Jarvis Cocker @ ABC, 12 Jun

Out of the ashes of Pulp, the '90s ambassadors of Sheffield Sex City for whom the Britpop label felt more like a noose, rises the awkward phoenix of Jarvis Cocker's solo career. Already with one solo album under his belt, this elder statesman of modern British pop appears to have taken something of an artistic left turn with Further Complications, an Albini-produced sophomore effort. But while the jury's out on Jarvis's rockier new direction, he is still an undeniably engaging performer, capable of making the dullest of material sparkle in the live setting. One night at the ABC should make up our minds.