I still love the whole mod look, the music, the imagery, the attitude, even the scooters. It will always be in my heart.
Paul Weller
Wednesday 25 October 2006
Main Space, Roundhouse, Camden
Photos
See live shots from the night
Paul Weller produced a fantastic, crowd winning performance at the Roundhouse which featured hits from his 30 year career and included some memorable collaborations.
Introduced by Phill Jupitus, Weller took the stage looking very dapper in a striped blue shirt and smart waistcoat. The crowd were warmed up nicely with favourites 'Splinters' and 'Above The Clouds' before the first special guests, Amy Winehouse, was introduced. Her hair might look slightly ridiculous and her eye make up excessive but her deep and sultry voice is stunning. Their rendition of the Marvin Gaye classic 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' quickly becomes the first Electric Proms 'moment'.
The second comes when Carl Barat joins the band to perform a storming version of "In The City". It's thirty years since Weller has performed the song and the crowd celebrate by throwing pints of lager into the air and holding mobile phones aloft so their mates can join in this special occasion.
Hard-Fi's Richard Archer performs lead vocals on a celebratory "That's Entertainment", with the crowd singing back the chorus for several minutes after the song's finish. 'A Town Called Malice' closes the show and two thousand fans leave the Roundhouse with massive grins on their faces.
Set List:
Blink & You'll Miss It
Paper Smile
From The Floorboards Up
Out Of The Sinking
Wild Blue Yonder
Changing Man
Porcelain Gods/Splinters
Above The Clouds
Savages/Fly Little Bird
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Don't Go To Strangers
You Do Something To Me
Come On/Let's Go
Peacock Suit
In The City
Running On The Spot
Foot Of The Mountain
Sunflower
That's Entertainment
Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
Broken Stones
Town Called Malice
Your thoughts on Paul Weller:
Karen Herbert
Until last week, I'd only seen Paul Weller when he guested at Dirty Pretty Things gig at The Coronet last month. I was not prepared to be as blown away as I was. Thank you Paul! It was also good to see my hero Carl Barat up there, tearing into 2 Weller classics with such confidence. I shall definately return to see Paul Weller live when I get the next opportunity - he was awesome!
Fez
The best Paul Weller Concert I have been to. I've seen him now over 15 times and for me this was the best. The highlight for me was Down at the tube station. I can't wait to catch him in Dublin in November.
Cora Fowler
thanks so much the Electric Proms for bringing us this series of concerts the PW set is certainally among the best I have seen and heard. Pauls voice is getting better. ever emotive with a great band who support him so well this must be one of the best sets he has played in his career, So thanks Paul please keep just dong this and can we have a live DVD of this set please pretty please
sam walker
Great night at the Roundhouse. We were stuck on M1 for 2hours so nearly didn't make it. Thank god we did. Weller just superb. Have seen him over 25 times, but highlight for me singing I Heard it through the grapevine, his voice in that sent soulful shivers down my spine. My sister just had a tooth out and wasn't 100% so we stood further back than usual so didn't get to jump around like we normally do to The Jam classics but still one of his best nights!!!!!!
Seamie O' Mahoney
I get to see Weller once a year when he plays in Ireland. You can only say about the man he is the best live performer of a generation. The gig at the proms is up there with his best. Last year at the olympia was the best gig i was ever at in my life. Closely folowed by his performance at this years Oxegen festival. In the crowd what a tune what a legend. The proms was the first performance of Tube Station i've ever heard live what a legend. Keep up the good work. lookin forward to the 17 november in Dublin. We Are The Mods....
Tim Claydon
At 38 yrs, have followed PW over the years through all his music ventures. He still amazes me through his "Ever changing moods". A fantastic songwriter. Never too Flash, always modest, lets his music do the talking. Have seen PW maney times, One of my most memorable nights was last concert with The Jam at Wembley, my special memory is at Guilfest last time there, home crowd and everyone rocked especially PW and Stevie White. My mate had just come out of hospital after a big op for Cancer and this was his first social outing, he loved it, especially when he is a nutter from The Jam days. "Keep on Keepin on." Paul. So wanted to get a ticket for the 100 club private performance, no chance and have people in the industry. So love that intemate venues. We are "The Mods".
