Prof Cocker

Jarvis performs and lectures to celebrate 30 yrs of Rough Trade

27 November 2008 - Jarvis Cocker previewed new material at the second of Rough Trade's 30th anniversary gigs at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire last night (26 Nov).

The shows kicked off in Sheffield on Tuesday (25 Nov), Cocker is being supported by anti-folk singer songwriter and comic artist Jeffrey Lewis on this jaunt.

The ex-Pulp frontman's new material is sounding as strong, if not stronger than his first solo album, Jarvis, which was released on Rough Trade in 2006.

The set was a Pulp-free affair and the crowd were unfazed as they were blatantly there to hear their idol's solo and new material.

New songs

If new tracks Complications, Girls Like It Too and Angela were anything to go by, Cocker's next solo album will be fantastic. Standout tune I'm Not Deep, I Am Profoundly Shallow saw Cocker's lyrical observations and word-smithery reach new heights, as he professes to have come to the conclusion that he really is in no way deep or profound at all.

Songs from Jarvis like Black Magic and Don't Let Him Waste Your Time (a stormer of an encore), Fat Children and Big Julie were major crowd-pleasers and saw massive sing-a-longs. Solo, Jarvis Cocker is as, if not more, energetic and compelling onstage as he was in Pulp's heyday - and he still cuts a fine figure in his brown tweed suit and brogues.

"I'm not very deep, I am profoundly  shallow" - Jarvis Cocker

The 'lectures'

Cocker is also delivering a series of 'lectures' as part of this tour, however they were more like funny interludes than anything too taxing for a gig audience. Londoners were treated to a short history of Shepherd's Bush Empire ('Did you know Max Miller played here back in the day?'). There was also a nod to Terry Wogan's Wogan which was recorded there in the eighties.

The 'lectures' culminated in one slide on the back wall showing the logo for the Westfield shopping complex which opened recently in Shepherd's Bush, with a mixed reaction from local businesses. Cocker admitted to being 'addicted to shopping', but that, what he called, huge Capitalist conglomerates like Westfield were just unnecessary (but admitted they did good pizza).

Cocker then proceeded to give his label and management for the past 15 years, Rough Trade, a feel good pat on the back. Saying at least with independent shops like Rough Trade: "You go in there and you buy something you want " - and the crowd were highly vocal in their agreement.

3 cheers for Rough Trade

In an era where downloading and online streaming are king, Rough Trade's 30 th anniversary shows seem  to say there is definitely still a need for pokey record shops - although they are not so pokey anymore.

This evening's show was no nostalgia fest for Rough Trade, with DJ sets of new and old material from the label and a new single from The Veils handed to you as you entered the venue, it said that the record label and shop are still flying the flag for new music.

Also, founders Geoff Travis and Jeannette Lee invited new bands to bring demos along to the gigs which they promised they would listen too.

Another Rough Trade label stalwart Jeffrey Lewis' opening set was genius. Lewis also presented a short history of Rough Trade which is essential viewing for anyone who is a bit hazy on the track record of this legendary label and shop.

Remaining tour dates:

28 Nov - Edinburgh Picture House
30 Nov - Manchester Academy
02 Dec - Birmingham Academy



Ruth Barnes