Return of the wanderer, with added specs appeal

Both shows at Plug – a venue that didn't even exist when the speccy one was last singing Common People to a local crowd – sold out instantly, confirming the enduring popularity of an off-piste artist and wayward musical scholar who shall forever remain the scourge of one Michael Jackson.
After a few years out as a husband, a father, resident of Paris and occasional art commentator in print and on telly, Jarvis began to make in-roads to an almost inevitable solo career when he popped up on a handful of recordings, most notably the recent luscious album by screen beauty Charlotte Gainsbourg.
In total contrast to his brief endeavours with the promisingly shambolic Relaxed Muscle, the lofty bard contributed rich and stirring tapestry to the French star's album, but it barely hinted at where he was heading with his solo album.
Said record, simply called Jarvis, arrived in controversial fashion – prefaced by the political hand-grenade C***s Are Still Running The World.
But the overall result, it has to be said, was a little deflating, bar the wonderful Fat Children and Don't Let Him Waste Your Time. Maybe the relative civility of his domestic life has blunted his sword a little; doubtless the Gallic lifestyle doesn't match up to the rugged persistence of the steel city, even if he recorded the album with his mate and former Pulp guitarist Richard Hawley in a Sheffield studio.
No matter, it's release was greeted with rapture by many and some healthy reviews ahead of the clutch of dates that has him shuffling onto Matilda Street for two nights.
While it is unclear if and how much the singer will touch on his past life as frontman of the 15-year overnight success that was Pulp, Jarvis will be reminded of it on both nights courtesy of the support bands.
In the case of tonight it is the promising Pollinates who open the show, featuring none other than Pulp drummer Nick Banks.
Nick was notable by his absence from Jarvis' band appearance on Jools Holland late last year, despite the presence of other past Pulpers, but all would appear to have been forgiven for what promises to be an interesting night, surely tinted with a little nostalgia regardless of the setlist.
Pollinates also features the ever tactile, trilby-loving front man Paul Infanti (Treebound Story/Richard Hawley/White Trash) with early Warp producer Phil Jones on keyboards.
They make very English pop music, but with a modern edge. It's neither throwaway or up its own trousers and there's a workable mix of youthful outlook to go with the maturity.
Thus far confined to local and London live work, the band - likened to a "poppy" Velvet Underground meets The Flaming Lips - commit their music to a limited run of 7" vinyl soon, in the form of three double-a sides kick-started by Popular Song.
Friday sees another former Pulp cohort – and, there are plenty of them – bring his new band to Plug. Antony Genn now fronts The Hours, a generously-upholstered concern (also featuring former Mescaleros member Martin Slattery) whose Ali In The Jungle single teed up nicely their album Narcissus Road, a genuine grower that utilises Genn's past experience with Joe Strummer, UNKLE and Elastica.
More of them in a couple of weeks ahead of their Leadmill headliner on March 13.