Review and Photography by Robert Barrett

There’s only one thing better than a great gig, a great gig in a beautiful and historic venue. When all round English legend Paul Weller visited for a two night residency at De Montfort Hall, it was an unmissable night in one of the country’s most beautiful venues.

From Melbourne Australia to Leicester, Paul’s support act was The Stroppies who brought some youthful energy to the proceedings. Warming up the large venue with some lo-fi indie tunes. The last song “Cellophane Car” with its chirpy fairground synth reminiscent of The Kinks “Come Dancing” was a highlight.

With the stage respectfully adorned with the Ukrainian flag, the mod father himself graced the room whilst the Beatles “Tomorrow Never Knows” rang out. Launching straight into recent tunes “White Sky”, “Long Time” and Cosmic Fringes”, it was the start of an incredible two and a half hours of music.

“I don’t know when we will finish, I guess when we get kicked off” remarked Paul, who seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood.

Paul and his band then delivered a incredible an incredible career spanning set. Track’s from all of Paul’s solo efforts were played along with a handful of both Style Councillors and The Jam classics. Tracks Like “Start” and “Shout to the Top” caused mass singalongs as expected, but it was deeper cuts such as “Above the Clouds” and bluesy rocker “Woo Se Mama” that really impressed the crowd.

The title track to “Fat Pop” with its funky bass lines showed that even after all this time he’s still evolving his music. After two encores, ending with the eternal banger “Town Called Malice” he finally stepped off the stage. A career defining set that not only showed the depth of his catalog but how he is still creating incredible music, there’s a reason Paul Weller is a British legend.