Heart of a Punk Soul of a Rasta

17th March 2009
Paul Weller/The Ladders Civic Hall Wolverhampton

Most of the 3,000 folk attending were there; downstairs anyway, well as far as I could see, from the front looking back. Actually I couldn't see much, so really all I can say is when The Ladders took to the stage "probably" 80% of the Weller crowd were in attendance.

The swollen anticipant throng did not faze or dull the swagger of Danny Connors lead rung of The Ladders. After a brief introduction he and they launched full force into song number one. There is no doubt that Danny Connors means it! The other rungs are tight and together but there is no doubt also that the boy Danny is the focus. So what has he got for us? Well, a Mayfield/Gaye/Who/Small Faces inspired English soul band, grappling to revise, refresh and reinvent, in the same way that Mr Weller has been grappling to revise, refresh and reinvent for the last thirty years. With only the briefest of moments to show what they have the two tracks that stuck to me were: The Ladders own "We Can Have it" and a supercharged version of the Small Faces "Don't Burst My Bubble". What can I say other than they will be back in Wolves on the 23rd April at the Little Civic.

http://www.myspace.com/dannyconnorsmusic

Past a customised "Paul Weller Scooter" parked up on the pavement beside the main entrance doors, "no pass outs tonight". Peacock Suit grey barnet fair, black four buttoned T shirt. Out of the Sinking nearly 30 years ago, November '79, I stood on this very spot the same sprung wooden floor beneath my feet. Porcelain Gods Craddock's monitor goes down Weller keeps on keeping on. The Changingman once Weller stood stage right amid a pool of anger and a maelstrom of feedback. From the Floorboards Up now Weller stands centre stage, clarity amid a wall of sound. Sea Spray Craddock in a double breasted camel coloured suit with only a mandolin for company is not a good look. 22 Dreams 44 films, "Quadrophenia" maybe, "Absolute Beginners" please no. A New Track a light brown Fender precision donned "shaking the state" "shaking the mountain" Lewis's fingers slide high on the bass. Eton Rifles no beer thrown, no fags smoked, but still Weller's right hand does a figure of eight above his head, a plectrum held tight between his finger tips. Shout to the Top no Weller for me between Bingley Hall '82 and Birmingham Institute '91. One Bright Star "a psychedelic tango" tiny streams of light dancing over the heads of the assembled. Magic Bus the mod boy three huddled together on their respective stools. All on a Misty Morning blurred photos on mobile phones. Butterfly Collector communal singing, hands clasped around shoulders. Have you made up your mind a six foot numpty comes and stands right in front of me, if I was totally blind I'd still be here tonight. Invisible a picture of a closed poppy on the Weller's upright piano reminds me of the poppy petals that used to shower down from the Civic ceiling on Remembrance day. Wild Blue Yonder the top buttons of the T shirt are finally undone. Push it Along The Jam, The Style Council, The Paul Weller Movement, let the soul fly, let the soul glide. You do something to me means more to the couple by my side than to me, so it seems. Another New Track "About England, Football, The Royal Family, well everything really". Echoes Round the Sun you are here. All I Wanna Do (is be with you) that couple are at it again. Wildwood Weller without a guitar is like Lou Grade without a cigar, simply wrong. Come on Lets Go like Steven Berkoff's actor Weller is in perpetual motion, perhaps not running anymore but gliding, definitely gliding. Broken Stones almost time to find our way back home. Whirlpools' End blood red lights on the back drop. 2 hrs distilled into a fleeting moment, past the customised "Paul Weller Scooter" parked up on the pavement beside the main entrance doors.