16 October 2008 (gig)
17 October 2008
There are few bands that command an audience like the monolith that is Oasis. Noel was once quoted as saying 'see us three times and one gig we will be shit, but the others will be great’. Clearly every person here was hoping for the latter. Tonight being aired live on MTV was no guarantee, lets hark back to the shambolic Wembley Stadium gig where Liam famously turned up non compus mentus and stumbled through a set that was transmitted live to millions worldwide. But as ever there was expectation hanging in the stale air between the four walls of Wembley arena.
To the background of 'F***ing in the Bushes’ the Manc brothers took to the stage and immediately kicked into 'Rock and Roll Star’. Dressed all in black with trademark neck scarf Liam growled his way through tambourine held aloft with a cobra like precission. The willing multitude lapped up every note as with second track 'Leila’ and the following 'Shock of Lightning’. It was clear that tonight this six strong band meant business. 'Cigarettes and Alcohol’ had the crowd in a welcome frenzy which was aided by Liam throwing his tambourine into the mass of bodies arms outstretched all vying to be the first to place it on eBay.
New tracks were few and far between in a set that lasted and hour and twenty minutes. 'Masterplan clearly received a warm welcome as did 'Hindu Times’ and 'Slideaway’. Liam obviously had to play 'Songbird’ and dedicate it so delicately, 'this ones for me misses’ (the same words he has used for years) to Nicole Appleton who was stage left clapping along. [Note to Liam, what about thinking of a new dedication next time, maybe 'for the woman I love’? (not rock and roll enough ok?) 'Me bird’ (too chav) or 'the mother of me little’un’ (would open up too many possibilities) yeah ok mate stick with it, or maybe just drop the song once in a while for a more worthy replacement.]
As usual there were plenty of other class comments, Noel, helping the new drummer (Chris Sharrock) feel at ease commented 'he’s s****ing it’! And Liam heralding the start of 'Morning Glory’, 'This ones for all the pussies out there throwing beer, I’m soaked' actually Liam you’ll probably find it wasn’t beer.
Never the most animated band, and why should they be, there were 10,000 other people doing that for them. Oasis embody a time and space which fills the listener with raised fist clenching emotion. As the acoustic encore of 'Don’t Look Back In Anger’ sounded around Wembley no one missed Liam’s brief absence and with 'Champagne Supernova’ and the nights closer a cover of the Beatles 'I Am The Walrus’ everyone left with a smile and a new gig to brag about. A rock and roll sing-a-long was had by all.
