"My apologies," smiles a modest Weller to an ecstatic sold-out crowd. "I can't believe I've never been to Watford before!"
The combination of surprise and sheer glee on the unexpected Watford crowd at having an icon of this stature on their stage makes for a feeling of such celebration, that while this may be Weller's first visit, he's received like a hometown hero.
The bigger tour of the standard mega-halls and enornodomes in the usual metropolises comes later in the year, but for now The Jam and Style Council icon is tending to his duty as the everyman champion by playing a string of dates in lesser-visited towns. But don't be mistaken, this is no gimmick - just evidence of his ability to reach absolutely everyone with a calibre of songcraft like no other.
He may be well into his 'elder statesman' standing in the rock game, but The Modfather still performs with fresh eyes. From the rollicking opener of 'Uh Huh Oh Yeh' rolling into the space-funk jam on the outro to 'Into Tomorrow', Weller wears his music like so many of his finely-tailored suits - he stands tall, resplendent and pristine.
This is made dazzlingly obvious by the outing of new material from upcoming LP, Saturn's Pattern. 'I'm Where I Should Be' is a slow and simmering number with a flowery Smiths- esque guitar line, where a locomotive chug-along verse builds into a chorus of such sweet, sweet release. The now familiar 'White Sky' is a searing dose of scorched-Earth blues, before he takes to the keys for the Beatles-esque Abbey Road jaunt of the title track.
While we may throw comparisons about in looking ahead to the release, the truth is that the energy, sheer class and opulence of the songwriting could only ever be Weller. Airing last year's Record Store Day release 'Brand New Toy' only acts as a further kick in the face.
Sealed with the kiss of 'A Town Called Malice', and every small town in the UK should be demanding Weller pay them a visit. Usually one senses you only play the Watford Colosseum twice in your career: once on the way up, and once on the way down. Weller is the exception - he still stylishly sits at the peak of his powers.
See below for his remaining UK tour dates and ticket details.
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