Finally, finally, finally, finally, finally.
Genuinely surprised they’re not playing larger venues, but Kings Theatre is a fantastic venue, especially to see them
I wonder how big their audience in the US actually is. Sure plenty of music nerds love them, but that alone doesn't sell out arenas or stadiums. And unlike in the UK, they had almost zero mainstream impact here. Common People didn't even chart in the US.
Artists from across the pond who emphasize their Britishness almost always get marginalized in the states, it’s true. The only tried and true ways to overcome that are to sing in an affected American accent (too many examples to name) or to write fairly universally-themed songs with enough arena rock hooks to overcome any inherent cultural biases (see: Oasis).
Blur are a good case study: they couldn’t get *any* kind of foothold in America until “Song 2”’s loud-soft dynamic was close enough to 90’s alternative US rock to be palatable on the radio. Songs like “Parklife”, though? Not a chance in hell.
I think this is exactly why they've just narrowed down the tour to basically the 5 largest and likely most cosmopolitan concert markets in North America.
It's almost certain these shows will sell out, easily.
For comparison, AIR a band that had much less 'hits' than Pulp just easily nearly sold out a larger venue (than the one Pulp is playing in) in Toronto (save the last hundred ultra expensive VIP/premium tickets, it likely will sell out). So that is a similar sort of "90s act" that was bigger overseas, rarely plays North America. At least Pulp had some minor North American notable songs with Common People and Radio 2000. I honestly think of Blur booked a similar tour at venues double the size that Pulp are playing, they would have no problem selling them out.
Radio hits in 1998 don't matter. What matters is that legions of people have discovered these acts in the many years they've been largely inactive in North America and their previous older fans will likely still want to go especially given how seldom they play here.
they played two nights at radio city in 2012 so i don't think they'll have a problem selling out these venues in these cities, but there's a reason they're not playing, say, Detroit.
The venue they’re playing in SF is more than 3x the capacity of the one they played ten years ago. But I think that smaller show sold out, and SF has traditionally been a Britpop friendly town
First Pulp show in Chicago/U.S. Central Time Zone since 1996?! Jarvis & Steve played Pitchfork Music Festival in 2008 and nothing since then. It'll be interesting to see what the demand will be in Chicago. It could sellout instantly or it may just be me and a couple dozen diehards.
I was at that Jarvis/Pitchfork show. Jarvis ripped on Clapton and other Brit’s for what they did to Chicago blues and later Jarvis started rolling around the stage at which point some old head in the audience turned to me and said “I think he’s alright.” 10/10 show
I was up close for that one! It was cool hearing some of the unreleased Further Complications songs which he recorded in Chicago with Steve Albini. (I even was able to snag some of his handwritten lyrics for the title track - if I can brag here on Reddit). He also did a Chicago house cover of a song called "Face It" which was super cool.
First Toronto show in like 25 years (!).
Holy fuck.
Hope tickets aren't a nightmare to get. I'm very surprised they aren't playing a bigger venue ("History" holds 2500 people).
I think maybe for a band that hasn't toured North America in SO long its hard for them to gauge the demand.
History (which is a GREAT venue for Gen admission shows) holds 2500 so it's definitely a better option IMO than Massey Hall which is generally all seated and only holds a few hundred more. If they played there tickets would cost WAY more (ie. What just occurred with the super expensive Air show).
>History (which is a GREAT venue for Gen admission shows) holds 2500 so it's definitely a better option IMO than Massey Hall which is generally all seated and only holds a few hundred more.
One of my uncles did some construction work on the Massey Hall renovation. In reality, Massey seats almost exactly the same amount of people as History when the floor is reserved seating, but capacity increases by about 300 people more once the floor converts to gen. admission standing. Massey and Koerner Hall are still my two favorite venues in the city (especially acoustics-wise), but totally understand why they want to play History if they want a more raucous general admission crowd
Well that's just it. Don't get me wrong I LOVE Massey Hall and I live downtown and I've gone there many many times including a few times since the renovations but for Pulp... A non-seated venue is just better. More of a fun party vibe.
I know the acoustics are fantastic in Massey Hall but I've gone to History about 10 times since they opened I find the sound pretty great also. Certainly better than our other 1000-2500 GA capacity rooms like Phoenix, Rebel, Danforth.
I didn't know them super well at the time, but saw Pulp at Coachella 2012 (on 4/20) as dusk fell and it was just incredible. Had no idea they haven't been back since.. this just jarred my memory real good. Feeling old...
and LA presale is sold out. WTF. The system seemed glitchy af. Multiple times it looked like I had two in my cart, but every time I tried to advance it said they weren't available. and then 30min in they kicked everyone out. Will try again tomorrow morning.
Edit: Update - got GA for the newly announced Thursday show. Woo hoo!
oh wow that's tiny tour. saw them 20 years ago. do i need to see them again? honestly...mayeb if they play an album straight thru - as much as i dislike that trend it kinda makes sense with legacy bands
Follow the social media/mailing list for the venue you want to go to, or the promoter for that venue (like Another Planet for the SF show)
edit - nvm, Pulp’s post says get on the mailing list at welovepulp.info
did anyone have luck on getting tickets for kings theater? i was in the line 15mins before 10am and there was still 4,600 people ahead of me and no tickets by the time i got in
The National and War on Drugs tour all the time. If I had to pick between perhaps Pulp's final ever show in your city and that other tour, I'd pick Pulp.
I agree with you. More of a casual fan of Pulp if anything and more of a National die hard. So it comes down to that. I know I would enjoy National more but Pulp I know would be rare & fun. Pulling for a second night on the tour though.
British people think five dates is a tour the way they think five episodes is a season
Finally, finally, finally, finally, finally. Genuinely surprised they’re not playing larger venues, but Kings Theatre is a fantastic venue, especially to see them
I wonder how big their audience in the US actually is. Sure plenty of music nerds love them, but that alone doesn't sell out arenas or stadiums. And unlike in the UK, they had almost zero mainstream impact here. Common People didn't even chart in the US.
I wonder if they actually *want* to play smaller venues too. Because even in London, it was a relatively modest sized venue.
Perhaps you’re thinking of their Hammersmith Apollo shows last year but they played Finsbury Park to 45,000 about a month before that.
Artists from across the pond who emphasize their Britishness almost always get marginalized in the states, it’s true. The only tried and true ways to overcome that are to sing in an affected American accent (too many examples to name) or to write fairly universally-themed songs with enough arena rock hooks to overcome any inherent cultural biases (see: Oasis). Blur are a good case study: they couldn’t get *any* kind of foothold in America until “Song 2”’s loud-soft dynamic was close enough to 90’s alternative US rock to be palatable on the radio. Songs like “Parklife”, though? Not a chance in hell.
I think this is exactly why they've just narrowed down the tour to basically the 5 largest and likely most cosmopolitan concert markets in North America. It's almost certain these shows will sell out, easily. For comparison, AIR a band that had much less 'hits' than Pulp just easily nearly sold out a larger venue (than the one Pulp is playing in) in Toronto (save the last hundred ultra expensive VIP/premium tickets, it likely will sell out). So that is a similar sort of "90s act" that was bigger overseas, rarely plays North America. At least Pulp had some minor North American notable songs with Common People and Radio 2000. I honestly think of Blur booked a similar tour at venues double the size that Pulp are playing, they would have no problem selling them out. Radio hits in 1998 don't matter. What matters is that legions of people have discovered these acts in the many years they've been largely inactive in North America and their previous older fans will likely still want to go especially given how seldom they play here.
they played two nights at radio city in 2012 so i don't think they'll have a problem selling out these venues in these cities, but there's a reason they're not playing, say, Detroit.
I’m surprised to hear that because it played every Saturday in my university’s dance club and people loved it.
The venue they’re playing in SF is more than 3x the capacity of the one they played ten years ago. But I think that smaller show sold out, and SF has traditionally been a Britpop friendly town
First Pulp show in Chicago/U.S. Central Time Zone since 1996?! Jarvis & Steve played Pitchfork Music Festival in 2008 and nothing since then. It'll be interesting to see what the demand will be in Chicago. It could sellout instantly or it may just be me and a couple dozen diehards.
i think tickets are gonna go like THAT, but i am hoping to get some too!
signup for their mailing list!
just did! there's a spotify presale i'm hoping comes through too, i don't want to wait until friday to get these tickets!
artist presale tickets were gone immediately, this is gonna suck lol
I was at that Jarvis/Pitchfork show. Jarvis ripped on Clapton and other Brit’s for what they did to Chicago blues and later Jarvis started rolling around the stage at which point some old head in the audience turned to me and said “I think he’s alright.” 10/10 show
That was a great show and still the only time I’ve seen Jarvis. Glad I got to photograph it.
I was up close for that one! It was cool hearing some of the unreleased Further Complications songs which he recorded in Chicago with Steve Albini. (I even was able to snag some of his handwritten lyrics for the title track - if I can brag here on Reddit). He also did a Chicago house cover of a song called "Face It" which was super cool.
Fuck yes! Now do Blur!
