Spiritualized & Paul Weller

Spiritualized @Hackney Empire

It’s been a good week for fans of the experienced pro’s of the rock world this week, as Monday night saw the kings of brooding rock ‘n’ roll and gospel-inspired tunes, Spiritualized, play the Hackney Empire, only to be followed by the Modfather, Weller, playing the Roundhouse on Wednesday.

The Hackney Empire is a glorious old music hall decked out in effulgent red and gold which dates back to 1901. It is the perfect setting for Spiritualized whose psychedelic guitar parts are spellbinding from the word “go”. Accompanying many of the tunes tonight is one hell of a VT which has imagery so potent and fast, you would be forgiven for shaking your head like wet dog in order to readjust your focus.

Jason Pierce is one of those rare enigmas; when he is on stage everything is drawn towards him, despite the fact he is accompanied by some of the finest guitar playing and amazing gospel backing vocals. He is much like a great centre forward: the other 10players can be brilliant, but without the natural born finisher-up, top success will never come. The effortless manner Pierce projects, gives him an auteur feel on stage, which considering some songs are 12mins long is a testament to the mankind’s journey for perfection.

After a few performances of intense yet melodic swirling guitars, particularly on “In fact Ladies and Gentleman” and “Electricity”, you can’t help but feel McCabe and Ashcroft (Verve) were always searching for this sound but never quite got it apart from Urban Hymns’ ‘Come On’. However, it is Spiritualized’s slower gospel-based songs which have always struck real chord with Travellers Tunes. On record and especially when played live, they display the fragile and destructive characteristics in the band’s leader. Yet Pierce’s ambitious nature always outshines his flaws, driving these hymn-like songs into a state of euphoria.

Paul Weller @The Roundhouse

There is not a great deal to say about Paul Weller that hasn’t been said. He is the Ryan Giggs of the music world. He continually proves himself to be brilliant, year in, year out. He has also come across the skill of being able to turn people onto his new releases, something which has proved difficult for other former youth culture icons. He played “Sonik Kicks” in full for the first half of the gig, which as a concept captivated the audience rather well, we must say. The mods here are left to pick out the soul and dub elements of the new album (“Study In Blue”) whilst the more open minded fans marvel at the bubble-gum pop of “The Attic”.

Weller described “Sonik Kicks” as a modern take on psychedelic music and this definitely rings true at the Roundhouse. He is in a fantastic songwriting period of late which has converted into a supreme confidence on stage. Weller has never lacked self-belief but the conviction to have the string section on stage and to get all the synths and overdubs firing as they are on LP is a marvel to behold on stage. Only “Tame Impala” spring to mind of those who do this any better which, their being one of his favourite bands at the moment, should sit well with the old mongrel.

The second half of the gig begins with an acoustic section of old favourites such as “English Rose”, “Out Of The Sinking” and some gems from “22 Dreams”. It seems redundant to comment on his vocals but even more ridiculous not to consider how astonishing they are. On “English Rose” the crowd stop singing in full voice half way through and instead, opted to simply gaze on in awe. As an 18-year old releasing “All Mod Cons”, he was a soul enthusiast but singing “English Rose” tonight at 53 years of age, he is a soul powerhouse. His up-tempo songs are great and whilst it is always a joy to watch him get into that space, it is when he slows things down tonight that is the thing of real beauty that few can match.

Weller picks up the pace for the final 7 or 8 songs and hammers out “Fast/Car Slow Traffic”, “Moonshine” and “Wake Up The Nation” to rapturous applause. At his age, Weller could be forgiven for playing his new stuff and then his biggest hits. Not a bit of it!!!! It feels like a gentle reminder that ‘Wake UpThe Nation’ was a top album and not enough people bought it.

He dedicates “Stanley Road” to his old mucker, Noel Gallagher, who is in the crowd tonight and then follows this with “Echoes Round The Sun”, the track Noel penned for him on ‘22 Dreams’. Now, we are just saying, but Noel did say recently he can see himself ending up playing guitar in a band for someone. Steve Craddock on lead; Noel on rhythm, anyone???? Just saying.