{"id":2041557,"date":"2026-07-12T14:59:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T11:59:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2041557"},"modified":"2026-07-12T14:59:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T11:59:24","slug":"mad-cool-2026-day-four-pulp-matt-berninger-david-byrne-ttssfu-and-more-close-another-year-in-style","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2041557","title":{"rendered":"Mad Cool 2026 Day Four: Pulp, Matt Berninger, David Byrne, TTSSFU, and more close another year in style"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/matt-berninger-mad-cool-atmos-credit-andres-iglesias.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-3332206\" class=\"post-3332206 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_71 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/matt-berninger-mad-cool-atmos-credit-andres-iglesias-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"Matt Berninger\" title=\"matt-berninger-mad-cool-atmos-credit-andres-iglesias\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Matt Berninger credit: Andres Iglesias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_72\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_73  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_75  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>Reviews<\/span><span>Live Reviews<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_77 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_77\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Mad Cool 2026 Day Four: Pulp, Matt Berninger, David Byrne, TTSSFU, and more close another year in style<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_78 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_78\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>It&#8217;s time to say adi\u00f3s to Mad Cool for another year \u2013 catch up on NME&#8217;s standout sets from the last day here<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_80 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_80\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> NME<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_81 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-07-12T15:59:24+01:00\">12th July 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_82\" class=\"tdc-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_83  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Mad Cool going from strength to strength for 10 years is pretty impressive, but to all of those who made it to end of their four-day, legend-packed, sun-baked anniversary bash in Madrid \u2013 we salute you!<\/p>\n<p>Yesterday (July 11) was another one for the books, and you can read about why Nick Cave &amp; The Bad Seeds\u2019 headline set made it so damn special in <em>NME<\/em>\u2018s review over here. You can also feast your weary eyes on the best photos from Saturday here, but why not relive the magic and sink yourself into Team <em>NME<\/em>\u2018s absolute highlights from day four below? You do that, while we go find some shade and have a long overdue nap. See you in 2027.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p><strong>Words:<\/strong> Jordan Bassett, Rhian Daly, Liberty Dunworth, Andrew Trendell<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Matt Berninger (8.55pm, Orange Stage)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The last time Matt Berninger was at Mad Cool was with The National back in 2019. They were headlining that night, but the frontman still brought out all of his most disarming moves as if he was topping the bill for his mid-evening Orange set on the closing Saturday of the Madrid festival this year.<\/p>\n<p>Through the skittering sweet sadness of \u2018No Love\u2019, it only took one song for Berninger to head into the front rows of the crowd like he owns the damn place. He then introduced \u2018Frozen Oranges\u2019 as being \u201cabout Donald Trump\u2019s balls\u201d, but in actual fact its capturing of youthful weekend nostalgia is pretty spot-on for those still standing for this sweet sunset festival moment.<\/p>\n<p>The treats kept on coming with new song \u2018Martini Me Fatso\u2019 (a swaggering little garage indie number, reminiscent of Berninger\u2019s other, other band El Vy \u2013 one of three new songs being released in the week ahead, we\u2019re told) and the gorgeous \u2018Walking On A String\u2019, sans Phoebe Bridgers but still a perfect tender hangover-ready tearjerker. The paranoid breakdown of \u2018Nowhere Special\u2019 cleared the decks in a most deranged fashion before he gave us two sad National bangers with \u2018Slow Show\u2019 and \u2018Terrible Love\u2019, this time with Matt invading the crowd as far as mic lead will allow him. He promised that the \u201cbest band ever\u201d are currently \u201ccooking stuff\u201d and we will \u201csee them soon\u201d, but as he closed with his best solo moments \u2018Bonnet Of Pins\u2019 and \u2018Inland Ocean\u2019 from the delightful \u2018Get Sunk\u2019, we were happy to just have him here tonight. (<strong><em>AT<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3956561\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3956561\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3956561\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/matt-berninger-live-mad-cool-credit-javier-bragado.jpg\" alt=\"Matt Berninger\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3956561\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Matt Berninger credit: Javier Bragado<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><strong>TTSSFU (9.05pm, Mahou Reserva)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>TTSSFU\u2019s debut performance at Mad Cool was a hit, but it seemed like it could have gone very differently. \u201cEveryone give a round of applause to Luigi for fixing the guitar,\u201d the project\u2019s mastermind Tasmin Stephens told the crowd as that tech saviour handed her her instrument after \u2018California\u2019. \u201cI thought we were only gonna do one song then.