There’s plenty to shout about in the new UNCUT, which goes on sale this Friday, May 23. First of all, we have an exclusive new interview with PAUL WELLER, as he prepares for the release of MORE MODERN CLASSICS, a compilation drawing on tracks from the last 15 years of his illustrious career, a period during which his music has become increasingly more adventurous and unpredictable.
This sounds familiar. It’s a blast of Aaron Copeland’s “Hoedown”, a loud orchestral stirring the faithful many here tonight recognise immediately as the taped introduction to his shows he’s been using now for at least the last 10 years that still never fails to thrill and make you also laugh out loud. The voice of his long-time tour manager, Al Santos, follows, mock-serious.
It’s Sunday, and I’m at Wembley Arena to see Bob Dylan. Outside, the sun’s just starting to set on what without exaggeration you could call a glorious day. Inside, a packed an excited Arena, meanwhile, in stark and tumultuous contrast to the evening’s warm decline, storm clouds are gathering as Bob Dylan and his band roar towards the climax of tonight’s opening number, “Cat’s In The Well”, a turbulent gem from the much-derided Under The Red Sky.