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Paul Weller – Live In Brighton
13 October 2002
The first night of The Modfather’s ‚Illuminator‘ tour. Twenty years on from the end of The Jam and he’s back in Brighton. Check out our exclusive photo gallery and read the first review.
The Brighton Centre, Saturday 12 October
It’s somewhat ironic that, twenty years after The Jam’s final gig in Brighton, the Modfather returns to the coast to commence his 2002 tour more popular than ever. Perhaps more ironic is that the most listened-to records in the VF offices this week include both the excellent new Paul Weller LP, ‚Illuminator‘ and The Libertines‘ debut full-length disc, ‚Up The Bracket‘. Needless to say, one sounds rather similar to Paul’s previous nu-wave offering and one doesn’t. Do all our stars have to fade?
Fact. Far too many people claiming to be ‚journalists‘ or ‚observers‘ of the modern music scene are so far caught up in stupid ideals where they themselves are the ’stars‘ and the music they comment on is incidental to their being. Weller is apparently ’shit‘ because his mid-paced, driving balladry isn’t as ‚revolutionary‘ as Radiohead’s 80’s synth excursions, or The Strokes‘ Buzzcocks visitations, and yet The Libertines are fantastic because they, erm, sound like The Jam…? Don’t get me, wrong, The Libertines are one of the best new bands around, but let’s all get a bit of perspective on things: if something sounds good, it is.
Fact. Tonight, it sounds absolutely superb. From the new album opener, ‚Going Places‘ to new single, ‚It’s Written In The Stars‘; it’s the sound of a complete, soulful fanfare of sound bathing in a dignified maturity. Weller’s voice posses a timeless, inimitable grit; and whilst the songs break little ground, you can’t deny the quality of ‚A Bullet For Everyone‘ or ‚Now The Night Is Here‘.
Thankfully, there’s no sign of the arrogant little gravely voiced Welsh dwarf (Stereophonics‘ Kelly Jones) who duets with Weller on ‚Call Me No 5‘, but there’s a host of old material in tonight’s two hour set, which is naturally rapturously received. Old Jam classics, ‚Monday‘, ‚In The Crowd‘ and ‚The Man In The Cornershop‘ still have the same tireless urgency they must had in their day, (we were barely born), and Weller plays them with no less passion.
There’s a back-catalogue cruise which also includes ‚Changing Man‘ and ‚Picking Up Sticks‘ (with the kind of drum solo that you’d only get at a Weller, Eric Clapton or Chillis gig), as well as a lonely one song encore of ‚Wild Wood‘; but it’s such a complete performance. None of Weller’s sharp tongued directness that he’s famed for; none of the bullshit Oasis candour or Stereophonics‘ conceited aceticness. He’s not about to go out and convert a huge number of new fans, but it’s really turned my opinion round, and believe me, that’s no mean feet.
Interesting then, that Weller of all people should hold such a healthy lodge in the modern, popular musical realm. Not amazing by any means, but look a little closer and you may just see that changing isn’t the same as fading, man.
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"I know a few groovy middle-aged people, but not many." Keith Richards 1966