Weller and his Royal friend

Paul Weller

Eden Sessions

Lee Trewhela

WHAT would the idealistic young Weller of 1977 or even the angry Red Wedge politico of the mid-80s have made of having Prince Charles as his support act?

He probably would have thrown a well-aimed Italian loafer at you for even suggesting it, but this unlikely of pairings happened when the Duke of Cornwall appeared on screen at the Eden Centre, as he put it, to promote his rainforest charity at this special Green Britain Day gig, sponsored by EDF Energy.

Very odd, but some ecological sloganeering from Chas Windsor, Eden founder Tim Smit and a guest from “paradise in trouble” the Maldives is what sets Eden apart as a music venue.

Whether the largely middle aged, slightly intoxicated and very wet mods in the audience were listening is hard to tell, but they definitely bent an ear to the real support act Florence and the Machine.

With her flowing white dress (and lack of underwear apparently – thanks, pervert photographer), mane of wild red hair and flailing arm movements, one couldn’t help but hark back to the strange, beguiling days of Kate Bush.

Florence Welch shares a similar strange mix of ickle fairy tales and more emotionally-charged lyrical fare, and songs like Cosmic Love, Dog Days Are Over and Rabbit Hearted Girl were hypnotic.

The powerful voice can grate but alongside the hippy whimsy is an ability to turn domestic abuse into a rocker to match the White Stripes (Kiss From A Fist). Definitely one of the better Eden Sessions support acts and a treat to see the band of the moment in Cornwall.

After Prince Charles and his frog – you may have seen the advert – Weller took to the stage and powered into Peacock Suit looking unfairly lithe for a man past 50, even getting away with his silver Ziggy Stardust haircut.

With long-time Weller cohort and Ocean Colour Scene guitarist Steve Cradock and the rest of the band excelling, the set was a mix of old and new, taking in everything from rock and jazz to psychedelia and soul, proving that the Modfather is indeed the Changing Man.

Picture by Geoff Hichens

He was in great form – deft guitarist, strutting tambourine player and accomplished pianist and that voice… his vocals sound like they’ve been aged in a Burberry-lined oak cask.

The new songs from last year’s lush 22 Dreams stood up against classics like Wild Wood and a sensual You Do Something To Me – the driving garage R&B of Push It Along to the Curtis Mayfield-from-Woking soul of Have You Made Up Your Mind stand up against the old stuff.

And, let’s face it, unless you’re a hardcore Weller fan it’s the old stuff you want. There were moments that bordered on boring – a meandering psyche-jazz jam would have been sneered at by the Weller of All Mod Cons, so when Shout To The Top segued into Eton Rifles, it was truly joyous. And with a raw, stomp-along through That’s Entertainment – prompting an uplifting chorus response from the crowd – he really was spoiling us.

The second encore of Town Called Malice was as perfect as it gets with the post-gig laser show bringing the best Eden Session of 2009 (so far) to a memorable end (without a flying pint of wee-wee to be seen – take note, Kasabian fans).

Click here to see the slideshow.