Jarvis Cocker, Secret Garden Party, July 24th
Jarvis Cocker played at Secret Garden Party on July 24th
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By Adam Leveridge. |  |
Saturday, 25, Jul 2009 10:52
Daniel Barnes finds a mixed response to Jarvis' headlining set in Cambridgeshire.
Jarvis was the only big name at the Secret Garden Party and expectations were high.
The great stage is surrounded by a natural amphitheatre so a good few thousand fans waiting for the hero of razzamatazz and nights on the town with high hopes.
I loved Pulp so my hopes were high.
On Pulp's final album there was the track Bad Cover Version. Jarvis started and it seemed like a bad cover version of Jarvis. He stuck with songs from his solo stuff - and disappointment was high.
He played the part of Jarvis well, but the same energy of 15 years ago is not there.
Kicking off with Chihuahua spurred some interest but his tales of life on the margins of society have passed to struggles with middle age and trips to natural history museums and dinosaurs.
Angela picked interest, but as a core stayed to worship and enjoy the memory of Jarvis as much as what they were actually seeing, on the edges people headed off to see what else the garden party had to offer.
But at some point the gig turned. Jarvis found a pair of broken sunglasses and offered tips on repairs, giant balloons were launched into the crowd and people engaged. It is amazing what big balloons can do.
Black Magic proved magic and the crowd invaded the stage, along with a bevy of people dressed a clams.
I tried to keep journalistic distance, but I sneaked from my backstage hiding place and joined in. On stage with Jarvis and a few dozen more; pure magic.
The crowd was convinced and loving it.
A great end. And the beauty of Secret Garden Party is the party carries on to dawn so midnight is just an overture, and as Jarvis slipped away the evening got underway.
I left the backstage barbecue and headed out for fun, looking for Black Magic.
The next day, talking to people the response to Jarvis was mixed. Over breakfast, one girl said snogging her boyfriend on stage was a major life achievement, unfortunately he couldn't remember it.
Others came forward with everything from cheesy to boring.
Jarvis was not great, I'm sorry to say, but it was a good gig in the end and the perfect start to a festival night.
Daniel Barnes