Search - Paul Weller - Two Classic Performances on DVD

Two CLASSIC Performances Indeed!!!

David Beasley | Richmond, Virginia, USA | 03/31/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Paul Weller has been saying recently that what matters most as he looks back on his career has been just being able to play in front of an enthusiastic crowd with a "happening" vibe. Well, as seen here on his first ever live DVD release in America, the crowd and The Paul Weller Band are quite "happening." The disc contains, not one fantastic full band concert recorded in front of the "London Massive" just prior to the release of Weller's number one in the UK album Illumination, but also a wonderfully intimate acoustic solo session from the "Days Of Speed" tour a year earlier. With the full band, Weller, along with longtime drummer Steve White and half of the UK band Ocean Colour Scene, Steve Cradock and Damon Minchella, wow a crowd of about 25,000 last summer in London. The crowd are up for it and so is Weller as he treats them to 25 tunes with special guests, Carleen Anderson, Jocelyn Brown, and a duet with Kenny Jones of the Sterophonics. Heavy Soul, man!!!In the second performance, recorded as part of the popular BBC television series "Later with Jools Holland", Weller brings just as much soulful power, stripped down to a guitar, his distinctive voice, and the classic songs from his 25 year catalog. Joined by another group of special guests including Steve White, Jools Holland, and Noel Gallagher from OASIS.And, if just to top off one of the best DVD's to be released this year, there is an exclusive interview containing behind the scenes footage from Hyde Park and the making of the video for "It's Written In The Stars" as Weller discusses the making of probably one of the best albums of his career, "Illumination."If you know about Paul Weller, or if you have never heard of him, be sure and check out one of the best DVD's from one of the finest and most SOULFUL artists ever to come out of Britain. Peace and SOUL!!!"

Great songs, audio & video quality great, but...

Sun Warrior | CA, USA | 09/08/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Ok, what you get is, 2 seperate, great performances: 1 with band, 1 with Weller on acoustic quitar. Great songs, great audio & video quality, but...the first performance with the band has sooooo many quick video editing cuts that you end up just getting pissed off that you can't focus on ANYTHING... The guy who edited this great performance should be taken to the desert and shot in the head, or at least never get another gig again. It's like an eight year-old got behind the editing machine and just cut-cut-cut-cut-cut.... what an idiot! It's virtually un-watchable to me becuase I get so pissed off at the relentless quick-edits between close-ups of performers and shots of the audience... A complete waste...

The second performance is MUCH better from that standpoint. The first guy could learn alot from whom-ever edited this great performance. You actually get to focus on the performer- incredible - who would-of thought that that's what we're paying for...

If you can tolerate never focusing on anything in the first performance, get it... Like I say, great performances, great audio & video "quality"..."

The greatest singer/songwriter of all time

Ron hebert | Windsor, Ontario, Canada | 04/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The long awaited North American release of last summer's concert in Hyde Park, London. After watching this amazing performance by this Britsh Rock legend it is still difficult to understand why he is not widely popular in the U.S. This 2 concert DVD will probably appeal most to Weller's fans who have enjoyed his music for over 25 years."

Sorry I missed him when he came to the US

D. Land | 04/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm new fan to Paul's music and to finally watch him play live was just incredible. The amount of songs on this DVD is great as well as the two different settings. I grabed one of his CD's at the library one day and found one of the most soulful and astonishing song writers that exist today. Missed him in the US and might just have to plan a European vacation soon."