Paul Weller, Brixton Academy, Nov 24th
Paul Weller played Brixton Academy on November 24th
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Tuesday, 25, Nov 2008 11:29
inthenews.co.uk's Alison Patel is pleased to hear some old favourites from the Modfather.
Every musician that has had a halcyon period in their early career goes through a stage of trying to escape or better their initial success.
They spend a lot of time refusing to play the music that made them famous until they finally realise that those were good tunes and that's why everyone wants to hear them time and again.
Paul Weller is one such artist who spent most of the late 90s caught up in dadrock mediocrity, seemingly determined to ignore his roots.
Luckily for everyone the Modfather has just celebrated his half century and is finally ready to give in to the power of his considerable history.
I expect though he still wouldn't want to hear that the highlights of watching him at Brixton Academy were definitely Jam classics such as Eton Rifles and That's Entertainment.
Weller is of course an accomplished artist with many credits to his name post the Jam and Style Council and this current tour showcases songs from his critically acclaimed album, 22 Dreams.
Songs such as the brilliantly funky All I Wanna Do (Is Be With You) and an R 'n' B-inspired Push it Along which was blisteringly good and made you realise Weller's back and he knows it.
Changing Man and Peacock Suit were rocked up and it was good to see Weller strutting about the stage like he deserves to be there.
As is always the case with Weller the evening was an eclectic mix that included soul, rock, funk, jazz and a bit of folk, but he definitely seems to do best when it is just him and an electric guitar and a voice that sounds like it's enjoyed one too many cigarettes.
There were a few points when he got a bit self-indulgent with long keyboard interludes and I wish he had never Wished Upon a Star but that was really just a blip in an otherwise rocking set.
Alison Patel