I want to state for the record that scody and I once attended the same Paul Weller concert at the House of Blues but we didn't know each other yet.

(so I can actually brag: "You know, scody and I went to this Paul Weller concert once...")

eat your hearts out everybody

Oh, that's right! I think that was the show (there have been so many) where I was down front; I (ridiculously) had worn a sweater that night and almost passed out from the heat... but rather than pass out or lose my place 5 feet from The Man, I took my sweater off (quick-quick, like a bunny!) and my friend gave me the t-shirt he had bought earlier in the evening.

So yes, this means that Paul Weller has actually seen me (briefly) in my bra. And Matteo was there! Dirty!

kinktastic

I (heart) Paul.

Ooh, Kate Silverton - she's always a good start to the morning on BBC Breakfast.

/minor derail: I've got All Mod Cons and have just ordered Setting Sons. What should be my next Jam album?

What should be my next Jam album?

I'd say either Sound Affects (it's tied with All Mod Cons as my favorite) or The Gift. The first two (In the City and The Modern World) are fun, but not chock-full of essential tunes the way the subsequent studio albums were.

However, many of the Jam's greatest songs ("When You're Young," "Strange Town," "Going Underground," "Absolute Beginners," "The Bitterest Pill," "Beat Surrender" etc.) were released only as singles, so if you really like them, I'd suggest picking up one of the Best Of collections as well -- this is probably the best one in terms including most of the non-album singles on one disc.

Cool, cheers scody. I remember hearing some killer Jam tracks a year or so ago that referenced the state of the UK at the time, but I really can't remember what they were. The lyrics really painted a picture of the desolation of what I imagine inner-city life was like here at the time, and I really regret not finding out that track details. I also didn't realise that they had a load of non-album singles out, so that's probably going to be my next port of call.

You probably know this, but there was a re-issued 2cd version of Snap that came out last year.

You know, if I were Paul Weller, I'd want you to wear a sweater like you did the last time.

"I'd like to dedicate this song to the redhead in the front row . . . "

The lyrics really painted a picture of the desolation of what I imagine inner-city life was like here at the time,

Hmm, since you already have All Mod Cons, it can't be "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight." It sounds like you may have heard "That's Entertainment" or "Town Called Malice." (I'm having trouble with yousendit right now, otherwise I'd just upload both songs for you!) "That's Entertainment" is a strummy sing-along type song with very descriptive lyrics and a catchy/breezy "sha la la" chorus (sample lyrics: "A police car and a screaming siren / A pnuematic drill and ripped up concrete / A baby wailing and stray dog howling / The screech of brakes and lamplights blinking - That's entertainment, that's entertainment...").

"Town Called Malice" has dancey/upbeat feel to it (the bassline/keyboard opening is pure Motown), but also with dark lyrics ("Rows and rows of disused milk floats stand dying in dairy yard / And a hundred lonely housewives clutch empty milk bottles to their hearts / Hanging out their old love letters on the line to dry / It's enough to make you stop believing when the tears come fast and furious / In a Town Called Malice"). Do either of those ring a bell? I'm really curious to find out what it was!

Speaking of "That's Entertainment"'s lyics, Weller actually WINKED AT ME during that exact song last night -- he mixed up the order of the verses at one point, and I sung out the correct next line to him (yes, I was once again front and center - and no, I'm not obsessed, just loyal, thank you) and he looked straight at me, grinned, and winked. And I didn't even taken my shirt off! (But tonight... well, who can say?)

Great show last night, in fact -- one of the best performances I've seen of his. Very fiery and assured, but also loose and happy: lots of smiling and dancing (dancing!) while he played, and plenty of chatting and joking between songs -- which, as those of you who know Weller can attest, is almost completely out of character for him.

You probably know this, but there was a re-issued 2cd version of Snap that came out last year.

Heh. Here's how much of a Weller geek I am: an old college buddy of mine (also a longtime Weller fan) is a record producer here in L.A., and he was supervising the reissue of Snap... and so he invited me into the studio for a day so that I could hear the master tapes and watch them remaster a couple of songs. Needless to say, I was in heaven. (This is the same friend who got me the gig writing the liner notes for this Jam collection -- it doesn't have as many of the singles on it as the other collection, though, so the "Greatest Hits" disc is still the one for you to get!)

Okay, enough rambling/geeking out. (For now.)