Saturday, December 09, 2017

Live Review :: Liam Gallagher :: Alexandra Palace, London - Dec 7 2017


Credit: Elliot Wesby



Live

Liam Gallagher

Alexandra Palace, London

December 7 2017

Words: Izzy B


Eighteen songs, including a triple encore, and as much rock ’n’ roll swagger to more than fill the cavernous Alexandra Palace, Liam Gallagher brought Manchester to the capital in all its glory and stole the show. Even those non-Oasis fans (if any were present) couldn't deny that while he may now be pushing elder statesman status at the age of 45, Gallagher still firmly remains “our kid”.

His image bears down from the dual screens either side of the stage: his trademark parka with hood hitched high, glowering stare with which he surveys the adoring 10,000 before him, fixed, hands behind back, maracas to hand. He's an old-timer at this, having graced more stages in his two decade career than had the proverbial hot dinners, and he knows that fans want a fair amount of Oasis classics if they're to be satisfied. And that is what they get.

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'Fuckin' in the Bushes', 'Rock 'n' