At the age of 64 Paul Weller’s work ethic and musical output isn’t exactly meandering aimlessly to a halt.
The Modfather should be closer to riding a mobility scooter than a Vespa these days.
But then the Beatles once sang about reaching this milestone, and their lead singer just headlined the Pyramid Stage.
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Just 48 hours before this sun-kissed Singleton Park show, the very same stage was being owned by 69-year-old Nile Rodgers.
This is the summer of the aging music icon, and the thing is see, if they’ve still got the voice and the energy levels (and Weller definitely does), they’re kind of guaranteed a home run, because one thing these fellas all have is tunes, decades of the things.
On a Sunday summer evening Weller’s 40 year back catalogue is on show in full, woven seamlessly and skillfully. The Jam, Style Council, his 90’s solo work and more recent albums (two of which were released during the pandemic and haven’t been heard live until we were all allowed back out).
There’s something about that rasping, soulful voice that just belongs on an outdoor stage on the last day of July with the backdrop of the sea in Swansea Bay.
And listen, full disclosure here, this was my first proper gig since that bloody virus, and so those visceral emotions that live music somehow produce were always going to be turned up to eleven.
And listen further, I had a sort of semi Weller peacock quiff in the noughties. Not the full tragic ‘Wellend’ look I hasten to add, but I love the man, that’s my point.
Even taking all that into account, I think I can safely say that Paul’s Welsh mamgu (that’s right he’s one of us) would be proud of this barnstorming show.
From the heavy opening riff of White Sky we were away but this was a performance which ebbed and flowed for the first hour.
“We’ve got a long setlist tonight,” our Paul announced. “Some old ones, some new ones and some yet to be written.”
There are subtle, standout performances, like Village from 2021’s stunningly mellow On Sunshine record.
“That was for anyone from Aberdare, Merthyr, that way,” he says in a nod to his Welsh heritage.
Then there are in your face bangers like Woo Se Mama, before things properly ramp up as the Style Council’s unmistakable strings from Shout To The Top kick in.
Weller has been around long enough to know what the people want, and the gear shift is noticeable among the Swansea crowd.
Changingman, Wild Wood, You do Something all follow. “I’ve been told I won’t get out of Swansea alive if I don’t play this one,” he exclaims at the beginning of the latter.
Supported by his faultless five piece band, who were exceptional, including long term collaborator Steve Cradock of Ocean Colour Scene (who, despite some dodgy white trousers is otherwise extraordinary on lead guitar) this is pure joy. A (almost) two hour musical masterclass from a bloke nearly old enough to collect his state pension.
He’s still got it. Buckets of it. The flowing silver hair, the clobber, that voice, the swagger. Still cool as f***.
That’s entertainment!
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