Every streaming service worth their salt has music documentaries in their catalogue and MUBI here is no exception. MUBI, despite being MUBI, has films that cater to my pop girlie present like a Charli XCX doc. But it also caters to the collective past of certain demographics who listen to independent international pop rock music. MUBI’s subscribers can chill to the sensory delights of the likes of musical acts Mitski and Ryuichi Sakamoto. This month, the streamer’s contribution to the genre is Pulp: What Would You Do For an Encore? Director Garth Jennings, during some segments, using archive footage and photos, letting viewers peek into Jarvis Cocker’s mind. But most of the documentary is a concert film, depicting the band as it captivates its fans.

Jennings, an Edgar Wright collaborator, is a director with his own oeuvre, capable within commercial and independent films. This concert documentary has the usual beats, showing musicians on stage that aren’t just the core four. But for the most part, it shows that independent musicians have the same showmanship as corporate pop acts. That first set piece of a big spotlight that changes colours with the silhouettes of the entire band was simply amazing. The rest of the concert documentary has its simple delights like showing tens of thousands of Pulp’s die hard fans. Shadows of hands are up in the air clapping for an avuncular figure that became an unlikely star of British indie pop. Jarvis Cocker’s unique charisma fills the stage and the television for Pulp: What Would You Do For an Encore?

As enjoyable as Pulp: What Would You Do For an Encore is, its most inconsistent aspect are its few interludes. Some of them are illuminating, like showing pictures of Cocker when he was young, narrating about his looks. See, white rock stars are just as cognizant about their looks contributing to how to captivate their audiences. Other interludes, though, feel tangential, as he narrates his obsession with television, the doc showing ads. Old timey versions of advertisements feel like a shortcut for many documentaries about artists’ alienation. But it feels like the connective tissue isn’t there and I’m just waiting for Cocker to talk about his music process. Those segments are more interesting, as it shows his ambitions to shake up an industry while delivering pop.

One of the interludes is Pulp: What Would You Do For an Encore is about them switching their musical genres. The switch from whistling happy tunes about British class division to just straight up sad songs made them flop. Which, in retrospect, makes no sense because one of their rivals, Oasis, were allowed to be mopey balladeers. Despite one of many hurdles towards permanent success, Pulp disappeared and reappeared into British fame. Their ballad era helps with their new act as it provides levels between their more energetic and famous songs. During the concert documentary’s third act, the core four band members perform one of those songs well. There’s an intimacy that viewers can feel within those moments, but I suppose that’s part of singing live. Of course, while listening to them, one wonders if they’ll sing their big hit and there’s one way to find that out.

Pulp: What Would You Do For an Encore? is available to stream on MUBI.