Fresh from headlining Glastonbury the month before (GIG 373) Pulp were on their own summer tour and playing an all day festival in London’s Finsbury Park. This was the third time I’d seen Pulp, and I was joined by two of sisters – Dom and Gen – who had also been with me when we saw them for the first time at Wembley back in 1996 (GIG 269).

Whilst Ultrasound were the first band we caught on the bill, Kid Loco and Add N to X had already played earlier in the day before we arrived. Ultrasound were a short lived indie band (97 to 99) who released a single album and had atleast one Top 30 single. They received a lot of praise for both their recorded output and live shows. They reformed in 2010 and are still together today, having added two more albums to their 1999 debut.

I’d seen Bentley Rhythym Ace at Glastonbury the same day Pulp headlined the festival, so this was the second time in a month I’d seen them. They worked well at a mud soaked Glastonbury and equally worked here in the surrounds of a London park.

I’d originally heard of Bernard Butler as the guitarist in Suede, and then also as half of McAlmont & Butler and of course his own solo material – with his first solo debut album being released in April of 1998 and reching #11 on the UK Albumk Charts. He has been an incredibly prolific producer and collaborated with dozens of other musicians over the years, in addition to continuing to release his own music. Glad I saw him live here.

Welsh band Catatonia, fronted by Cerys Matthews, had been around for a few years but really came into thier own in 1998 with the release of their second album, “International Velvet”, which reached #1 and spawned five Top 40 singles, including “Mulder and Scully” which was their biggest ever track reaching #3 in January ’98, and “Road Rage” which reached #5. I think this was the only time I caught Catatonia live but, like Bernard Butler before them, was glad I got a chance to do so.

Pulp were heads and shoulders the best band of the day though. Possibly because they were the band I knew the best, but more likely because I just plain preferred most of their music to that of the other bands on todays bill. They played a great set, with two encores and the whole show was filmed and later released as a live video called “The Park is Mine” in time for Christmas, and also appeared on DVD with the release of “Ultimate Live” in 2005.

SETLIST

The Fear
Do You Remember The First Time?
I’m A Man
Dishes
Seductive Barry
Sorted For E’s & Wizz
TV Movie
A Little Soul
Party Hard
Help The Aged
Sylvia
This Is Hardcore (ENCORE 1)
Glory Days/Common People (ENCORE 1)
Laughing Boy (ENCORE 2)
Something Changed (ENCORE 2)