A little over two years ago, I met up with Allison in Glasgow to see Pulp headline the first day of the TRNSMT festival. I thought then that it would be the only opportunity for me to see them live, having spent the group's 90s heyday in northern BC, a place where few musical acts ventured. But no, I got to see them, and they sounded very very good. Allison and I had a great time reliving the music of our twenties that day in Scotland. And I was content.
And then I learned that they would be playing at the Hollywood Bowl.
And, what? It was scheduled for the two days after my return from Hawaii? Yes, please! Conrad and Van had planned to be away on a road trip this past week, plans scuttled by Conrad's surgery, so I bought one ticket and was thrilled to get to go.
At Chris and Allister's wedding late last month, I was seated at a table that included a couple I hadn't met before. The wife, Uda, is a member of the same book club as Chris. The husband, Aidan, told me that he was coming to LA for a concert and more. What concert? Why, the same one as me. To be fair, he was coming because he is a big fan of the actual headliners, LCD Soundsystem (and I still shake my head that they were the headliners because even today, a day after the concert, I am not). So we exchanged numbers and said we should meet up, and hey, we did!
A drink on the Bowl grounds before the show, and then to our seats, which weren't that far from each other. Aidan and I found each other at the break between acts, and since I was in a better location (not by much, but a little better) and since no one had claimed the seats on my one side, he simply moved to enjoy LCD Soundsystem next to me. Curiously, he left after several songs, giving me a hug and saying good night. He made it to his hotel fine, though, so I'll chalk it up to exhaustion or something and hope he enjoys the rest of his time in LA.
I stayed through most of the set, but I bailed a few songs early to get a jump on the crowds that would be exiting and heading for the shuttles. The LCD Soundsystem stuff was fine,
I moved a little, but the guy just didn't work the crowd (and maybe he didn't need to), and I felt like it was an odd fit with Pulp. Ah well.
But Pulp! As the opener (co-headliner?), they had a little over an hour and gave us a dozen songs. Three from the new album, which I've been enjoying a bunch, and the rest of them familiar hits. Of course it all culminated with Common People, and of course I knew all the words to sing along. I thought they did a great set, truly.
Oh, and yes, I bought a tshirt - I also got a lot of compliments on the one I wore to the show!
Van and I have a show later this fall, a group he's into, and I'm happy to go along. The three of us have Herb Alpert (yes, he's still performing!) and Chanticleer later this year as well. I recently bought Dan Mangan tickets for February as well. Not a super-busy line-up of concerts, but it's fun that we have some things to go to. It does mean an occasional late night like last night, but hey, seeing Pulp again was well worth it!
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