One of the few joys of getting old is that you can bore people with war stories of the bands and artists that you`ve seen in your youth that they never will. I saw The Jam a few times, the Style Council once and Mr Weller solo at a few benefits and a couple of festivals but tonight would be my first experience of him with a band indoors, so to speak.
The Beatles` psychedelic `Tomorrow Never Knows` rings out through the pa as the lights dim and Mr Weller bows slightly as he and his six-piece band take to the stage and head into a couple of numbers from his `Fat Pop` album of a couple of years ago with a favourite of mine `Cosmic Fringes` a light-hearted self-analysis of sorts and piano driven `That Pleasure` with `Soul Wandering` a cut from his latest album `66`, his seventeenth solo album released in May with the title being a reference to his 66th birthday, just a day after the release.
I have to admit I never appreciated The Style Council at the time, as maybe it was too raw after the demise of the Jam but have grown to cherish their music and the band share a trio of numbers in `My Ever Changing Moods`, `Have You Ever Had It Blue` and `Headstart For Happiness`.
The show continues with a trawl through this artist`s lengthy solo career with numbers such as the mellow `All the Pictures On the Wall`, `Above the Clouds`, `More`, `Village` along with a well-received version of `Stanley Road` with Mr Weller at the piano. The band also share a further Style Council classic with `Shout To The Top` before the crowd erupt into a frenzy as the Jam`s `Start!` rings out as the singer further endears himself by mentioning Jam gigs at the defunct Lafayette nightclub in Wolverhampton.
I really loved the way the singer stood at the side of the stage midway through `Broken Stones` and watched his superb band who included Steve Pilgrim (drums and acoustic guitar), Steve Cradock (guitar), Ben Gordelier (percussion and drums), Tom Van Heel (keys), Jaco Peake (sax and flute), and Andy Crofts (bass) really let loose. It kind of sums up this musician`s musician.
`Nothing` a co-write with Suggs from Madness from the latest album is shared before a favourite of mine the thumping `Jungle Queen` is blasted out as the show closes out with `Into Tomorrow` and `Peacock Suit`.
The band return for two encores with the first full of fan favourites and mine with the reflective `Porcelain Gods`, introspective `The Changingman`, the slightly melancholic `Wild Wood` and my favourite Paul Weller track the heartbreaking `You Do Something To Me`, one of the best written love songs of all time, in my opinion. The final two song encore understandably were the Jam masterpieces `That’s Entertainment` and `Town called Malice` which created a kind of hysteria before sending all and sundry off home in a euphoric state.
The BBC have described Paul Weller as “one of the most revered music writers and performers of the past thirty years” and on the strength of tonight`s performance it`s hard not to agree. There`s a baker’s dozen of dates left around the UK with the majority of them, long sold out but if you can obtain a ticket, it`ll certainly be a night to remember.
This show was my seventy fourth gig of the year and hand on heart it was leagues ahead of those I’ve already witnessed and I’ve been fortunate to see some superb bands this year, but this was a masterclass in entertainment.
