Friday 5th April, a date that will go down as one of the best live music shows this reviewer has ever attended (and he has attended a LOT of live music shows). Paul Weller performing a SOLD OUT show at Bristol’s Beacon venue in the heart of the city in front of house full of Weller loving fans, what could be better? Read on to see how the show went….
In the annals of British music history, few figures loom as large as Paul Weller. From his formative years as the driving force behind The Jam to his eclectic endeavors with The Style Council and his illustrious solo career, Weller has carved a singular path through the ever-evolving landscape of popular music. Affectionately dubbed "The Modfather" by his admirers, Weller's influence extends far beyond his musical output, encompassing his distinctive style, attitude, and unwavering commitment to artistic integrity.
Weller's journey began in the late 1970s when he co-founded The Jam alongside Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler. Bursting onto the scene with their energetic blend of punk, mod, and new wave sensibilities, The Jam swiftly rose to prominence with a string of chart-topping hits and critically acclaimed albums. Their debut, "In the City" (1977), captured the raw urgency of the era, while subsequent releases such as "All Mod Cons" (1978) and "Setting Sons" (1979) showcased Weller's burgeoning songwriting prowess and keen social commentary.
It was during his tenure with The Jam that Weller first earned the moniker "The Modfather," a title bestowed upon him by fans and critics alike in recognition of his role as a torchbearer for the mod subculture. With his sharp suits, neatly cropped hair, and unmistakable swagger, Weller embodied the spirit of mod revivalism, channeling the ethos of 1960s London into the gritty realities of Thatcherite Britain.
However, Weller's restless creative spirit soon led him to explore new sonic territories, culminating in the formation of The Style Council in 1983. Eschewing the punk-infused sound of The Jam, The Style Council embraced a more sophisticated aesthetic, blending elements of soul, jazz, and pop with Weller's incisive lyricism and soulful vocals. Albums such as "Café Bleu" (1984) and "Our Favourite Shop" (1985) showcased Weller's versatility as a songwriter and producer, earning critical acclaim and a devoted following in the process.
Throughout his time with The Style Council, Weller continued to push the boundaries of conventional genre norms, experimenting with eclectic instrumentation and incorporating elements of world music into his sonic palette. Yet, despite their commercial success and critical acclaim, The Style Council disbanded in 1989, paving the way for Weller to embark on a solo career that would further cement his status as a musical icon.
Weller's solo output has been nothing short of prolific, spanning over three decades and encompassing a diverse array of musical styles and influences. From the introspective introspection of "Wild Wood" (1993) to the anthemic rock of "Stanley Road" (1995), Weller has consistently demonstrated his ability to evolve and adapt while retaining his distinctive voice and artistic vision.
Indeed, it is this unwavering commitment to authenticity and artistic integrity that sets Weller apart from his peers. Whether fronting a band or flying solo, Weller has remained true to his mod roots, channeling the spirit of rebellion and resilience that has defined his career from the outset. As a songwriter, performer, and cultural icon, Paul Weller continues to inspire and influence generations of artists and fans alike, proving that true artistry knows no bounds.
Tonight, this reviewer had the opportunity to catch Weller live on stage at Bristol’s Beacon in the heart of the city. It was 1995 that he last saw him on stage at the English Riviera Centre in Torquay where he was showcasing tracks from ‘Stanley Road’, fast forward 29 years, with 17 studio albums under his belt, he had a plethora of material to draw from, if only his set was 6 hours long….
Opening the evening was a 5 piece Brighton act going by the name ‘Barbara’, having only received confirmation of the show 48 hours in advance, I had very little chance to become accustomed to their material, so I didn’t, opting to hear it first hand on the stage at Bristol’s Beacon instead. They bound on stage and took their positions before diving into a healthy set which was full of twee vocal harmonies, light-hearted summery sounding pop ditties which you just couldn’t help falling in love with. Musically, I would create a new sub genre which combines Belle & Sebastien, 10cc, The Supernaturals all wrapped up with in a thick theatrical blanket worthy of keeping Freddie Mercury warm on a cool April evening.The frontman was doing a great job of channelling his inner ‘Jarvis’ with eye rolls, finger pointing and more poses than you could shake a stick at. I did reach out to Barbara ahead of the Weller tour but I guess they were somewhat pre-occupied as they never replied to me. I mentioned this at the merch table at the end of the show and received pretty much the same reply though they DID ask me to send some questions over and they would prioritise them over the weekend so watch this space for an in-depth intro feature on Barbara very soon indeed!
