Fit as a
fiddle, with weathered face and perma-scowl just beneath the surface, he gives
the air of a man who would do you harm, especially if you trod on his swanky
black and white shoes.
This
seems especially evident during opening salvo of Wake Up The Nation, From The
Floorboards Up and Sunflower, but appearances can be deceptive and between
growly lyrics he was soon cracking smiles and pouring charm on the sell-out
crowd.
‘It’s
great to be back,’ he smiled, taking in a venue he holds genuine affection for.
And
despite the high-tempo start, it became clear he was in no mood to rabble
rouse, even though he drew an early singalong as Sea Spray rolled down from the
back rows to the stage.
He’s
never been much of a talker and he was quiet between songs again last night,
giving brief introductions and pointing out that ‘all songs are old songs’
whether they were written two weeks or twenty years ago.
As ever,
there were one or two surprises plucked from his huge repertoire; My Ever
Changing Moods was given fresh impetus from his Style Council days and Above
the Clouds carried on the laid-back theme to the night’s set list.
Without
a new album to show off, Weller delved into last year’s Sonik Kicks with The
Attic and That Dangerous Age putting an extra spring in his step.
It was
more than an hour before the first Jam song landed and Start! was greeted with
a huge roar, as the bassline shook the Civic walls and 2,000 forty-somethings
time travelled back to days of thicker hair and thinner waists.
So where
next? Showcasing Picking Up Sticks (from 2000’s patchy Heliocentric) and slow
burner Be Happy Children in the encores, suggests he’s ready to head back down
a more soulful approach after two fast-paced albums.
Expect
the unexpected, probably. Just like when he donned a multi-coloured cape
(‘Don’t ask!’) and launched a bouncy ball over the masses for Town Called
Malice as a night that had largely smouldered caught searing flame at the very
end.
Typically
unpredictable, but brilliant all the same, and after nearly 40 years, Weller’s
vast army of devoted fans can’t wait to see what’s next.
Because
time is short, life is cool – and it’s up to us to change.”
By Keith Harrison
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