What Pulp played during their first show of 2025, and the one song they had to drop

Pulp has played their first gig of 2025 in Japan, with fans sharing a setlist and footage of the gig online.

The Jarvis Cocker-fronted group are tipped to be working on new material, with a release hotly anticipated by fans of the band after a Rough Trade record deal was signed. Pulp has since played their first show of the year at the Rockin’on Sonic, which also featured gigs from Jimmy Eat World and Primal Scream.

A full setlist of what Pulp played at Rockin’on Sonic can be found below.

Intro
I Spy
Disco 2000
O.U. (Gone, Gone)
Something Changed
Pink Glove
Feeling Called Love
Sorted for E’s & Wizz
This is Hardcore
Do You Remember the First Time
Babies
Sunrise

An encore featuring Like a Friend, Underwear, and Common People was also featured. But the band had to cut hit track Mis-Shapes from their set, with the song listed last on the setlist with “(If time allows) written next to it.

It marks the first Pulp show of the year after a series of sold-out dates in the United States last year, where the band debuted a series of unreleased material for the first time. The band’s activity last year hinted at the possibility of new songs being released, and the Rough Trade record deal has, for some, confirmed it.

Fans in attendance were stunned by Pulp’s performance, with one writing: “I was only interested in seeing Jimmy Eat World today, but the live performance by this squirming old man called Pulp was so much fun.”

Pulp will headline Bilbao BBK and Tramlines festival in Spain and England respectively, with more announcements for shows this year expected.

A post from the band confirmed news of their record deal signing with Rough Trade, inspiring hopes of a new album from the legendary group. Their statement reads: “Rough Trade have managed Pulp for over 30 years so it feels great to be finally on the label. We did it!”

Pulp’s record deal signing with Rough Trade comes just two years after the band reunited for the Encore tour where they later debuted unreleased material, sparking hopes of a new album.

The band’s reunion tour kicked off at Bridlington Spa in 2022, but it was not until a second show at Sheffield Utilita Arena that a first hint of new material was seen. Cocker and keyboardist Candida Doyle shared the spotlight in show closer Hymn of the North, a song written by Cocker for a Simon Stephens play, Light Falls at the Manchester Royal Exchange.