Review of:  “Paul Weller”

At: “Mini United 2009” event at Silverstone

On: Saturday 23/05/09

On first inspection of this review you might be somewhat surprised as to the artist being reviewed based on my previous reviews of much harder rock outfits, but make no mistake Paul Weller, the so-called “Modfather” gave one fantastic show.

This was by no accounts the main reason why I attended this concert but was rather a happy coincident based upon the fact that my good lady wife has a Mini and was most keen to attend the 50^th Anniversary celebration of this iconic little car to show hers off, take it for a spin along the race track and drool over all manner of Mini’s old (I stand corrected – Classic) and new.

On what turned out to be an excellent day all round the Paul Weller gig sealed the event by giving an absolutely stomping one and a half hour set of all his best works stretching back over 20 years with hits such as “Eton Rifles” , “A Town Called Malice” and “Let Me Entertain You” from the old Jam days to hits such as  “Shout To The Top” from his Style Council Days to more progressive numbers such as “Wild Wood” and “You Do Something To Me” which he has and continues to produce in his on-going solo career.

This is one impressive and distinctive artist who delivered an entertaining and moving set of songs, most of which were instantly recognisable and which formed the soundtrack to many of our lives even if at the time we were not even aware of it. But this was no nostalgia tour. Paul Weller continues to deliver innovative and reflective music for this is an artist who obviously has a passion for music and within his songs has something worthy to say. More than you can say for many of today’s young pretenders.

Time has been most kind to Paul Weller and though somewhat greyer than we might remember him this versatile multi-instrumentalist artist still has the fantastic voice filled with passion, anger and sensitivity that both carry a song giving it gravity and style whilst at the same time offering the audience something to think about whilst they dance, bop and sway to the catchy choruses which I believe have and are a trade mark of the Paul Weller sound.

This was not just a concert for Mods old and new but a concert of our times which appealed across the musical spectrums offering something for R&B, Rock, Blues, Jazz, World Music and Northern Soul fans alike.

I left this gig feeling like I had just made a new friend or better still re-acquainted myself with an old friend who just like a good wine seems to get better with age and just like the Mini motor car there is something distinctively and iconically British about Paul Weller which just makes you feel proud to have been there. Long may he continue.