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Crisis averted, and it was time for Stephens and her band to show Madrid what they were made of, delivering a set of grungy shoegaze that tapped into raw emotion. Performing barefoot, Stephens led the audience through some of the highlights of her discography so far and gave a nod to the man whose band would close out proceedings on the main stage later. \u201cThis next song is about having a crush,\u201d she told the tent before \u2018Baggage\u2019. \u201cI dedicate it to Jarvis Cocker.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Later, Stephens upped the ante even during \u2018Studio 54\u2019, clambering off stage and over the barrier, into the crowd, where she danced with audience members and ran through the middle of the tent, turning up the energy. Speaking to <em>NME<\/em> backstage, she promised plenty of \u201cwailing\u201d, but it was two short, sharp screams that brought \u2018I Hope You Die\u2019 and the whole set to a close, before Stephens pegged it offstage, Mad Cool still processing what just hit it. (<strong><em>RD<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n<h3><strong>David Byrne (00.05am, Orange stage)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Of <em>course<\/em> David Byrne closed the Orange stage at this year\u2019s Mad Cool: his bonanza of a set sees the art-pop eccentric and his troupe clad entirely in said colour, after all. For more than half a century, he\u2019s been raising an arched eyebrow at the world \u2013 and we sure do need his anarchic sense of humour right now.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>The 74-year-old certainly gave us reasons to be cheerful throughout this totally unique performance, though it had a political edge too. As he and his backing musicians moved in formation across the stage, video screens depicted a variety of colourful environs \u2013 waves, a misty forest \u2013 before the Talking Heads track \u2018Life During Wartime\u2019 was accompanied by images of brutal ICE raids.<\/p>\n<p>Elsewhere in the show, the videos were emblazoned with the words: \u201cCONGRATULATIONS HUMANITY YOU\u2019VE MADE IT.\u201d Time marches on, but you can always rely on David Byrne to make sense of the madness. Same as it ever was. (<strong><em>JB<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3956546\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3956546\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3956546\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/david-byrne-mad-cool-live-credit-andres-iglesias.jpg\" alt=\"David Byrne\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3956546\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">David Byrne credit: Andre Iglesias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><strong>Pulp (0.40am, Region Of Madrid)\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\u201cMadrid, I have a question\u2026 Are you mad for it?\u201d Jarvis Cocker asked us as Pulp closed out the main stage, before playfully rolling his eyes and quipping: \u201cI know what you\u2019re thinking\u2026 \u2018Yorkshire, yeah?\u2019\u201d Unsurprisingly, that initial question quickly got its answer as the Sheffield indie icons broke out fan favourite \u2018Disco 2000\u2019, leading to one of the biggest sing-alongs of the entire 2026 festival.<\/p>\n<p>Running into the early hours of Sunday morning, their set also saw classics like \u2018Babies\u2019 and \u2018Do You Remember The First Time\u2019 come in thick and fast, as well as a euphoric rendition of newer single \u2018Spike Island\u2019 and an elaborate performance of \u2018Farmer\u2019s Market\u2019 \u2014 which the frontman fittingly introduced by throwing some grapes into the crowd.<\/p>\n<p>Fluttering between intense theatrical performances of deeper cuts and straightforward, feel-good versions of their biggest hits, the closing set was a pure visual spectacle from start to end. The cherry on top of Pulp\u2019s cake? Cocker announcing a positive World Cup update for England fans after breaking into \u2018Common People\u2019\u2026 (<strong><em>LD<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3956563\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3956563\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3956563\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/pulp-mad-cool-credit-javier-bragado-1.jpg\" alt=\"Pulp Jarvis Cocker\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3956563\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pulp\u2019s Jarvis Cocker credit: Javier Bragado<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>NME is the official media partner of Mad Cool\u200b.