i went for pure nostalgia. i’d never gotten a chance to see them perform live before so this was a good chance. like any rock band worth its salt, oasis sounds as good live as they do on record. but of course their years as music veterans also meant a very polished, slick, well-timed, well-choreographed delivery.
they started earlier than i expected. ticket said 8, i was thinking 9 since there were a number of empty seats still and people seemed to be taking their time coming in. but lo and behold they popped up at 8.15 and it was non-stop for almost a good solid 1 hour 45 minutes. i can’t even remember the entire set list they belted out but it felt like it could be 20 songs, or so i perhaps exaggerate. but definitely very bang for the buck. heavy on the new album but still with enough early pleasers like wonderwall, what’s the story morning glory, champagne supernova, i am the walrus.
bit sad though that estimated turnout at the indoor stadium was only 9,000 according to the newspapers. not a full house. the rows in front of us were empty. the people sitting around our row were just that: sitting, all throughout the concert. it was too weird so we right after the start we hopped down to the bottom of our section where other people were on their feet.
interesting that coldplay has been here more often than oasis and its turnouts have increased to full capacity the last two times. this could be possibly due however to the fact that coldplay has gotten a lot more radio and mass friendly in recent years and are not as melancholic as they used to be. i don’t mind their new direction, but i still think some of the best are their earliest work.
oasis though is still every bit attitude liam and soulful noel. nothing’s changed. musically either. liam did nothing but his two usual stances and stuck a tambourine on his head now and then. he disappeared whenever noel sang and someone thinks it’s just a way of giving two brothers who can’t stand each other some performing breathing space. the drummer was fab with his drumstick tossing tricks but the show otherwise was quite straightforward. not much banter, not much lights, no effects, not much engagement at all really, but i guess the positive side to that is you just get what you came for: oasis straight up. and damn do i miss muse.
all your dreams are made/ when you’re chained to a mirror by a razor blade/ today’s the day that all the world will see
