Talking of which, Noel is a different kind of hero, playing and singing with the casual cool of someone who knows the power of his tunes. He’s in fine voice too (Liam gives him an adorable little fist bump as he trots offstage to hand over the spotlight), and a better guitarist than he gives himself credit for, with his blistering opening riffs and soaring solos.
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It’s impressive enough when Noel turns 2002’s Little by Little – this night’s only song written after 1997 – from bitter break-up rant into celebratory sing-along. But he reaches spectacular heights later when Don’t Look Back in Anger brings back the euphoric memory of an England Euro ’96 victory, only now we’re triumphantly belting it out with tens of thousands of new mates in a stadium, instead of a handful of our besties in a packed pub.
The rest of the band know their place; they unassumingly play their parts in the shadows – and play them well, taking their bows when given the chance – because this is very much the Gallagher show.
After everything the brothers have been through, there’s something especially lovely about them trading lines like “we need each other” (in Acquiesce) or “you and I, we’re gonna live forever” (er, Live Forever); there’s a lot of love in the house, and more than expected is on the stage.
And this is all before getting properly into the beyond-electric atmosphere come showtime and the intoxicating, near-indescribable communal feeling that seemingly no one can quite inspire like Oasis.
Yep, you really had to be there.
Oasis play the final show of their Australian tour at Accor Stadium on November 8.
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