Compassion, courage and a mesmeric appreciation for new and old songs
Cai Trefor
22:43 30th May 2017

Liam Gallagher played an emotional debut solo gig at Ritz Manchester tonight (30 May) as the band and fans paid tribute to the lives lost and those bereaved by the Manchester Attack.

The band lit the stage with 22 candles, one for each life lost, whilst fans chanted "stand up for the 22" and sang 'Don't Look Back In Anger' - the song that crowds have been spontaneously breaking out into ever since the attack. It acts as an empowering gesture of harmony and strength in the face of such evil.

Rumours of a reunion between the Gallagher brothers started when Liam wrote happy Birthday to Noel on Twitter "Happy 50th rkid, stay young." And given the poignancy of 'Don't Look Back In Anger' at this sensitive time, it was thought possible Noel would make a cameo performance, but the crowd were left to show ownership of it and created an impressive atmosphere themselves. The closest thing to an Oasis reunion was a Bonehead appearance for the penultimate song, 'Be Here Now'.

 

The gig opened with a recorded version of 'Fuckin in The Bushes (the Snatch soundtrack riff) and strobe lights. The band entered the stage and wasted no time in giving an stadium sized wallop of sound in the small venue as 'Rock N Roll Star' and 'Morning Glory' rang out giving fans exactly what they've been missing for so long.

Fans on social media have praised Gallagher's performance and have been impressed by his vocal sounding as good as in the 90s and new songs have been positively received. What the backing musicians have put into this show is impressive. Liam was right when he tweeted that he'd popped into rehearsal and the band were "sounding dangerous"; it was a solid high octane rock 'n' roll performance. Perhaps it's like the cordial from which a lot of bands use as a basis before watering it down.

Notably, the power of Peter Doherty and Babyshambles legend Drew McConnell was there. Making his debut on bass for Liam Gallagher and providing the backing vocals he was an important figure on stage. After a solid set, for which McConnell's bass is the glue, the group left Liam by himself to take the spotlight on 'Live Forever' and he sang it accapella with the crowd as they bid farewell to a legend who's back where he belongs; being a cool bastard in a band.  

 

 

Setlist:
‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’
‘Morning Glory’
‘Greedy Soul’ (New song)
‘Wall of Glass’ (New song)
‘Bold’ (New song)
‘Paper Crown’ (New song)
‘D’You Know What I Mean’
‘Slide Away’
‘It Doesn’t Have To Be That Way’ (New song)
‘You’d Better Run, You’d Better Hide’ (New song)
‘Universal Gleam’
‘Be Here Now’ (with Bonehead)
'Live Forever'

Proceeds from this show and the next three are going to the victims of the Manchester Attack.