Oasis are not really a skeleton in my musical closet, but have just been one of those bands I have just quietly liked for years. Not only have I always loved their fuck-all attitudes, I've also always admired their abilities to write an amazing pop song, fill it full of hooks, and deliver it full of attitude. I had always regretted not seeing the band live, so when I found out they would be kicking off their U.S. tour in Oakland in support of their latest album, Dig Out Your Soul, I decided it was finally time to check them out, and hear what I’d been missing.
As the brothers Gallagher and their bandmates swaggered out onto the stage and took their places behind their respective microphones, it became pretty apparent that the band was going to let their music do the talking on this night, and hardly moved from their original positions the entire night. Not that they needed to. Vocalist Liam Gallagher and his tambourine quietly went about churning out song after song from both the latest album and the band’s back catalogue, including "Rock 'n’ Roll Star,” 'Lyla,” "Cigarettes and Alcohol,” "Morning Glory,” everyone's sing-a-long favorite "Wonderwall,” and my personal fave, "Supersonic.” New songs, including “Shock of the Lightning,” “Waiting for the Rapture,” “To Be Where There's Life,” and “Ain't Got Nothing” all sounded great, and blended into the set list quite nicely with all the hits.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night however, at least for me, was guitarist Noel Gallagher. I had always known he was a talented guitar player, but watching him up there with his swagger and just a hint of smugness, I was quite impressed. I gained a whole new level of respect for him and will now be appreciating his guitar playing abilities more than I have in the past.
Returning for an encore of "Don't Look Back In Anger,” "Falling Down" and "Champagne Supernova,” Oasis just quite simply came out and delivered a no-frills evening full of brilliant pop tunes, and as Liam announced to the crowd the last song of the evening was to be, and I quote, "I Am The Fucking Walrus," I was not only glad that I finally had the chance to check them out live, but was also quite happy to see that the band hasn't lost the attitude that drew them to me in the first place.
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