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Paul Weller performs an impressive 30 song set at the Brighton Centre
Posted On 18 Feb 2018 at 4:00 pm
PAUL WELLER + THE STRYPES – BRIGHTON CENTRE 17.2.18
The thing about our Mr. Weller, is that he likes to move forward. Each new album is very different from the last. That’s not to say that he follows musical trends and fashions, in my opinion he doesn’t – he has his own agenda.
Of course, when it comes to his concerts, this can frustrate many of his fans, who want to hear The Jam! However, tonight’s return to the Brighton Centre, saw Paul playing a great mixed set that would please anyone!
It was forty years ago that The Jam’s ‘In the City’ album was released, and this tour showcases his incredible musical journey, and prolific writing skills. The set includes material (amongst others) from the albums ‘Wild Wood’, ‘Heavy Soul’, ‘Stanley Road’, ‘As Is Now’, ‘Wake Up The Nation’, ‘Saturns Pattern’ and of course his most recent outing, the brilliant ‘A Kind Revolution’.
The crowd at Paul Weller
Quite surprisingly, it seemed (from the crowds reaction) that the three Style Council numbers played, were VERY welcome indeed, and I must admit the tracks were performed superbly.
I’ve lost count of the times I have seen this ‘Woking class hero’ play. I can say that I’ve seen him at venues large and small, from Crawley Sports Hall (where I believe he got a severe ticking off for smoking on stage, and when he refused to stop, got a ban from playing there again!), to The Albert Hall, which was an amazing experience.
Paul Weller live at The Brighton Centre 17.2.18
Tonight’s gig saw Paul in a very relaxed mood, where he seemed happy in conversing briefly with the crowd, even making a few jokes, as he flitted between playing guitar and piano.
The first set was a full electric experience, with Paul interestingly utilising a great deal of echo on his voice, throughout. The second set – which was actually an encore, was a brilliant semi acoustic set with Paul introducing The Strypes guitarist Josh McClorey to play on ‘That’s Entertainment’.
The third set (or second encore, if you like!) once more returned to a full electric affair, culminating in a ‘Town called Malice’. The whole band then took a very well deserved bow to an ecstatic crowd.
The band were:
Steve Cradock (guitar)
Andy Crofts (bass guitar)
Steve Pilgrim (drums)
Tom Van Heel (keys)
Ben Gordelier (percussion)
Paul Weller (vocals, guitar, keys)
The setlist was:
I’m Where I Should Be (Saturns Pattern)
White Sky (Saturns Pattern)
Nova (A Kind Revolution)
From The Floorboards Up (As Is Now)
Long Time (Saturns Pattern)
Saturns Pattern (Saturns Pattern)
Long Long Road (A Kind Revolution)
Have You Ever Had It Blue (The Style Council song)
My Ever Changing Moods (The Style Council song)
She Moves With The Fayre (A Kind Revolution)
Man In The Corner Shop (The Jam song)
Above The Clouds (Paul Weller)
Into Tomorrow (Paul Weller)
Up In Suze’s Room (Heavy Soul)
Shout To The Top! (The Style Council song)
You Do Something To Me (Stanley Road)
Woo Sé Mama (A Kind Revolution)
Friday Street (Heavy Soul)
Porcelain Gods (Stanley Road)
Peacock Suit (Heavy Soul)
Start! (The Jam song)
Encore:
Gravity (This is a new song!)
English Rose (The Jam song)
That’s Entertainment (The Jam song)
All On A Misty Morning (As Is Now)
Wild Wood (Wild Wood)
Encore 2:
The Weaver (Wild Wood)
Broken Stones (Stanley Road)
The Changingman (Stanley Road)
Town Called Malice (The Jam song)
The Strypes live at The Brighton Centre 17.2.18
Support band for tonight were the wonderful Irish 4-piece The Strypes:
Ross Farrelly (Vocals), Josh McClorey (Guitar), Pete O’Hanlon (Bass)
and Evan Walsh (Drums). Taking influences from the 60’s and 70’s MOD, rock, blues and soul. You could be forgiven for comparing the bands on-stage antics to a certain band that Mr. Weller fronted in the late seventies. Indeed The Strypes were actually his full backing band in 2013 for a Record Store Day performance. Guitarist Josh has also performed on Weller’s last 2 albums.
More information on Paul Weller, click here: http://paulweller.com/home/
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band members wrong, no andy lewis, tom van heel on keyboards, andy crofts on bass
Thanks for your assistance David.
You have the 2 Andys the wrong way round!
Thanks for your comment 🙂
Sure Andy Lewis was surprised to be announced in the band as he left end of 2015!!
Doh! Good spot my man 🙂
I have seen Paul play since 1979 and so can be positive and negative on how I think one of his gigs is. The last time I saw him was at Bournemouth with the Saturns Pattern tour. I really like this album after not liking the previous two that much at all. The consert was amazing, hearing nearly every song p kus a couple Jamtracks and Style Council tracks. At the time PW stated quite clearly that nostalgia was not his thing and the latest tracks were his only interest. How a 2 years can change attitudes. The Brighton concert was really good if you wanted to hear a greatest hits night out. It was slick but not amazing. Only playing 4 tracks from A K ind revolution was short change for me. I have heard A Town Called Malice too many times over the years. And to play it as a final track was too comfy, too typical. Why not end on say Pick it Up from Satterns Pattern. Some of the old tracks don’t travel that well through time. They sounded wrong in places, tempo too slow, urgency forgotten. All in all his was a comfy classic hits night. Just nice.
I can only agree with the last track, I thought the set list was spot on and an amazing performance, how ever A Town Called Malice can only be played by 3 individuals in my opinion.
Have seen Rick and Bruce play it in The Gift the sound was spot on but not the vocals, I can only draw from that conclusion having heard Paul do it on several occasions that only Paul,Rick and Bruce can do the song justice.
I’m a lifelong fan that prefers to remember Weller in The Jam and The Style Council and also his solo career from years past now. I just just don’t get the same thrill that I once had out of seeing him anymore, maybe it’s age his or mine I’m not sure. But one thing is for certain, he is no longer that angry young man(or even middle aged) who would grab you by the B*^%^ and perhaps change your views on life. I prefer to have those memories.
Great gig , weller at his best !!
Seen Weller Dublin as sold out Belfast! Fantastic! Really disliked support the Touts horrendous
Going to leeds on friday 23rd saw the jam from 78 onwards an weller many times will keep you posted on what i think of this latest outing.
Firstly The Brighton Centre is a great venue and probably one of the views I’ve had .
Weller these days seems very at home with himself and relaxed with whatever he plays . A very strong set list too, even the 2 last albums now seem to get the right appreciation they deserve . Overall a great night…
I’m going to see Mr Weller at the Hydro in Glasgow on Sunday looking forward to it followed him since the jam and was lucky enough to meet the jam back stage at the legendary Glasgow Apollo looks a good set of old and new songs but I do agree about town called malice too many people think that’s all he’s done 🇬🇧🏴🏴🏴🇬🇧