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The kick-off whistle has blown for the most anticipated band reunion since — well, if you’re an Oasis fan, since they imploded after a vicious pre-gig bust-up in 2009. Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, less than an hour’s drive from the studio where they made their 1994 debut Definitely Maybe, hosted the opening night of their comeback tour. Hordes of supporters in bucket hats and band T-shirts packed into pubs and milled around outside before the start. “The day of salvation is here!” a street preacher cried through a microphone.
There was a time when hell would have frozen over before Liam and Noel Gallagher were seen walking on a stage together again. But the brothers have patched up their feuding sufficiently to do so. Liam, 52, stood centrally at his microphone stand in a zipped-up parka jacket, Noel, 58, was about 10 metres to his left sporting a dad-rock denim shirt and guitar. Between them was rhythm guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs, the only other member of the original line-up.
Whipped up by support act Richard Ashcroft of The Verve, who had earlier lit the touchpaper of 1990s nostalgia with an ecstatically received “Bitter Sweet Symphony”, the atmosphere in the 74,500-capacity venue was fervent. The middle-aged were out in force, reliving the arms-akimbo postures of their youth. But many of those present were too young to have seen Oasis the first time around. They are the ones, Noel would later say from the stage, who have kept the flame going.
The only words of greeting at the outset were Liam saying something about being “in the area” in a needling Manchester accent as the ignition key was turned on the opening song. Amid a thick churn of guitars and clompy drumbeat, it was “Hello” from 1995’s (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? — their biggest-selling album, but one of its lesser tracks. Both brothers sang its refrain together: “Hello, hello, it’s good to be back”.
The sentiment was on message, but the song was too routine to meet the heightened sense of occasion. “Acquiesce” followed, originally a 1995 B-side, with the Gallaghers sharing lead vocals. “Because we need each other, we believe in one another,” Noel cried amid more churning guitars.
All this literalism seemed rather by-the-numbers, like being presented with petrol station flowers and a greeting card. But it took a better turn with the emphatic way that Liam attacked the words “wake up” in “Morning Glory” as the guitars and drums went full jumbo jet. On his right were members from the band’s 2000s line-up: bassist Andy Bell and guitarist Gem Archer. Behind them was their “14th drummer”, in Noel’s jesting introduction later in the set, Joey Waronker, a hired hand from the top level of the Los Angeles session scene.
The stage was old school: lots of loudspeakers hanging on either side, Oasis’s black-and-white logo at the top, no catwalk. The sound was thunderous and raw. The setlist included only three songs from Oasis’s long comedown after their first two landmark albums. There was a decent selection from The Masterplan, the collection of B sides: Noel takes pride in them as the source of some of his finest writing. Three horn players turned up for a couple of tracks, and there were some desultory keyboards. But otherwise this was the big wall of noise of prime Oasis.
Liam’s rasping voice was at the forefront of the mix, a top dog amplified so as to drown out the singalongs. He performed with what he calls his “stillism”, hands behind back, head angled up to the microphone, going backwards a pace between phrases before stepping up to the fray again, occasionally flourishing a tambourine or maracas like belligerent objects.
He was, to borrow a trademark slogan, up for it. His face was contorted by effort, with creased brow, curled top lip and an awesome aura of obstreperousness. With its monstrous T. Rex riffs and pure hit of Manchester attitude, Definitely Maybe’s “Cigarettes & Alcohol” was a standout. Meanwhile, the more reserved Noel looked down at his guitar as he soloed and scrunched his eyes when singing, of which he did quite a lot.
Noel is a good vocalist. In contrast, his younger brother is an iconic one. But, unexpectedly, the songs sung by Noel lifted the gig, such as “Half the World Away”. His hearty vocal style brought out the emotiveness of the reunion in a way that Liam, who sings as though getting something off his chest, was unable to do. The younger Gallagher’s most emotive moment was silent, when he turned his back during “Live Forever” to look up at the screen at a photograph of Diogo Jota, the Liverpool footballer who has died in a car accident.
“Don’t Look Back in Anger” was the evening’s best received song; it followed Noel’s tribute to the younger fans. The generational combativeness that Oasis fed off when starting out has drained away from music. Nowadays there is a more generous air of appreciation. The audience’s mood was celebratory, without the bellicose edge of gigs from the old days. The show ended with a brief clasp between the brothers. With a wobble and a roar, Oasis are aloft again.
★★★★☆
Tour continues, oasisinet.com
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