Paul Weller + support / Converse Represent, 100 Club

Like it or not, events with big sponsors is something that just happens now, get over it. To be fair, with the Represent shows, Converse have done more than just buy some ad space. They bought the 100 Club to save it from demolition, and that's what you call putting your money where your mouth is.

Just to get the geeky bit out the way, the impressive technology of being able to scan your wristband onto a poster and then return home of find out you've told everyone of Facebook you were just watching Paul Weller is pretty impressive stuff.

And it wasn't like the team had used up all their budget on the branding, because bagging Paul Weller and Spiritualized on the same line up for a tiny venue like the 100 Club shows quite a bit of dedication to trumping competition.

Towns kicked things off in a very loud way. Their late 80s noise inspired Britpop is blessed with the spark of their youth. Flailing limbs and falling equipment climaxed a rocket speed set which ensured no one in the room couldn't help but hum at least one thing they'd just heard. This is a band who looked like they were sweating for your attention, which is very different to what followed, 2:54.



Having just been announced as the main support for The XX's upcoming tour, 2:54 will no doubt be considered the coolest thing around, if only for all of ten minutes. Their songs follow the XX styled format of not changing tempo, not changing textures, not having a chorus you can remember. It's kind of nice on record as background noise, but live it's just a bit dull.

Japandroids came on and kicked off with a really cool, heavy instrumental intro. The all American vocals don't rub me up the right way though, it's all a bit more frat party than punk party from my perspective.



Not being a natural Spiritualized fan, I feel like I've missed out on something here. It was all big, gospel choir backed, hallelujah, drug induced indie. And by the response of the crowd, I'm guessing that's exactly what they came for. Now time for me to play catch up...



Coming on to the sound of "Weller! Weller! Weller!", the ex-Jam man strutted on to the stage with the cocksure attitude you'd expect, kicking off with 'From The Floorboards Up' and sticking to his solo work pretty heavily. The oncoming sound of the riff to 'In The City' sparked the first massive cheer of the night, and reinstated just how good some of the Jam's tracks were. Finishing off with THE biggest cheer of the night as he encored with 'Changing Man', the Mods all went home happy, sweaty and knowing they'd just been a few feet from their idol.