Its Christmas Day 2024 and a special day but for one time only I sit here writing a review of a man’s music who’s been with me since the days of The Wildhearts. This album is the best thing to come out of the UK this year and these past couple of weeks has got me through some dark times.
Slots is a brilliant album from start to finish and I haven’t stopped playing it since CJ sent it through for review. The man is a rock n roll genius for sure!
This starts with the high tempo Another Big Mistake and then the high octane Punk n Roll continues with songs like the superb The Baddest Girl In The World which I think is the best track on the album! If that isn’t enough then you’ve got The Kids and the superb cover of The Jam’s In The City. And the tunes continue with You’ve Got The Best Part Of Me and closing this album is I Don’t Know What It Is!
CJ’s such a lovely humble guy and he lets the music do the talking! This is now out for general release and not only the best UK album of 2024 but the production and passion of this album is beyond words!
Buy It – Enjoy It!
The Gallagher brothers who I love say Oasis are the last Rock n Roll band but they obviously haven’t heard of CJ Wildheart! 10/10
A few days after having a heart attack and a minor operation I must have been off my head to even attempt photographing a show let alone a huge one! However this was photographing Paul Weller and nothing was going to stop me!
On arrival at the venue I set up the camera and it was time to capture the supporting act Liam Bailey who quickly won me over with his cool sound which infuses reggae, blues, rock and soul. For thirty minutes this guy won over the majority of the audience with his personality and wicked band! One artist to look out for!
After queuing for almost twenty minutes I gave up and headed back to the photo pit to see the Modfather Paul Weller!
From the moment Paul Weller and his band hit the stage I and everyone else knew this was going to be a great show and they didn’t disappoint!
Paul Weller not only looked the part he also delivered his songs in style and from the opening number Paul had most of the audience like putty in his hands!
The last time I saw Mr Weller play was in the noughties but like a fine wine he had just gotten better with age!
Despite my chest playing up a tad I didn’t want to leave. One audience member thought I was joking when I said to him I had a heart attack four days earlier!
Song after song being delivered by Paul Weller left me feeling a tad emotional as I just wanted to sing my head off and dance my ass off but I knew for health reasons I couldn’t!
Paul Weller maybe sixty six years of age but there was no stopping this man from delivering one of the best live sets I’ve seen this year!
Lets not forget Paul’s backing band who were sheer brilliant and complimented Mr Weller. Two drum kits of stage too!
Soon it was time to leave and what I experienced live on the night was a brilliant artist still at the top of his game!
Paul Weller is currently on a UK tour. Check various sites dates as this is one show you don’t want to miss!
Thank you to Warren Higgins at Chuff Media for arranging Tuesday night.
Arriving at the venue I set up my camera and watched as the audience grew larger by the minute. Opening up the night was Ted Chippington who did his stuff! I hadn’t seen him in action for 40 years and didn’t know what to expect! His material went down well with many and lost on others. For 30 minutes Ted Chippington gave a good show and I’ll make sure I get to see him again!
Come 9.30pm the firefly was packed and beers were flowing. The bar staff did well to keep up as a few in the audience were happy they didn’t have that long to wait for drinks. The anticipation was building and like me many of the audience hadn’t seen the iconic The Nightingales in action for years!
When the Nightingales hit the stage the audience were captivated and while the band warmed up waiting for a member it wasn’t too long before they kicked off the proceedings with Something Nice. Everyone was in awe in the band they hadn’t seen in years.
Number by number the band delivered with songs like CCTV, Seconds, Fire And Brimstone, Lambs, British Luck and Top Shelf! The audience were loving what they heard and many were singing along!
For a hour this post-punk/alternative rock act were adored by everyone in the crowd. Sadly the show had to end but the smiles on people’s faces as they left the venue said it all for me!
A top night for Telford as we tend not get these cult bands to our town and anyone who’s seeing them on this tour will have a blast!
As well as a great gig it was awesome to see many old faces in the audience – Some I hadn’t seen since the late 80’s.
Opening up for CJ Wildheart was a localish band The Scumbags. On first impressions they looked like a metal outfit so wasn’t sure about watching them or stand in the lengthy queue for a drink! I’m glad I watched them as they played some pretty catchy punk rock.
From the moment they hit the stage they were on fire and a great opening act for sure. The guitarist and vocalist really moved about without compromising anything. The drummer bashed his kit like it was his worst enemy and kept everything in time. The bassist impressed me with his bass lines and being fierce with his instrument.
A band I certainly want to see again!
Next up were Face Up a band that has completely missed my radar and I’m gutted I’ve never seen them before! I need to catch up on missing time as I was left stunned with their intensity. Fast and hard driven punk rock with a HC edge is best to describe Face Up! And there was me thinking these were going to be a Ska-Core band going on the Operation Ivy t-shirt!
These guys are on a totally different level and at times I was thinking how is CJ Wildheart going to follow this band! Face Up are one of the best bands I’ve seen this century and I don’t say that lightly!
The vocalist was like a demon possessed – She was all over the stage and owning it! I felt tired watching her, haha! Seriously this woman is the business and her vocal range incredible.
The band are top notch musicians who really deliver the goods. Their drummer is one fit dude to hit those skins like he did! I’d have been having a heart attack for sure!
If you’ve not heard of Face Up you need to rectify that.
Top Band!
Having met CJ earlier for an interview I eagerly awaited his solo band as this was the first time I had seen them despite seeing CJ’s past bands a few times over the years.
Come 9.15pm and it was time for CJ Wildheart to hit the stage and they certainly hit it in style. Imagine a harder edged Ramones with a bit of rock thrown in the mix is the best way to describe CJ and his band!
For a hour they took no prisoners and the audience were lapping it up!
There’s plenty of communication with the audience with CJ telling us a funny story to why Honeycrack will never reform and his first experience of eating fish and chips!
It was great to see CJ play a couple of numbers back from his days in Honeycrack as well as songs CJ had written from his Wildhearts days.
I loved CJ’s dig at the likes of Andrew Tate and other angry men on X that used to be known as Twitter. S.D.E. from the Split album was based on Greta Thunberg’s response to Andrew Tate who insulted her. It was awesome to see CJ take a stand against toxic masculinity.
For a hour it was like being in a special place where nothing can harm you!
CJ’s band are so in tune with his you’d have thought they had been playing together for years. They were bang on with their performances.
Tune after tune was delivered in style and I like the rest of the audience didn’t want this show to end! However it had to and CJ and his band ended it in style!
If you get a chance to see CJ Wildheart you really do need to go as not only is he a great musician but a wonderful human being too!
Thank to CJ Wildheart for arranging everything for me on the night
Street Voice UK 