Paul Weller had been sitting on our ticket money for about nine months, we reckoned. That's a long enough gestation period. And so last night Tony and I finally swapped the QR codes on our phones for a pair of seats up in the gods. (I loathe all seater venues. Give me a sweaty rock club where I can stand down the front every day of the week.)
Was he worth the wait? I think so. A great setlist, don't get me wrong. But the man himself has zero charisma. What passes for inter-song banter is banality personified, but, hey, you're not gonna change this prickly 66 year old modernist. He was monosyllabic when he walked off the tour bus and not much chirpier on stage. But that's Weller. Deal with it, as they say.
And anyway, who else can write songs as good as this? (Well, Suggs, actually: one of many co-writes on his new album.)
Paul Weller - Nothing (2024)
Hard to say who is looking the most mean, moody and magnificent, Weller or you
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say?
DeleteSaw him in 2022, similar feelings. Great set, no rapport with the crowd at all. When he does speak it's mumbled
ReplyDeleteHe's not a people person, for sure. Have you heard heard his Desert Island Discs from, I think, 2015? He's painfully shy. Definitely not comfortable being a 'front man'. He got Craddock to introduce a couple of songs and he's just as bad!
DeleteI remember Martin writing about a Weller gig that he loved - glad you enjoyed it but "the darling of the chat shows" he is not.
ReplyDeleteThe facial hair is starting to look quite sculptural!
He's just very dull. A great songwriter, but dull.
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