Paul Weller takes to the stage with a cheery ‘Alright Southampton‘ – and yes, we’re more than OK after being suitably warmed up by Miles Kane and the glorious summer sun.
On the longest day of the year, Paul Weller plays an incredible set lasting over two and a quarter hours. As well as his solo material, he is no longer afraid of playing timeless classics from both of his former bands – The Jam and The Style Council.
Beginning with a relatively new song, ‘Rip the Pages Up‘, he quickly moves onto The Jam b-side ‘Precious‘, before seamlessly mixing into a cover of ‘Move On Up‘, made famous by Curtis Mayfield.
Dressed in double-denim initially, he promptly tosses away his jacket – Paul Weller is aptly known as The Modfather, as looking sharp and well-dressed remains important to him.
Steve Cradock, of Ocean Colour Scene, ably supports Weller on guitar and Paul introduces song ‘The Weaver‘ as the first the two wrote together, establishing a long-term partnership which has reaped great rewards over 30 years.
A selection of Style Council hits follows, demonstrating the singer now enjoys playing his incredible back catalogue of music. Prior to ‘My Ever Changing Mood’ he gives a rallying speech calling for the end to senseless murder of innocent women and children around the world.
One of the biggest cheers of the evening comes when Weller sits at his piano and plays a beautiful rendition of ‘You Do Something To Me‘. Written about unattainable love, it remains popular at many wedding receptions despite its bitter-sweet tale of unfulfilled passion.
After an impressive 24 songs in the main set, the band depart the stage briefly, only to return for another 7 song encore – and wow, what an encore it is! Arguably the best songs of the night follow in quick succession.
He begins with this reviewers favourite of the evening, the simply beautiful ‘English Rose‘ – stripped down to acoustic guitar, the words and melody seem even more poignant than The Jam original.
Following confident versions of ‘All The Pictures On My Wall’ and foot-stomper ‘Changing Man‘, he spits out how former Prime Minister David Cameron was noted as saying ‘Eton Rifles‘ was his favourite song. Weller exclaims ‘Which part of it didn’t he get – it wasn’t intended as a f’ing drinking song for the cadet corps’.
Clearly not. Anyone listening to the lyrics would appreciate it addresses political and class struggles in the late 70s of Thatcher-era Britain.
Following this, he breaks into his solo classic ‘Wild Wood‘. Although only 33 at the time of release, he’d already recorded so much great music with his former bands that he seemed like a British icon – or Modfather if you like.
Often as is the case, Weller finishes the set with the incredible ‘Town Called Malice‘. What a finale and over the 31 songs in this set, he demonstrates how and why he is defined as one of the finest song writers of all time.
This is going to be an impossible act to follow.
Billy Ocean will be bringing the party vibes on Sunday at Southampton Summer Sessions and we cannot wait to see how he follows this incredible show.
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