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>David Byrne<\/li>\n<li>Jarvis Cocker<\/li>\n<li>Matt Berninger<\/li>\n<li>Pulp<\/li>\n<li>Talking Heads<\/li>\n<li>The National<\/li>\n<li>TTSSFU<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_88\" class=\"tdc-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_89  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_93  vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_95  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_97 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>More Stories<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_98 td-pb-border-top td_module_flex_1--card td_module_flex_1--card--highlight td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_98\">\n<div id=\"tdi_98\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Film News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Christopher Nolan responds to \u201cirrelevant\u201d backlash over \u2018The Odyssey\u2019 casting<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Watch Limp Bizkit bring out Tom Green for \u2018Rollin\u2019\u2019 at Ottawa Bluesfest<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Watch Jack White play three songs with daughter Scarlett on bass in Brooklyn<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Film News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Sacha Baron Cohen\u2019s Ali G shows up at Wimbledon following new movie rumours<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Mastodon announce first new album in five years \u2018Marrow Deep\u2019 with blistering Josh Homme-featuring single \u2018Snakes For Dinner\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Cage The Elephant kick off \u201cnew chapter\u201d with \u2018Beaches in Tennessee\u2019, their first new music in two years: \u201cWe realised there\u2019s still room to&#8230;<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_99\" class=\"tdc-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_100  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_102  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_104 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Mad Cool going from strength to strength for 10 years is pretty impressive, but to all of those who made it to end of their four-day, legend-packed, sun-baked anniversary bash in Madrid \u2013 we salute you!<\/p>\n<p>Yesterday (July 11) was another one for the books, and you can read about why Nick Cave &amp; The Bad Seeds\u2019 headline set made it so damn special in <em>NME<\/em>\u2018s review over here. You can also feast your weary eyes on the best photos from Saturday here, but why not relive the magic and sink yourself into Team <em>NME<\/em>\u2018s absolute highlights from day four below? You do that, while we go find some shade and have a long overdue nap. See you in 2027.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p><strong>Words:<\/strong> Jordan Bassett, Rhian Daly, Liberty Dunworth, Andrew Trendell<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Matt Berninger (8.55pm, Orange Stage)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The last time Matt Berninger was at Mad Cool was with The National back in 2019. They were headlining that night, but the frontman still brought out all of his most disarming moves as if he was topping the bill for his mid-evening Orange set on the closing Saturday of the Madrid festival this year.<\/p>\n<p>Through the skittering sweet sadness of \u2018No Love\u2019, it only took one song for Berninger to head into the front rows of the crowd like he owns the damn place. He then introduced \u2018Frozen Oranges\u2019 as being \u201cabout Donald Trump\u2019s balls\u201d, but in actual fact its capturing of youthful weekend nostalgia is pretty spot-on for those still standing for this sweet sunset festival moment.<\/p>\n<p>The treats kept on coming with new song \u2018Martini Me Fatso\u2019 (a swaggering little garage indie number, reminiscent of Berninger\u2019s other, other band El Vy \u2013 one of three new songs being released in the week ahead, we\u2019re told) and the gorgeous \u2018Walking On A String\u2019, sans Phoebe Bridgers but still a perfect tender hangover-ready tearjerker. The paranoid breakdown of \u2018Nowhere Special\u2019 cleared the decks in a most deranged fashion before he gave us two sad National bangers with \u2018Slow Show\u2019 and \u2018Terrible Love\u2019, this time with Matt invading the crowd as far as mic lead will allow him. He promised that the \u201cbest band ever\u201d are currently \u201ccooking stuff\u201d and we will \u201csee them soon\u201d, but as he closed with his best solo moments \u2018Bonnet Of Pins\u2019 and \u2018Inland Ocean\u2019 from the delightful \u2018Get Sunk\u2019, we were happy to just have him here tonight. (<strong><em>AT<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3956561\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3956561\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3956561\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/matt-berninger-live-mad-cool-credit-javier-bragado.jpg\" alt=\"Matt Berninger\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3956561\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Matt Berninger credit: Javier Bragado<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><strong>TTSSFU (9.05pm, Mahou Reserva)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>TTSSFU\u2019s debut performance at Mad Cool was a hit, but it seemed like it could have gone very differently. \u201cEveryone give a round of applause to Luigi for fixing the guitar,\u201d the project\u2019s mastermind Tasmin Stephens told the crowd as that tech saviour handed her her instrument after \u2018California\u2019. \u201cI thought we were only gonna do one song then.