Live Review: Liam Gallagher – The 02, London 10/06/2024
20,000 people throwing and consuming copious amounts of alcohol doesn’t exactly scream Monday night. Liam Gallagher, however, isn’t fazed. “The weekend starts here”, deadpans the former Oasis frontman as the third of his four sell-out shows at London’s 02 arena gets underway. He’s here to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Oasis’ debut album ‘Definitely Maybe’, a collection of razor-sharp anthems which sound as good today as they did thirty years ago.
Of course, much has changed since ’94, most notably that Gallagher and his older brother Noel haven’t been on speaking terms for the past 15 years. But with Oasis rhythm guitarist Bonehead in tow, and a stage design littered with references to the record’s iconic cover- from pink flamingos and palm trees to a hanging globe and picture of Burt Bacharach- it’s close. The most striking throwback to 1994, though, is the presence of Liam’s son Gene, opening proceedings with his band Villanelle. Stepping out in a grungy striped jumper, he's the spitting image of a young Liam, and he sounds like him, too. Though Villanelle’s music is more shoegaze than Britpop, it’s undeniable that Gene has taken on much of his father’s singing style, consciously or not. It’s fascinating and slightly disconcerting to hear what sounds like ‘94 Liam singing dreamy, introspective music with occasional bursts of heaviness, including the kind of frantic drum breaks rarely heard in Oasis’ discography. It’s a compelling set, offering a glimpse into the band Oasis might’ve become if they’d stuck with the baggy, groove-based style of their early demos.
Next up is another band indebted to the Gallaghers, their 90s contemporaries Cast. Although frontman John Power was a member of the hugely influential Liverpool group The La’s - who, along with The Smiths and The Stone Roses, laid the foundations for Britpop- it’s also true that Cast rode the coattails of said movement to land themselves a record deal, and subsequently a hit album. All of which makes them the perfect choice for a gig stepped in nostalgia, from Liam’s Oasis-only-setlist to the digital clock slowly counting back the years. Unsurprisingly, the group’s ‘Noel-rock’ credentials are met with enthusiasm by many of tonight’s punters, particularly those old enough to remember ‘All Change’ coming out in 1995.
Tonight, however, is all about 1994, and as excited fans clad in ‘LG DM 30’ t-shirts head to the bar to get their last round of pre-set pints, the huge on-screen clock is getting tantalisingly close to the year in question. Right before it does, the unmistakable drum beat of The Stone Roses’ ‘I Am The Resurrection’ rings out across the arena, prompting a deafening crowd singalong before Liam has even set foot on stage. When he eventually swaggers on, with a montage of his most iconic 90s moments playing behind him, the place goes crazy. Pints are thrown, arms are raised, and - in the only real reminder that this isn’t actually 1994 - plenty of phones are held high, capturing the joyous chaos.
Assuming his usual position of arms firmly behind back, an Adidas-clad Gallagher tears into ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’ with a gritty hunger most middle-aged frontmen could only dream of. Despite the life-changing fame and money his former band has brought him, Liam Gallagher is essentially still the same outspoken, uncompromising working-class lad the world was introduced to thirty years ago. As if to further cement this, he saunters over to the sound engineer during the trancey extended outro of ‘Columbia’, and although we can’t hear what he’s saying, the striking silhouette of shaking maracas suggests he's not best pleased. The issue is resolved within the next couple of songs, but it's a genuine thrill to witness Liam being Liam, even if the sound seems fine, and the exchange only fleeting.
Following this, we’re treated to a selection of underrated album tracks from ‘Definitely Maybe’, ranging from the silly and uplifting ‘Digsy’s Dinner’ - in what other context would you find an arena full of people bellowing “lasagne”, or rather, “lasaaaaaaaagne”? – to the punky gut-punch of ‘Bring It On Down’. The almost psychedelic swirl of ‘Up In The Sky’ is particularly strong, while the bluesy ‘Shakermaker’ has surely earned its place in the set for future solo gigs, the collective “Ahhh, shake along with me” refrain infectiously melodic, and gloriously unifying.