Jonathan W
There's something so British about the music of Paul Weller. You sense there is no place where his music is more at home than in front of this London audience and in this fantastic venue, which was itself so significant during his early years on the late 70's punk scene. Having seen little activity since those days, the resurrection of the Roundhouse is complete with the thumping strains of Weller and his band. The audience of die-hard mods, stocky shave-headed men and curious thirty something couples reflects the diverse appeal of his musical output over the 30 year career . Handing over the mic for his early Jam songs to Carl Barat (Dirty Pretty things) and Richard Archer (Hard-Fi) for "In the City" and "Down in the tube station at midnight" worked well in injecting a youthful sound akin to the young Weller. His other numbers were abundant with energy and solidly delivered, most notably Changing Man, which was a particular highlight for me. With the sweet opening chords of You Do Something To Me we are reminded of the considerable soul influence upon his later work and his rich vocals are at their finest in this number. The One of the best gigs I’ve seen in recent times and a perfect opener to the Electric Proms.
Daz Cooper
Saw Weller about half a dozen times, and each time he blew me away. The man is a legend. As for live performances he is up there with the best.
Chris Waddell
Saw The Jam in late 1982 (age 14) at Wembley during their farewell tour. Saw Paul again with the Style Council and on the Red Wedge tour, and have seen Paul live as a solo artist about 4 or 5 times. The last time was this time last year in Cardiff where just like the old days a fight broke out in the crowd and all Paul did was finish his song and chuck his towel in the crowd for somebody's broken nose! No security, no fuss! A cracking gig nonetheless! I wish I had been at Roundhouse he is still the most credible performer of his generation and truly deserved his Brit award last year. A great choice to open Electric Proms!
Jon Wright
Having seen Paul Weller live over the past 25years from those heady days of The Jam, through the Style Council upto today, I can only say that as a musician he is like a fine wine and gets better and better with age. It is always a special time when he plays some of his old Jam songs, as well as his solo hits. It will be a sad day for British music if he ever decides to call ita day and stop giving joy to his many fans by stopping touring and making records and also by being the influence for many of todays groups and their music.
Mike Smith
I've seen Weller many times throughout his career and was there last night at the Roundhouse (which I have to say has been superbly refurbished although the catering facilities seem ill-conceived - back to the drawing board there guys. One till at each bar??). Weller never fails to give it 100% and last night was no exception; the downside is that he attracts a certain yob element who come rushing en masse from the bar area - carrying pints aloft - when he plays the Jam stuff, arrogantly intent on stampeding - through what I would term his genuine fans - to sway arms aloft and shout an accolade of drunken verses. I'm not the violent type but found it vaguely amusing that I could have been involved in the first Revamp Roundhouse fight. I left early in the knowledge that I have tickets for a gig in December. Incidentally, Carl Barat's attempts at coping with vocals on "Peacock Suit" and "In The City" were quite frankly embarassing.
Kelvin from York
Seen Paul 3 times over the last few years and 3 is not enough! He gives everything on stage and I think he deserves a lot more recognition as one of the great englishmen of our generation who passes on a true passion to anyone who has caught the slightest glimpse of any song of his in the last 30 years. A man with true passion and conviction. From one of your fans I speak for many...Thank you Paul.
Pete White
Paul Weller is the ultimate performer. Last nights concert demonstrated the pure brilliance of a true legend. In The City sung live for the first time in years was incredible. To top it all, after 25 years as a true Weller fan, I was lucky enough to have the privilage of shaking my hero's hand by the side of the stage during the Magic Numbers set. A totally awesome and fantastic night. Paul Weller thankyou for everything!!
Lee Gravestock
What a show, thanks to the BBC for arranging this. Worth the license fee on its own! The best I have ever seen, and I have seen PW many many many times including The Jam. Amy Winehouse was ace,what a voice (love your hair!). "In the City" still sounds up to date from when I first heard it and sung by Carl like an anthem. As for "Thats Entertainment", well done Richard (now you know whats it like to sing a legend of a song to a passionate crowd, must have put the hairs up on the back of your neck) Thanks PW for a wonderful fantastic performance at a superb venue. See you again in December!