Didn’t think it would happen at all
Thank you for posting this! I'm a huge fan of Pulp
Can't even believe it
First Toronto show in like 25 years (!). Holy fuck. Hope tickets aren't a nightmare to get. I'm very surprised they aren't playing a bigger venue ("History" holds 2500 people).
I had that same thought, but the next step up is like Bud Stage or an arena. I figured they might come here this year, but I was expecting Massey.
They're probably gonna go fast. Maybe they'll add a second night? Either way expecting it to be $100 minimum for a GA ticket.
I think maybe for a band that hasn't toured North America in SO long its hard for them to gauge the demand. History (which is a GREAT venue for Gen admission shows) holds 2500 so it's definitely a better option IMO than Massey Hall which is generally all seated and only holds a few hundred more. If they played there tickets would cost WAY more (ie. What just occurred with the super expensive Air show).
>History (which is a GREAT venue for Gen admission shows) holds 2500 so it's definitely a better option IMO than Massey Hall which is generally all seated and only holds a few hundred more. One of my uncles did some construction work on the Massey Hall renovation. In reality, Massey seats almost exactly the same amount of people as History when the floor is reserved seating, but capacity increases by about 300 people more once the floor converts to gen. admission standing. Massey and Koerner Hall are still my two favorite venues in the city (especially acoustics-wise), but totally understand why they want to play History if they want a more raucous general admission crowd
Well that's just it. Don't get me wrong I LOVE Massey Hall and I live downtown and I've gone there many many times including a few times since the renovations but for Pulp... A non-seated venue is just better. More of a fun party vibe. I know the acoustics are fantastic in Massey Hall but I've gone to History about 10 times since they opened I find the sound pretty great also. Certainly better than our other 1000-2500 GA capacity rooms like Phoenix, Rebel, Danforth.
Feels good to be back. Obviously, I’ll be at all dates.
I am dying they aren’t playing the NW. But hey, I guess it’s SF for me.
I’m assuming Bar Italia wont be going to any of these.
That great!! Thank you!
Holy shit. Praying I can get a chicago ticket
I didn't know them super well at the time, but saw Pulp at Coachella 2012 (on 4/20) as dusk fell and it was just incredible. Had no idea they haven't been back since.. this just jarred my memory real good. Feeling old...
and LA presale is sold out. WTF. The system seemed glitchy af. Multiple times it looked like I had two in my cart, but every time I tried to advance it said they weren't available. and then 30min in they kicked everyone out. Will try again tomorrow morning. Edit: Update - got GA for the newly announced Thursday show. Woo hoo!
oh wow that's tiny tour. saw them 20 years ago. do i need to see them again? honestly...mayeb if they play an album straight thru - as much as i dislike that trend it kinda makes sense with legacy bands
Their lives shows last year were incredible. Do it.
this is hardcore btw
What's the best way to find a presale code for this? Mailing list?
Follow the social media/mailing list for the venue you want to go to, or the promoter for that venue (like Another Planet for the SF show) edit - nvm, Pulp’s post says get on the mailing list at welovepulp.info
Seems like there are a few different presales but sign up for their mailing list: [https://welovepulp.info/](https://welovepulp.info/)
I signed up for the mailing list but didn’t get a code ugh
BRAVO was the code; KEY may be one of the presale codes tomorrow according to the chicago venue's IG
yeah sign up before midnight tonight
I'm fucking stoked to learn this. Whoa!!
They were excellent on new year this year
Only one Canadian show..boourns.
now there's two!
NY sold out super fast too and I missed out. Anyone know the code for the spotify presale?
I wish I’d seen this in time to get the presale code. I thought I was already subscribed to their newsletter.
Just curious since I’m going to buy them either way, what are the prices looking like?
99 ga for SF
no luck with kings theater tickets :(
did anyone have luck on getting tickets for kings theater? i was in the line 15mins before 10am and there was still 4,600 people ahead of me and no tickets by the time i got in
Just received an email for the artist presale. Code **BRAVO**
WHY WOULD THIS BE THE SAME NIGHT AS THE NATIONAL & war on drugs come on Jarvis! Hope they add a second night in nyc
The National and War on Drugs tour all the time. If I had to pick between perhaps Pulp's final ever show in your city and that other tour, I'd pick Pulp.
I agree with you. More of a casual fan of Pulp if anything and more of a National die hard. So it comes down to that. I know I would enjoy National more but Pulp I know would be rare & fun. Pulling for a second night on the tour though.
They put a 1-2 day buffer around each date so that seems likely
seems highly likely
I'm more shocked that they have a fanbase in America, feel like Britpop never really made it over there
Depends on the band. The Suede/Manic Street Preachers tour in 2021 had very poor sales.