Jarvis Cocker, Town Hall, reviewed by Janina Nicoll

JARVIS Cocker wriggled his way round the Town Hall stage and surely into the hearts of every listener at his show last week.
The former Pulp front-man, famous for his UK hit Common People, chatted amicably away to the audience, MCing an intimate and informative show, as he catapulted his tall, lean frame round the stage.
The Sheffield-born-and-bred pop star declared that he wanted to meet each audience member by the end of his show, while offering them his drinks. He may not have got there, but he did score a kiss from one of many beloved fans who placed a peck on his corduroy trousered bottom. A kiss he admitted he had never received on-stage before.
He discussed rock history: Ozzy Osborne turned 61 that day so he played Black Sabbath’s Paranoid; writer Joseph Conrad was also born that day, and he even brought up Andy Williams before giving up on the history lesson when no one knew who he was talking about.
It is hard to imagine what Jarvis hasn’t done at one of his performances. Partly famous for dashing on-stage and wriggling his bottom around – in protest at Michael Jackson’s “God-like performance” at the BRIT awards in 1996 – it is clear he likes to move.
Back-stage I offered some feedback – mostly what shapes got the women cooing from the front. The squat, jump forward, dainty pelvic-thrust was a goodie, and of course, the beloved hip swing. Three in a row worked best, I added. He was thankful for the feedback and offered me a pinot noir.
Tall, skinny, smart, witty – actually probably just what that geek at school was like – Jarvis has cleverly maneuvered who he is into a pop icon. Women love him, men want to be like him, kinda… and the best thing about him is that he is the same generous, intelligent, talented and humble English gent both on and back-stage.
Oh, and his tight, guitar-driven band were a perfect back-drop for the star.