LEGEND is a term banded around with gay abandon these days. But in recent weeks we've been treated to al fresco Rolling Stones at the Glastonbury Festival and now another musical god steps into the open air of the wild wild woods of Westonbirt Arboretum as part of their Tree Fest.
With the setting sun and the sea of picnic rugs populated by the tennis set and card carrying National Trust members it seams incongruous that anything close to musical perfection could be taking place. However as the Modfather takes to the stage, to a man the crowd are drawn forward and by Sea Spray has focused in to all but blinker out the rare trees that now form just a silhouetted backdrop.
Weller's critically acclaimed solo career is well represented with hits from the his most recent albums including That Dangerous Age from last years Sonik Kicks album and 7 &3 Is The Strikers Name from Wake up the Nation (2010). But with Peacock Suit there is a noticeable change in the heaving throng as arms begin to raise above heads with little care for any vestige of mod cool. 'If you liked that, here's an even older one', Weller cranks up the semi acoustic and goes straight into the unmistakable chords of That's Entertainment, A summer anthem fitting for a warm evening that allows the rare treat of comfortably wearing short sleeve after dark.
Were into classic territory now, The Jam. We don't get a chance to recover as images of feeding ducks in the park and wishing you were far away leaps straight into Start! with its crashing guitar rifts which sound as punchy now as they did in 1980.
Changing Man rounds off the main set and as the stage empties 'Weller, Weller, Weller' rings out. After a long four minutes Weller emerges tapping his chest and thanks the crowd. From the solo era Wishing On A Star, the appropriate Wild Wild Wood and Be Happy Children are mere hors d'oeuvres to The Jam period's A Town Called Malice, the last song of the night, but what a song. A song to endorse, if it were needed, legend status upon Paul Weller and a legendary gig under the night sky at Westonbirt.