Liz
I saw Paul in concert last year - WOW! Best concert of my life! He was on stage for 2 hours - 2 hours of pure energy,excitement and fantastic music. He is such an accomplished musician in every sense of the word. Here's to the next 30 years Paul.
Boothy
What a fantatstic show! The Roundhouse is a brilliant venue and it was great to be so close to the stage, you could see the whites of their eyes! To be treated to such a set that had so many Jam hits was a dream come true. The man is a National Treasure! Top performance as expected, Weller never lets you down! Electric Proms is a great idea, more of the same please!
Chad
It was truly a fantastic gig and for old jam fans, the most significant moment was when Richard Archer thanked Paul for allowing him to sing "Tube Station" and the crowd duly went mental at the familiar intro. I still remember vividly seeing the Jam as a fifteen year old on "The Gift" tour in 1982 at Queens Hall in Leeds when cries for "Tube Station" were met with the riposte "This is 1982 ...not 1979!" So well done Richard for provide a new magic memory.
Loz Wilson
I've seen Paul 42 times and about to make it 43 when I see him next month in Sheffield. I listen to people talking about their obsessions and think have they got nothing better to do? But, as soon as someone asks me about Weller I find myself boring the arse off them and have to be reminded by my wife that not everyone wants to know the details of his every move. I can't unserstand why, but not everyone has had Weller lighting up the road ahead. I remember reading as a young Jam fan Weller saying he couldn't see himself playing past thirty, I'm just gald he is able to retract some of his earlier comments in life. Loz wilson
Millhouse
this maybe a bit rambling as i havent slept much....the best gigs are always the ones where you are still so buzzing @ 2am that you end up watching a whole series of Porridge to try and calm down. Put simply, this was the best Paul Weller gig I have ever seen (and i have seen a fair few). The Modfather simply blew the place away with blasted out versions of Sunflower, ChangingMan, From the Floorboards Up. Then Amy Winehouse came out and she was a revelation to me, her voice was amazing, proper jawdropping stuff and together they did the cover version i didnt expect - Heard It Through The Grapevine and it was stunning. Even Richard Archer from Hard-Fi sounded good when he came out and fulfilled a boyhood dream by singing with Weller. The Jam songs flowed thick and fast in the second half of the set....Malice, Tubestation and a stirring version of In The City. It was a real privilege to be @ the Camden Roundhouse for its opening night after a huge re-fit. This really is a stunning venue that could rival Brixton Academy for best venue in London. Due to its shape, you really can stand anywhere and have a great view of the stage. The sound is crystal clear and the roof is made of glass, onto which lights are shone during the show. My advice is go to a gig there ASAP, before no doubt the toilets get messed up and the place starts to look like an indie venue.
Martin
I’ve been lucky to see Weller many times, beginning in 1977 at the Camden Music Machine but the one gig that stands above the rest was in early 1980, 'Going Underground' had just gone to number 1 and The Jam played a 'secret' gig at London’s Marquee club in Wardour Street, adopting the name 'Johns Boys'. A small, sweaty venue, filled to I’d guess twice its capacity. The gig was a thank you to their fans for giving them a number one hit and they thanked us with, in my opinion, quite simply the best live set of their career. A wonderful memory of an awesome band and of one, if not the greatest, songwriter / musician’s of his generation.
Katie Smith
Am still buzzing from the gig last night! Was fantastic!!! My mate and I have never seen Weller live before - We knew he'd be good, but he blew our expectations away! All of the collaborations were fantastic, with my favourite being 'That's Entertainment' with Richard Archer. All in all a top night! The Roundhouse, is now up there as one of my favourite venues too. Roll on Sunday when we're back watching The Who and The Fratellis! I hope the Electric Proms become an annual event!!! Well done to all involved!!!
Apathy
Stonking last night bar Carl Barat not knowing the words to Peacock Suit. Place went mental when he played Tubestation as well