The next chunk of the setlist - dedicated to B sides and rarities - is preceded by an amusing warning of sorts from Liam: “Right, we’re gonna get a bit naughty, a bit kinky, a bit Wayne Rooney”, he declares, hilariously straight faced. Take from that what you will -what’s clear is that it’s a dream come true for hardcore Oasis fans, but a little bemusing for more casual listeners. If obscure gems such as ‘Cloudburst’ and ‘I Will Believe’ don’t quite connect with the audience in the same way many of the previous songs have, then the likes of ‘Fade Away’ and ‘It’s Good To Be Free’ fare better, probably as a result of their inclusion on the brilliant B-side compilation album ‘The Masterplan’. And while a stab at the unreleased Oasis demo ‘Lock All The Doors’ - which Noel later reworked and released with his High Flying Birds- could’ve made way for the superior ‘Listen Up’, the bold decision to include the Noel-sung ‘Half The World Away’ is nothing short of a masterstroke.
This is a B side which is anything but forgotten - thanks largely to it doubling as the theme song for BBC sitcom The Royle Family - and it shows. Phone lights cast a magical glow around the arena as the crowd becomes a 20,000 strong choir, singing every word of the beautiful, bittersweet ballad at the top of their lungs. Such is the intensity of the audience’s participation that Liam’s vocals are practically drowned out, particularly on the chorus. When he does cut through, however, you can hear the crashing emotion in his voice: considering this has always been a Noel song, both in the studio and live, it’s hard not to interpret this rendering as a touching call to his estranged brother. ‘D’Yer Wanna Be A Spaceman’ hits a similar note, Noel’s lyrics repurposed by Liam, who poignantly asks “Do you still feel like me? / Sit down here and we shall see”. The mood is lifted by a rousing rendition of ‘Whatever’, before the opening bars of ‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’ send the crowd into an abrasive frenzy. Pints fly as punters bounce to the rhythm of the song, a rough-edged stomper which is both boisterously nihilistic and unashamedly hedonistic. It’s without doubt the giddy highlight of the gig so far, and contrasts nicely with the mellow ‘Married With Children’ which follows, closing the main set just as it closed ‘Definitely Maybe’.
With Gallagher and his band having left the stage, the LIAM, LIAM, LIAM chants which have sporadically arisen between songs reappear with a vengeance, willing their subject to return. They needn’t have worried. With three of the album’s most beloved songs yet to be played, there was never any doubt that Liam’s exit from the stage would only be temporary. When he does reappear, he’s backed by the distinctive drum beat of a certain debut single… yes, it’s time for ‘Supersonic’, and as the roar of the crowd proves, the people couldn’t be happier to hear it. Girls in bucket hats climb onto reluctant shoulders, their arms outstretched, singing along to every nonsensical word of the era-defining anthem, before its iconic solo collapses into a cacophony of feedback.
“This one’s for all the lovebirds in the house”, announces Liam to whoops and cheers, the audience well aware that he’s referring to ‘Slide Away’, a towering love song of epic proportions, and arguably the best track Oasis ever released. It doesn’t disappoint. Loud, distorted guitars back delicate, tender lyrics, which Liam delivers with a fiery, powerhouse rasp. When the chorus lands, the 02 is transformed into a sea of stirring euphoria, a magnificent testament to the power of music. As if this isn’t spine-tingling enough, it’s followed by ‘Live Forever’, perhaps Oasis’ ultimate statement: a plea for positivity amid desperation, a refusal to conform to the depressive nature of grunge, and a tribute to a friend with whom you can take on the world. All this wrapped up in one of the catchiest melodies in rock, complete with a guitar solo for the ages. Unsurprisingly, it goes down an absolute storm, and as Liam leaves the stage for a second time, the applause reaches clamorous new heights.
Just as a few people have started to filter out, he returns for the final encore; a snarling rendition of The Beatles’ ‘I Am The Walrus’, a staple of Oasis sets in and around 1994. It’s a fitting end to a gig which has recreated the era as authentically as possible, from the stage design to the setlist. As hordes of fans filter onto the tube, singing ‘Champagne Supernova’ as they go, you’re left with the feeling that, even if Liam and Noel never reunite, people will never stop obsessing about Oasis. And even though the brothers won’t physically live forever, there’s no doubt that their music will. In another 30 years, who’s to say that an 81-year-old Liam Gallagher won’t be out celebrating the album’s 60th anniversary? These songs are truly timeless, and no one delivers them quite like the man who first captured their magic on tape three decades ago.
Long live the King: HM LG.
Words by Ben Left
