The band performed to 62,000 fans in Cardiff’s Principality Stadium
Years of speculation. Months of anticipation. The hottest ticket in town. The huge screen offers a final tantalizing teaser, “This is not a drill… It’s on…This is it!” as Noel and Liam walk onstage arm in arm. Oasis launched into “Hello” like their lives depended on it. “It’s good to be back,” snarls Liam Gallagher to a roar of approval as Cardiff’s Principality Stadium bounces in unison. Suddenly those 16 years away have evaporated in a flash.
What follows is as close to an Oasis greatest hits set as anyone could hope for, first with “Acquiesce,” in which Liam and Noel finally back on-stage together trading lines says more than mere words ever could. Liam implores the audience to turn around and put their arms around the first person they see, leading into a rapturously received “Cigarettes & Alcohol.” “Anybody here from Manchester?” he asks, before keeping the atmosphere at a fever pitch with “Fade Away.”
One thing that has remained under wraps – until now – is the rest of the Oasis line-up. There’s guitarist, co-founder, and fan favorite Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs, back for the first time since 1998 after being a constant presence on the band’s iconic first three albums – Definitely Maybe, (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?, and Be Here Now. He is joined by guitarist Gem Archer and bassist Andy Bell, who joined in together in 1999. Joining five familiar faces is a new one. Step forward drummer Joey Waronker (Paul McCartney, R.E.M., Atoms for Peace), who previously performed with Liam during his tour alongside John Squire.
Mid-set puts Noel in the spotlight, from “Talk Tonight” to a brass-assisted “Half A World Away” and a euphoric 62,000-person singalong to “Little By Little,” before Liam returns to swagger through songs so embedded into our culture that you’ll know every one of them: “Stand By Me,” “Whatever,” “Live Forever” (accompanied by a touching visual tribute to Diogo Jota), into a climactic “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star.”
The best is saved for last. “The Masterplan” is dedicated to “all the people in their twenties who have never seen us before” with Noel again taking lead vocals, a role he continues for “Don’t Look Back In Anger.” Liam returns for “Wonderwall,” prompting a mass choir of beery voices, before he declares, “Thank you, beautiful people, this is it!” ahead of a closing “Champagne Supernova,” before the biggest cheer of the night is unleashed, as the brothers embrace while leaving the stage.
Tonight, Oasis once again proved that they’re rock ‘n’ roll stars – as if there was ever any doubt. One show in front of 62,000 people completed – 40 more gigs to a combined audience of 2.6 million to go.
