “Spike Island” sounds pretty good listening to the fan-shot video that’s up on YouTube, and you can make your own mind up about it below.
This is not the first song to reference Spike Island, which was home to a huge, infamous Stone Roses show in 1990. “Sorted for E’s and Wizz,” from Different Class, is a phrase Jarvis picked up from a girl who told him about attending the concert.
As for the rest of the set, there were eight songs from Different Class, including “Something Changed,” which was dedicated to both late Pulp bassist Steve Mackey but also Chicago’s own Steve Albini (who worked on Jarvis’ second solo album), but also lots of favorites from across the band’s catalog, including “This is Hardcore,” “Do You Remember the First Time?,” “Like a Friend,” “Razzmatazz,” “Weeds,” and “Glory Days,” which closed out the show.
Check out pictures by Stephanie F. Black, lots of video, a full audio recording of the show, and the setlist below.
Pulp’s tour hits Brooklyn this weekend for two shows at Kings Theatre on Friday and Saturday.
First night of the tour in Chicago and we get a brand new Pulp song called ‘Spike Island’. Not only was it a belter but it felt like a full band composition. Exciting times! pic.twitter.com/V1ypMLZCNU
— Acrylic Afternoons (@AcrylcAftrnoons) September 9, 2024
SETLIST: Pulp @ Aragon Ballroom, Chicago 9/8/2025
I Spy
Disco 2000
Monday Morning
Something Changed (Dedicated to Steve Mackey and Steve Albini)
Pink Glove
Weeds
Weeds II (The Origin of the Species)
F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E.
Sorted for E’s & Wizz
This Is Hardcore
Do You Remember the First Time?
Babies
Sunrise
Encore:
Like a Friend
Underwear
Common People
Encore 2:
Spike Island
Razzmatazz
Glory Days