PAUL WELLER
Motorpoint Arena Cardiff
Wed 21 Feb
The Modfather returns to Cardiff this month as part of his A Kind Revolution tour. Paul Weller has made the capital a regular stop on his huge international tours for decades and over that time his shows have always struck a good balance between his treasured oldies and new material. Luckily for fans, the new material is great, and has been for some time.
Weller seemed to hit a purple patch around a decade ago, and five albums later is still producing memorable songs of beauty and interest. A Kind Revolution is Weller’s call to arms – well, a call to open your arms might be more apt. Songs about emblems of change and progress (The Cranes are Back) share space with meditations on social issues such as Satellite Kid, about the plight of young immigrants in the UK. Happily, Weller feels there is as much power in an old-fashioned rock stomp as in an incisive lyric, and album opener Woo Sé Mama is becoming a big live favourite.
Not only has his songwriting stayed strong, but Weller’s voice and playing is as good as ever. If anything, age seems to have given his guttural bellow a warmer tone and his keys work is now as good as his guitar playing. A great time to catch a musician with a message worth hearing and the chops to back it up.
Tickets: £42.50, Info: 029 2022 4488 (JPD)