6 Music - Music News

Several of Britpop’s icons tried to reinvent themselves as noughties renaissance men, through Chinese opera and expensive clothing labels, but none have managed it in such an unassuming way as Jarvis Cocker.

Flanked by members of his band and some excitable punters in an east London warehouse yesterday, the former Pulp man very nonchalantly began three days of music, art and dance with a jam session.

Various members of the public joined in the jam, including 28-year old Pascal Roggan from Lewisham, who admitted he was very nervous about playing violin with the band.

"I was all shaky and nervous down the front, I’ve never heard of anyone else doing something like this. I played with him for a bit over an hour, I thought there would have been a huge queue."

Roggan added: "You wouldn’t expect Robbie Williams or someone else to do this, for no money."

Japanese flutist Miho Wada said she most enjoyed being able to improvise in such a creative setting: "Everyone was listening to each other and creating something new.

"I was all shaky and nervous down the front, I’ve never heard of anyone else doing something like this. I played with him for a bit over an hour."
 
Pascal Roggan

"I thought Jarvis was going to tell us what to do, but I got up on stage and he said ‘I think you’re going to start’, and it just happened. It was magic."

Simon Stafford, a member of Jarvis’ band, began the session on drums and said the turnout was very encouraging, particularly compared to a similar session Jarvis and friends ran in Paris in May.

"In Paris on the first day there were 7, the second day there were 15 people and a dog, and already here today there are 30 people and three cats so I’m expecting it to be pretty chaotic," he said.

Later on the band were joined by American Thomas Truax, who came from the same New York anti-folk movement as Beck and Jeffrey Lewis.

"He’s amazing, not only does he write earthy, gritty songs, but he also makes a lot of his own instruments," said Stafford. "He’s got a drum machine made of an old bike wheel, and it’s powered by a record player; he’s also made himself something called Hornicator, made of a French horn, some guitar strings and an echo pedal."

Seemingly unaware of the photographers throughout, Jarvis looked just as comfortable as members of the public many of whom were lounging on yoga mats, sipping tea.

Perhaps this is his idea of doing what Common People do.

The warehouse sessions continue today and tomorrow, and culminate in a live performance by Jarvis Cocker himself on Wednesday night.

Check out the pictures of Jarvis Cocker's Open House.
 
Watch Jarvis Cocker in action when he came in to do a 6 Music hub session.