By Vlad T, Journalist, Rock At Night Detroit and Chyrisse Tabone, Photographer, Rock At Night Tampa

Live Review: Pulp with support by Hamilton Leithauser – Masonic Temple, Detroit – September 17, 2025

Britpop pioneers Pulp have a long-established legacy on the international stage, starting from their hard-won UK chart dominance in the mid 90s and a quickly exploding popularity in Europe, Asia, and South America.

Wednesday’s performance at Detroit’s venerable Masonic Temple Theater saw the band’s sound effortlessly manoeuver between the charged pop of its 94-96 commercial heyday (such as chart smashes “Common People”, “Disco 2000”, “Mis-Shapes”) to the intense Walkeresque orchestral pop of subsequent releases (“This Is Hardcore”) to the sterling new release More (the delightful “Spike Island”).

Core band members Candida Doyle, Mark Webber, and Nick Banks—supplemented by a cadre of ace side players such as Emma Smith—demonstrated their ability to render faithful yet fresh renditions of the band’s oeuvre.

This backing—as well as a lavish, vivid A/V presentation—made for a sumptuous and often electrifying soundstage for frontman Jarvis Cocker to go to work.

And work, he did.

Cocker, a prominent figure both with Pulp and his diverse side interests in solo work, publishing, and broadcasting, is renowned for delivering theatrical, magnetic performances on stage. His efforts onstage reflect salient aspects of Bowie, Leonard Cohen, and even Scott Walker.

Cocker’s stagecraft Wednesday did not disappoint, revealing to Yank audiences the musicality, art, and sentimentality that rabid audiences worldwide have appreciated over the course of several decades.

The Motor City audience saw the effort the sweat-soaked vocalist and the band put into the show and roared with approval. The audience was a curious mix of fans young and old. Admiring the experience, this reviewer couldn’t help but think of a line from “Disco 2000”, “You can even bring your baby.” Figuratively, the babies of that initial wave have joined the greater Pulp clan on this tour and brought even further validation of the band’s timeless majesty.

It’s been a shame that audiences Stateside outside the coasts haven’t had a chance to savor this in person more frequently. In an amusing onstage anecdote, Cocker shared that, at the band’s only other Detroit appearance at St. Andrew’s Hall in 1996, they were advised to quickly leave the premises after the show if they wanted to avoid trouble on the streets. There was no such specter this evening, as the bonhomie between city and band was palpable (or is that “Pulp-able”?).

A different time, a different place.

PHOTO GALLERY