Oasis Live Review @ Arena (Sheffield)

Oasis - Photo:Andrew Macpherson www.macfly.com
Oasis
Photo:Andrew Macpherson link

Live Review

After a heavily documented tumble in Toronto left him with three cracked ribs, Noel Gallagher defied doctors orders to lead Oasis into yet another sell-out UK arena tour. But after several line-up changes and now seven studio albums, it has been suggested by some that Oasis are no longer relevant in a music industry dominated by skinny jeans and Mark Ronson. The sales figures for both the tour and the new album, though, seem to dispel this myth completely; the tour selling out within hours and 'Dig Out Your Soul' becoming the fastest selling album of the year with 90,000 copies sold on the first day of release.

The new album has heralded something of a departure to the sound that has characterised Oasis' output since the turn of the century. They now appear to be a band with renewed purpose and direction after the transitional years following the arrival of Andy Bell and Gem Archer. The 'typically Oasis' anthems that always seemed to be trying too hard ('Stop Crying Your Heart Out', 'Sunday Morning Call' etc...) are replaced by the tighter, stronger, more mature set of rock and roll songs that they have been threatening to make for the past 10 years.

After taking to the stage to the now ubiquitous 'Fuckin' in the Bushes', they ripped into 'Rock N Roll Star' with all the energy and urgency of a new band playing their debut album. Of the new songs, 'Shock of the Lightning' is the most 'Oasis-like', comfortably rubbing shoulders with classics like 'Cigarettes & Alcohol' but without needing to resort to massive sing-a-long choruses. Liam's voice is back to it's sneering, snarling best and you get the impression he prefers performing the new songs rather than the older, familiar ones. 'I'm Outta Time' sounds like John Lennon doing a Bond theme (no bad thing!) and is so far the best song he has written.

Understandably, Noel's presence on the stage was somewhat mooted and he looked uncomfortable at times. Despite his obvious discomfort he still managed, at seperate intervals, to take control of the arena. First of all with 'Waiting for the Rapture' and then with a hauntingly stripped down version of 'Don't Look Back in Anger'. You had to wait for the encore, though, for Noel to provide the defining moment of the night and show that the future for Britain's biggest band could be as successful as its past. 'Falling Down' is a classic in waiting - a truly captivating melody combines with wistful, life-searching lyrics "I tried to talk to God to no avail... / ...I said "if you won't save me please don't waste my time" to leave the crowd in no doubt that his song-writing powers show no sign of diminishing.

Despite their obvious predilection for the newer material, Oasis are also aware of their 'band of the people' tag and that their greatest hits are still their biggest weapon when it comes to filling arenas. Therefore they dutifully rolled out the likes of 'Wonderwall' and 'Champagne Supernova' and blew the arena away by following the surprise inclusion of 'Slide Away' with a rollicking, chest beating version of 'Morning Glory'. There are not many bands around who can electrify an arena and get up to 12,000 pairs of arms in the air, but Oasis confirmed their status as one such band with a rousing rendition of 'Supersonic'.

With the exception of 'Fuckin' in the Bushes', 'The Importance of Being Idle' and the set closer, 'I Am the Walrus', the entire set-list was comprised of songs from Oasis' celebrated first two albums and 'Dig Out Your Soul'. This may be a strategic ploy to set the new album in the same context as 'Definitely Maybe' and '....Morning Glory', but not even the most cynical amongst the crowd could argue that their new songs were dwarfed by the comparison with their old favourites.

Luke Glassford

Gigs

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