More on: Oasis

Date: 27/03/07
Rating:

The Royal Albert Hall is a venue made for nights like this. Three acts playing (mostly) acoustic sets, with beautiful harmonies and songs reverberating up and around this magnificent old building, leaving every single person watching with a warm glow inside. I don't normally like to start off a review with such a nice warm statement, but a) This is a charity event for the Teenage Cancer Trust and b) It really was something rather special.

From the moment Liverpool's wise cracking Shack fill the air with three-part harmonies and infectious melodies, one senses the greatness to come. Shack play to a half empty room, but they don't have to work hard to create an atmosphere. By the time they are in the full swing of their opening tracks, people around me are tapping their feet to songs they don't know.

Shack are here thanks to headliner Noel Gallagher, who cites them as one of his favourite bands, so it came as no surprise that another of Noel's favourite sixties-influenced bands were handpicked to be the main support.

The Coral are in fantastic form. Blowing away any cobwebs with superb renditions of 'In The Morning' and 'Bill McCai'. 'Dreaming Of You' threatens to start taking the roof off, and they continue in the same form through a couple of excellent new songs, before finishing with a brilliantly uplifting version of the Everly Brothers' 'Bye Bye Love'. They go off to thunderous applause, but even that appreciation is nothing compared to when the main attraction walks on stage.

Noel has found a new lease of life through these one-man shows. He says very little to begin with, but then he doesn't need to say much as 'It’s Good To Be Free' kicks off proceedings - you sense there maybe a hidden message in this being the opening track, free from the shackles of brother Liam, free to do what he wants and not worry about what his little brother may do to wind him up next. This freedom produces frequent moments of brilliance. What you immediately begin to appreciate is the different layers that Noel's tender vocals add to songs that were made famous – for the most part – by Liam. He runs through beautiful versions of 'Talk Tonight', 'Cast No Shadow', 'Fade Away' and the classic 'Half The World Away'. Every woman, man, child in the audience sings every word back at him. 'The Importance Of Being Idle' gets people dancing in the aisles before Noel digs out a song from 'Be Here Now'. It's the first time they have played 'Don't Go Away' – and what you notice about the song is that it's a far more effective and telling song in its stripped down form.

Special guest and buddy of Noel, Paul Weller joins him on stage for two songs, sharing vocals on a barn-storming cover of The Beatles' 'All You Need Is Love'. Joined for the second half of the show by a nine-piece, all-female string section, Noel continues to remind everyone of why Oasis still hold such a strong place in the hearts of millions in this country. 'Sad Song' is quite stunning and 'Wonderwall', sung in a similar version tonight to Ryan Adams' masterful cover, is every bit as special tonight as it was in 1995.

He dedicates 'Slide Away' to his missus, warning the audience that the world had better beware, as bringing another Gallagher into the world could spell trouble for all of us, especially, as he reminds us that "She's beautiful and I'm a fucking evil genius" to much laughter. The warm feeling from the audience towards Noel brings out the best in him. 'Slide Away' for many will have been the highlight of the evening - a song already sung so effectively by Liam is given such a tender reworking that you kind of want Noel to re-record these tracks acoustically and release it as an album.

He finishes with a cover of The Smiths' 'There's A light That Never Goes Out' before launching into 'Don't Look Back In Anger' – and the roof that's been a bit shaky flies off. The ovation is huge, but Noel has one more song for us before we go home and 'Married With Children' is the perfect send-off.

It's a special night and Noel really should do this more often. A solo album from him would be very welcome and his stock is as popular as ever right now - both with the people and the bands around him. On form like this, one hopes that he can get the inspiration to produce another 'Definitely Maybe', but if he doesn't and he instead tours on his own with a guitar and plays nights like these, then you won't hear too many people complaining.

Mark Wilkins

Oasis Official Site