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Crisis averted, and it was time for Stephens and her band to show Madrid what they were made of, delivering a set of grungy shoegaze that tapped into raw emotion. Performing barefoot, Stephens led the audience through some of the highlights of her discography so far and gave a nod to the man whose band would close out proceedings on the main stage later. \u201cThis next song is about having a crush,\u201d she told the tent before \u2018Baggage\u2019. \u201cI dedicate it to Jarvis Cocker.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Later, Stephens upped the ante even during \u2018Studio 54\u2019, clambering off stage and over the barrier, into the crowd, where she danced with audience members and ran through the middle of the tent, turning up the energy. Speaking to <em>NME<\/em> backstage, she promised plenty of \u201cwailing\u201d, but it was two short, sharp screams that brought \u2018I Hope You Die\u2019 and the whole set to a close, before Stephens pegged it offstage, Mad Cool still processing what just hit it. (<strong><em>RD<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n<h3><strong>David Byrne (00.05am, Orange stage)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Of <em>course<\/em> David Byrne closed the Orange stage at this year\u2019s Mad Cool: his bonanza of a set sees the art-pop eccentric and his troupe clad entirely in said colour, after all. For more than half a century, he\u2019s been raising an arched eyebrow at the world \u2013 and we sure do need his anarchic sense of humour right now.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>The 74-year-old certainly gave us reasons to be cheerful throughout this totally unique performance, though it had a political edge too. As he and his backing musicians moved in formation across the stage, video screens depicted a variety of colourful environs \u2013 waves, a misty forest \u2013 before the Talking Heads track \u2018Life During Wartime\u2019 was accompanied by images of brutal ICE raids.<\/p>\n<p>Elsewhere in the show, the videos were emblazoned with the words: \u201cCONGRATULATIONS HUMANITY YOU\u2019VE MADE IT.\u201d Time marches on, but you can always rely on David Byrne to make sense of the madness. Same as it ever was. (<strong><em>JB<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3956546\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3956546\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3956546\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/david-byrne-mad-cool-live-credit-andres-iglesias.jpg\" alt=\"David Byrne\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3956546\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">David Byrne credit: Andre Iglesias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><strong>Pulp (0.40am, Region Of Madrid)\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\u201cMadrid, I have a question\u2026 Are you mad for it?\u201d Jarvis Cocker asked us as Pulp closed out the main stage, before playfully rolling his eyes and quipping: \u201cI know what you\u2019re thinking\u2026 \u2018Yorkshire, yeah?\u2019\u201d Unsurprisingly, that initial question quickly got its answer as the Sheffield indie icons broke out fan favourite \u2018Disco 2000\u2019, leading to one of the biggest sing-alongs of the entire 2026 festival.<\/p>\n<p>Running into the early hours of Sunday morning, their set also saw classics like \u2018Babies\u2019 and \u2018Do You Remember The First Time\u2019 come in thick and fast, as well as a euphoric rendition of newer single \u2018Spike Island\u2019 and an elaborate performance of \u2018Farmer\u2019s Market\u2019 \u2014 which the frontman fittingly introduced by throwing some grapes into the crowd.<\/p>\n<p>Fluttering between intense theatrical performances of deeper cuts and straightforward, feel-good versions of their biggest hits, the closing set was a pure visual spectacle from start to end. The cherry on top of Pulp\u2019s cake? Cocker announcing a positive World Cup update for England fans after breaking into \u2018Common People\u2019\u2026 (<strong><em>LD<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3956563\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3956563\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3956563\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/pulp-mad-cool-credit-javier-bragado-1.jpg\" alt=\"Pulp Jarvis Cocker\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3956563\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pulp\u2019s Jarvis Cocker credit: Javier Bragado<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>NME is the official media partner of Mad Cool\u200b.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/reviews\/live\/mad-cool-2026-day-four-nick-cave-bad-seeds-pulp-ttssfu-more-3956558&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/matt-berninger-mad-cool-atmos-credit-andres-iglesias.jpg&#8221;] Matt Berninger credit: Andres Iglesias ReviewsLive Reviews Mad Cool 2026 Day Four: Pulp, Matt Berninger, David Byrne, TTSSFU, and more close another year in style It&#8217;s time to say adi\u00f3s to Mad Cool for another year \u2013 catch up on NME&#8217;s standout sets from the last day here By NME 12th July [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2041557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2041557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2041557"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2041557\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2041557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2041557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2041557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}