They certainly don’t make them like Liam Gallagher these days.
“Our kid” is still, thankfully, not one to shy away from any opportunity for self-aggrandisation. His preternatural levels of self-belief are fairly evident, with slogans in the shape of “celestial” and “godlike” paving the path from North Greenwich tube station to the main entrance of London’s O2 Arena. Though, based on the 20,000 disciples swarming around the venue – in what was the final of four sell-out shows where Gallagher promised to perform Definitely Maybe in its entirety – his braggadocio is absolutely justified, even thirty years after Oasis changed the face of British music.
And Definitely Maybe everyone gathered to bask in. The album ripped up the rulebook, manifesting the Mancunians’ working-class experience and seemingly unrealistic dreams of becoming rock stars. After its mind-boggling impact, Oasis’ 1994 debut album became a bible for the Britpop generation. It still is for new generations of lads in bucket hats and parka jackets. The (fairly obvious) Liam Gallagher fans outside the arena demonstrated how deeply Definitely Maybe has resonated, given the screams of Oasis lyrics in the queues amid the beer-based bacchanal that was as rampant as if England had just won the Euros.
The carnival atmosphere continued into the arena too, of course, when Liam stepped on stage just as the opening riff to ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’ sent the audience into a frenzy. With Bonehead in tow, having overcome his cancer battle, there was a familial feel to proceedings. Well, with one major omission of course. “Yeah you fuckin’ areee,” Liam iterated to the audience when the track came to a close – crammed into any possible morsel of seating, arms cathartically flailing in the air, everyone in the building felt like a rock star.
Strutting through the tracklist of Definitely Maybe, in a shuffled order, Liam was in fine fettle. Whilst he’s seldom been able to reach the softer high notes, his low tones are as raspy, earthy, and urgent as they’ve ever been. Clearly the pre-show honey and hot water concoction is continuing to work wonders.
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Chants of “LEEEEE-UMMMMM” echoed throughout the O2 almost continually, as the band thundered through ‘Bring It On Down’ and choice b-sides from the era like ‘Cloudburst’ and ‘D’Yer Wanna Be A Spaceman?’ whilst an inflatable globe revolved and LSD-esque visuals permeated the big screens. ‘Whatever’ and ‘Half The World Away’ offered up brief moments of phone-lit reflection before ‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’ got blood vessels bursting again, with Liam handing out dedications to Justin Bieber and Dave Grohl as he skulked across the stage, hands typically tucked behind his back.
The O2 Arena nearly erupted with Liam and his band returning for the encore of ‘Supersonic’, ‘Slide Away’, and the ever-anthemic ‘Live Forever’, an ode to anybody chasing a dream despite how unlikely it may seem. Likely why the chorus would ring out among punters lining up to get their tube home, and will continue to do so for another thirty years.
Especially if the clamour for an Oasis reunion comes to fruition. Not that Liam needs it right now – he’s the last rock ‘n’ roll star of his kind, and everyone knows it.
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