Paul Weller @ Royal Albert Hall 26/05/10
This week the Royal Albert Hall hosts a series of shows from The Modfather himself, Paul Weller. With his recent album ‘Wake Up The Nation’ earning rave reviews from across the music press, the former frontman of The Jam is certainly enjoying another fruitful period in his evergreen career.
We headed to the first of five sold out shows from the singer and were treated to a set that included several old classics as well as his latest output. The prestigious Royal Albert Hall was full to the brim with Weller devotees – many sporting his trademark haircut. For fans unable to attend, all the gigs are available to stream from his website.
Photos by David Sutheran.
Bounding onstage with his band, Weller tore through a two hour performance. While the setlist borrowed heavily from his latest album there was room for plenty of classics. Highlights included a welcome airing of The Jam’s ‘Start’ and a crowd pleasing ‘Shout To The Top’ from The Style Council. Joined by a string section for a number of tracks, the records resonated perfectly through the venue’s perfect acoustics.
While the following night saw a part reunion of The Jam – with bassist Bruce Foxton joining Weller for a handful of tracks – Monday’s performance saw rising soul singer Rox duet with the man himself with the pair delivered a stunning cover of ‘How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)’.
