Jarvis Cocker @ Webster Hall: That Was Hardcore

Jarvis Cocker is off his rocker, my friends. One of the main faces of 90s British music has struck out on his own to whip you up into a frenzy. Night two of his two night stand in New York reminded me how much the man is a creative and charismatic juggernaut. The guy knows how to put on a good show, and he has the songs from his debut solo effort to back him up.

Your setlist:

• Fat Children
• Don't Let Him Waste Your Time
• Heavy Weather
• One Man Show
• I Will Kill Again
• From A to I
• Tonite
• Big Julie
• Disney Time
• Big Stuff
• Black Magic
• Encore: Cunts Are Still Running The World
• Common People ..... (just joking) ... cover of Bruce's State Trooper

I'm still pretty amazed about how Jarvis has such a stage presence and demeanor. He moves throughout the stage and totally gets into the music. He has these little dance moves that matches the song and then twirls around to show off to the crowd. The man is a performer in the truest sense. He has this tall, lanky frame that just lends itself to personify a rock star.

Then there's Jarvis Cocker -- storyteller, philosopher and stand-up comic. The guy likes to chat away between songs, taking a 45-minute show and stretching it out to 80 minutes. No matter what he said tonight, it was funny. He read us some New York City history from a children's book, he told a story about the jacket he bought from a vintage clothing store and he had some thoughts on performing on Letterman a few hours earlier (Andy Dick + Jarvis Cocker = Penis Humor). The man could say anything and it would have me laughing. It's good to see that the man is wittier than ever.

As for the new material, it's just good to hear some new tunes from the man, whether it be on his own or with his previous band. J.C. knows how to pack a lot of meaning into a song, there's no throw away pop tunes on Jarvis. Each one is a full story or image onto itself. Tonight, he got to play the "Crimson & Clover" inspired rock anthem, "Black Magic" that left everyone satisfied. Apparently, he didn't it play it Sunday due to technical difficult. Well, I'm glad they fixed it for tonight. They probably knew I'd be there. "Don't Let Him Waste Your Time" is fun ditty to kick off the album. Of course, the stadium ready anthem, "Cunts Are Still Running The World," brought down the house. The song, which played during the closing credit of Children of Men, pretty much explains itself.

I'm sure you fine folks know that Jarvis is best known as the lead singer of Weird Sisters, who entertained many a Hogwart with their brand of smart, sophistic art pop-rock throughout the 90s. J.C. and Steve Mackey, who played bass tonight, never official broke-up or stated the band were done. Indeed, any American would want to hear the old tunes, since they rarely played the U.S. during the height of the BritPop scene. Yeah, we got left out, but I think the new album gave me a taste of what it would have been like. I know it's not the same, but I'll take what I can get.

In all, Jarvis is just the coolest man in the room. He doesn't set-out to be a cool dude, he just is -- even with his huge glasses and second-hand clothes. The album satisfies any craving for new tunes and offers a little variation on what he's done in the past.

Before the pictures and video, I have to mention the opening act, Dirty Projectors, who are the biggest piece of shit band in New York. They basically scream for six songs and jam indie style. My bud booed a little bit, which set off one of the guitar players. It led her to empty her water bottle on him as her "fuck you." Hey lady, it's not his fault your band sucks. I looked around the room during their set and everyone was stunned by how bad you were. It was pretty awkward for everyone.

Comments

[EF Matt]

thanks for the setlist! the Springsteen song is called "State Trooper"...I highly recommend picking up the album Nebraska that it's from.

[EF Matt]

i mean, if you don't already have it. you or anyone who reads this. just, i mean, it's good. that's all i'm saying. that's all i'm driving at.

[Alison Murphy]

Dirty Projectors are actually one of, if not the best band in NYC. Either you caught them on an off night or the sound was really bad at webster. They are certainly better than every band to the left of this text.