After a stage shuffle, Weller and co took to the stage to kick off there 2 hour set which was a mixture of solo classics with a couple of older tracks thrown in to keep fans of The Jam and The Style Council happy. I had the pleasure of being allowed into the hallowed ground known as the photo pit for the first three songs and managed to get some incredible shots of the man himself, doing what he has been doing best since the late 1970’s, a true honour indeed. He looked tanned, toned and sharp in his trademark crisp Fred Perry polo shirt, his vocals sounding as on point as ever as the set got underway.
He was joined by a phenomenal six piece band which consisted of drums, percussion, keys, bass, saxaphone and lead guitar/effects provided by the wizard that is Mr Steve Cradock (Ocean Colour Scene) who was on top form as usual, performing his duties and creating some incredible sounds through his magic noise boxes at his feet. With a new album titled ‘66’ to mark Weller’s age upon its release in May 2024, you’d expect the set to be heavy on tracks from the record, how wrong was I and countless others as we only heard 3 from it. Whether he’s planning on performing more of it in a later tour or during his many summer festival slots, we can only wait and see. Instead, he delved deep into his back catalogue, selecting tracks from his self-titled debut solo album as well as cuts from Wild Wood, Stanley Road, Heavy Soul and more. I will add that Weller is no lover of staying n the past and his set reflected this with stops at just about every landmark in his musical career.
Paul shared his time between electric/acoustic guitar and piano which left Steve Cradock to perform guitar duties alone, no problem for him as he is a complete professional who only adds to the overall output that Weller produces on stage, creating unearthly noises that we can only dream about. Midway through the set, a rather refreshed gent shouted “play sumfink we like”, this made me smile as seconds later, Weller launched into ‘You Do Something to Me’ which clearly pleased the heckler as nothing was heard of him again!
Whilst stood in the furthest point away from the stage in the downstairs standing section, I caught a chap streaming the show to his wife, nothing wrong with that I hear you cry but she was in the bath at the time and standing next to him, I couldn’t help but catch a glimpse of her as she continued to wash herself, the lengths some folk go to eh?
Weller launched into ‘That’s Entertainment’ which was followed closely by ‘Start!’, two classics by The Jam that sounded as relevant today as they did when they were crafted 44 years ago. The crowd reacted well and saw many attempting to pogo like they did when they were 18 years old. Come the end of the songs, you could see the aforementioned people bent over, coughing and wheezing, oh to get old…. The unmistakable tones of ‘Peacock Suit’ rang through the speakers, maintaining the upbeat vibe which drew act 1 to a close.
‘Headstart for Happiness’ kicked off act 2 which was followed by the beautiful ‘Wild Wood’ with Weller taking to the acoustic guitar. The piano led ‘Broken Stones’ continued the string of classics which pleased the room no end before ‘Mayfly’ and ‘Rockets’ drew act two to a close.
After a crafty fag break, they were back for act 3 (surely the last one?) and blew the roof off The Beacon with an upbeat and ballsy version of ‘The Changing Man’ which took me back to the mid 90’s in Torquay where I last saw Weller perform live. ‘Porcelain Gods’ drew act three and the entire show to a close, it sounded sublime with the addition of the flute, adding to the timeless lyrics.
Weller and the band took a bow, waved to the audience and exited stage right.
It was only after I had managed to sweet talk the sound engineer to let me have his set list that I noticed that there were two more tracks on it which weren’t played, these were ‘A Town Called Malice’ and ‘My Ever Changing Moods’ which, after reflection, could have proved too much for the audience. Despite this, this reviewer left the Beacon a satisfied man, I came to shoot some pics of a legend, I did that and went on to enjoy what is possibly THE best show I have attended this year so far, the bar is set VERY high, let’s see if anyone else can beat it!
Words and Pictures by Steve Muscutt
