Storm Arwen did its worst and sent some arctic conditions over Sheffield on Friday night but it didn’t contain enough power to dim the enthusiasm for the 1500 folk who ventured out on an icy Saturday night to see their hero.
Paul Weller’s long awaited return to the city, postponed last year due to the pandemic was a massive opportunity for old and young fans alike to see the Modfather in action. There aren’t many artists around today that have the longevity of Weller, with a career has spanning 5 decades, and he has witnessed everything from Punk and new romantic to Brit pop and nu metal, pop punk , emo and Indie Rock yet has maintained his relevance and position at the top of the tree. This is down to the simple truth, he writes timeless tunes that get to the heart of something very British.
If you look around the crowd tonight – identity is important and not just to 50 year olds who are probably a bit too heavy for their Lambretta’s. The beauty of Weller’s songs are that they are universally themed and appeal to every race, gender and age. From the mainstream Stanley road and Wild Wood, the Style Councils, Our Favourite Shop and to the Jam, All Mod Cons, Weller has always managed to have a voice and opinion that resonates with the time as well as being effortlessly cool.
With able support from The Lathums the gig did not disappoint. From the opening White Sky and Cosmic Fringes through to Wild Wood and Into Tomorrow, it was an effortless reminder of how good a song writer he is. The biggest cheers of the night were saved for the encore where a Town Called Malice and Thats Entertainment sent the paisley wearing scarved faithful into the night happy and content that a legendary performer deserved his billing.
Paul Weller (click on the thumbnail for full view)
