Paul Weller at Hammersmith Apollo

Living legend Paul Weller has a fair few albums under his belt. With a career spanning six decades, tonight’s show at Eventim Apollo marks the end of his UK tour for his 17^th solo album, 66. Referring to Weller’s current age, 66 includes some high-profile collaborations, including Noel Gallagher, who, according to Weller, is sitting somewhere in the Apollo here tonight.

The set opens with the swaggering Cosmic Fringes, taken off Weller’s 2021 album Fat Pop. We have seven band members on stage tonight, including two drummers and a saxophonist, and it’s instantly notable how full and layered the music sounds. Throughout tonight’s gig, there is a Palestinian flag on stage, and just before playing My Ever Changing Moods, Weller announces that he’s dedicating it to the people of Gaza and Palestine, while stating: “You can’t call what’s going on over there anything else, it’s a genocide.”

Weller is of course best known as the lead singer of post-punk mod group The Jam, who made a huge impact on the music scene despite only being around for five years. His next musical venture, The Style Council, took Weller in a jazzier direction and you can hear their influence running through much of his solo stuff. As well as the aforementioned My Ever Changing Moods, which is an uplifting joy, the band plays The Style Councils’s Have You Ever Had it Blue and Headstart for Happiness.

Weller has been an undeniably hugely influential musician, and tonight’s show is a testament to his ever-changing genres and music moods. The Jam’s That’s Entertainment is emotional and heartfelt, and watching it being performed feels like you’re listening to one of the best songs ever written, which is probably correct.

The Modfather’s voice is a force to be reckoned with and hasn’t deteriorated. His gravelly tones peak on songs such as Out of the Sinking, Broken Stones and, of course, the classic You Do Something to Me. This track went down like a lead balloon with the critics upon its release in 1995, as NME and Melody Maker were shook by its middle-of-the-road subtleness, but 30 years later, it’s still one of his most popular and well-loved songs.

The set ends on the mammoth and historic tune Town Called Malice, and it manages to get even those who have been seated for the entire gig to stand up. Weller and his band members have made no secret that tonight’s gig is an emotional one for them, and it’s likely to have been emotional for many of the long-standing fans as well. Shows like this make you feel safe in the knowledge that no matter how many curve balls the arts has thrown at it, there isn’t a shelf life for the real thing.

Hannah Broughton
Photos: Virginie Viche

For further information and future events visit Paul Weller’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Soul Wandering here: