Paul Weller’s solo career dwarfs The Jam and The Style Council in terms of quantity and longevity. After a few minutes the band came back out for one final tune, the fittingly titled “The Changingman.” “Whirlpools’ End” followed reminding everyone that this was indeed a rock show put on by a legend still possessed of that famous fire and skill. The second encore began with Weller on keyboards for “These City Streets” and “Broken Stones” before he grabbed a guitar for “Start!,” which sent the crowd into a frenzy. “Wildwood,” “Monday” (Weller’s first nod of the evening to his first band), “Hopper,” and “Out of the Sinking” provided a welcome respite from the intensity of the electric set and showcased smooth harmonies and intricate musicianship from a band that has clearly been playing together for some time now (with the exception of newcomer Tom Van Heel on keyboards). Weller returned and most of the band, including drummer Steve Pilgrim now on guitar, took seats on stools at the front of the stage for an acoustic mini-set encore. The set closed with a raucous and raw “Porcelain Gods.”
PAUL WELLER VINYL FULL
The band went into full psychedelic blues jam mode on “Into Tomorrow” and “Peacock Suit” featured exquisite guitar playing by Steve Cradock and Paul Weller. Rousing versions of “From the Floorboards Up” and “Friday Street” off of earlier solo albums kept the crowd on its feet in this seated venue, while versions of The Style Council’s “My Ever Changing Moods,” “Have You Ever Had it Blue,” and “Shout to the Top” were met with especially appreciative applause. Highlights from the new material included “Nova,” “Long Long Road,” and “Woo Se Mama” ( A Kind Revolution) and “Going My Way” and “White Sky” ( Saturns Pattern).
PAUL WELLER VINYL PLUS
Taking the stage a little after 9pm, following a well-received set from opener Lucy Stone, Paul Weller and band delivered a high energy, two-hour plus show. Fortunately for everyone in attendance at the elegant Lincoln Theatre, Weller’s latest records are quite good and his five-piece accompanying band excellent.
True to form Weller played six of A Kind Revolution’s ten songs, while airing two-thirds of 2015’s Saturns Pattern album.
So, as his tour pulled into Washington, DC on Saturday night in support of his thirteenth solo record, A Kind Revolution, a heavy dose of new material was to be expected. Forty years into a stellar recording career that has seen him place number one albums in the UK charts in four different decades, he is all about the present and all about promoting his current work. Paul Weller has no time for nostalgia and he doesn’t dwell on the past (even though his is epic).
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