Photos and a review of Pulp at Budweiser Stage in Toronto
[This time, Ming Wu was sent to cover the show. – AC]
Britpop is having a resurgence this year, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to see one of the genre’s greats. On September 16, I made the trip to Toronto to catch the reunited Pulp at Budweiser Stage for an unforgettable late summer concert.
Back in the ’90s, I was a Britpop-obsessed high schooler. But with strict parents, trips to see Blur, Oasis, or Radiohead in Montreal or Toronto were out of the question.
I eventually caught them in my 20s—but by then, Pulp had already split in 2002, leaving them the one band I’d never seen. So when news of their 2025 North American tour broke, I knew this was finally my chance.
The band is back with their first album in 24 years, More, and they showed no signs of slowing down. To my surprise, I was even given free reign with some limits to photograph the venue which was an unexpected bonus that made the night even more surreal.
Pulp opened with “Sorted for E’s & Wizz”, immediately setting the tone before launching into “Disco 2000”, where I couldn’t resist singing along. New material from More slotted in seamlessly, proving the band isn’t just trading on nostalgia.
One of the biggest highlights was “This Is Hardcore”, performed with Jarvis Cocker seated regally beneath a chandelier, delivering every ounce of its drama.
From the photo pit, I captured the energy up close during “Do You Remember the First Time?”, “Mis-Shapes”, and “Got to Have Love”, watching Jarvis’ trademark swagger electrify the crowd.
The main set closed, as expected, with “Common People”, prefaced by Jarvis sharing a story about how the song came about, an anthem that still resonates as strongly today as it did in the ’90s.
The encore stretched to five songs, and the biggest surprise was the inclusion of “Like a Friend”, a deep cut that thrilled longtime fans.
Walking out of the venue, I was overwhelmed with happiness. The show rekindled all the Britpop nostalgia of my youth, but more than that, it proved that Pulp has aged with a sophistication and vitality that set them apart from their contemporaries.
This wasn’t just a reunion where it was a reminder that Pulp were always in a class of their own.
