Paul Weller - Exeter University Great Hall, 11/11/2002
by Benjamin Howarth
published: 20 / 11 / 2002

intro
In Exeter, nu-metallers Hundred Reasons provide a good rather than a brilliant performance on their latest tour , but it is support band, Sparta, who steal the show in Ben Howarth's eyes
Two years ago, I first saw Hundred Reasons at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire, supporting Idlewild. Though they only had one single out at the time, their ability was clear. Sadly, poor sound slightly reduced the impact of the first half of their set, so I was looking forward tonight to seeing the complete Hundred Reasons experience, and to see how far they have come as a band. The Great Hall is a large venue. Apart from the Plymouth Pavilions – which will soon be playing host to the Manics and Oasis – it is the largest in the South West of England. And Hundred Reasons practically filled it entirely with teenage skate punks. For the first time ever at a gig, I was one of the tallest people there! People over 20 were at a distinct minimum. Kinesis are in the position Hundred Reasons were two years ago. Now that they have released a few singles , many have tipped them for the top. Walking on stage, they did look incredibly natural, and there is a ton of promise in their angular indie rock. As yet they don’t have the songs to make me want to buy their records, but I’d go and see them again. Having been adopted by Kerrang! magazine and labelled “the best young band in Britain”, and also “the best live band in Britain”, Hundred Reasons are now incredibly popular. The young crowd’s reaction to the performance was basically mental, and the laid back security team made up almost completely of students, was more than happy to let them kick off. A constant stream of crowd surfers duly streamed towards the stage. When Hundred Reasons played their best songs, like 'Falter', 'Silver', 'Remmus' and' If I Could', it was really easy to see why people love them so much. They also played a couple of new songs, which were both awesome. But some of their set was a bit samey, and I felt that they lacked a little charisma, though singer Colin is really energetic. After another album the fillers will disappear from their set, but at the moment their live show is good rather than brilliant. Main support, Sparta, stole the show in my eyes. Lets face it, when a band features three of the former members of At The Drive-In, how could they possibly not rule? I saw them at the Reading Festival and was deeply impressed, but inside a proper venue in Exeter, they blew me away. Their set is simply packed with the very best in emo-rock, and was pure gold from start to finish. It was a more rocked up set then their mellow Reading performance, but the anthemic qualities of songs like 'Cut Your Ribbon' shone through again. In singer Jim Ward, Sparta has the charisma that Hundred Reasons slightly lacked. He is also a gentleman, making it quite clear he disapproved of losers who were trying to grab at girls crowdsurfing over their heads by shouting that each one is “someone’s sister, and definitely someone’s fucking daughter, so act like adults!” Most of the time, though, he just seemed delighted to be here, and overjoyed that on his first British tour, and only as a support band, the response could be so positive. If you don’t yet own a copy of the debut Sparta album, then make your way to a record store – fast! It’s called 'Wiretrap Scars' and is on the Dreamworks label, also home to the Eels, Rufus Wainwright and Jimmy Eat World, so it is surely the best major in existence.
Band Links:-
https://www.paulweller.com/https://www.facebook.com/paulwellerofficial
https://twitter.com/paulwellerHQ
Have a Listen:-
Picture Gallery:-


live reviews |
Olympia, Liverpool, 19/11/2021 |
![]() |
On the road to promote new LP 'Fat Pop (Volume One)' and celebrate the anniversary of 1990s classic 'Stanley Road', Paul Weller shows no signs of slowing down on record or on stage at a capacity Liverpool Olympia. Richard Lewis reviews |
favourite album |
Stanley Road (2005) |
![]() |
In our ''Re : view' section, in which our writers look back at albums from the past, Malcolm Carter examines Paul Weller's classic solo album 'Stanley Road', which recently had its tenth anniversary |
digital downloads
reviews |
An Orchestrated Songbook (2021) |
![]() |
Experimental and inventive new album from Paul Weller which reworks some of his Jam, Style Council and solo back catalogue with orchestral arrangements |
As Is Now (2005) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Cornbury Music Festival - Great Tew Park, Oxfordshire, 8/7/2022...10/7/2022 -The Final GoodbyeBathers - (With Cowboy Mouth and Sugartown), Strathaven Hotel, Strathavan, 17/6/2022
Felix Cavaliere - From Pelham, NY to Rock n Roll Hall of Fame
NIck Godfrey - Interview
Prolapse - Peel Sessions 20.08.94 and 08.04.97
Queen and Adam Lambert - O2 Arena, London, 20/6/2022
Dorothy Bird - Jimmy's, Liverpool, 30/6/2022
Andy Ellison - Interview
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Sarah Cracknell - Interview
previous editions
World Party - InterviewSam Brown - Interview 2008
Cliff Richard - Vs Elvis Presley
Television - The Drug of the Nation : Part 2
Television - The Drug of the Nation : Part 1
Richard Hawley - Leadmill, Sheffield, 11/9/2005
Paul Clerehugh - Interview
Candlelight Tribute to Coldplay - Manchester Cathedral, Manchester, 1/4/2022
Oasis - London Finsbury Park, 5/7/2002
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
most viewed reviews
current edition
Hurrah! - David Jensen 08.12.82Moon Under Water - Fragments EP
Paolo Nutini - Last Night in the Bittersweet
Marine Research - John Peel 18.05.99
Brooks Williams and Aaron Catlow - Ready for the Times
Burning Hell - Garbage Island
Dave Edwards - Many Rivers
Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp - 18
Jessie Buckley and Bernard Butler - For All Our Days That Tear The Heart
Blue Orchids - Angus Tempus Memoir
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart