If you were walking through Watford town centre on a bright spring evening last week, you could be forgiven for believing you had taken a trip back in time.

Long sideburns, Doc Martens and jackets with a plaid lining adorned many a folk as they sunk a few swift halves in the dwindling sunshine after work on Tuesday.

This could only mean one thing: Paul Weller – The Modfather – was back in town.

Returning to Watford for the umpteenth time in recent years - undoubtedly because of his enduring popularity in this humble corner of little Britain - Weller kept the expectant crowd waiting exactly as a seasoned rocker should.  

When he did eventually stride out onto the stage, exuding the kind of cool you would expect from a man practically responsible for his own subculture, a great roar rose up to meet him.

Accompanied by the more-than-capable Steve Cradock of Ocean Colour Scene on lead guitar, the show started at a break-neck pace, Weller blazing through the first few tracks with barely time for a sip of water in between.

Fans were treated to a choice selection from the Weller songbook, including hits from his time with The Jam and The Style Council as well as his solo work.

This latest tour ties in with the imminent release of Weller’s 13th studio album A Kind Revolution.

And while other artists of Paul’s age – we’ll give him a bit of respect and not disclose exactly how old – are content to belt out the same tired hits on £100 a ticket arena-only tours, the former The Jam frontman is full of vim and vigour, visibly enjoying playing his newest songs to his newest fans.

By the looks of it, some members of the crowd could have been born in this century, and I doubt they were here just because they had been brought by their parents.

The iconic frontman certainly showed his gratitude, playing three encores before finally finishing with an impassioned rendition of The Changingman. Now how many live acts still have the stamina for that after nearly four decades of touring?

While Weller’s latest record exhibits the kind of sound song-writing and catchy riffs we have come to expect, you would be hard pushed to describe it as revolutionary.

However if you’re already a fan, and chances are you are if you’re reading this, then it does tweak the winning formula just enough to keep it fresh while still being, unmistakably, Paul Weller.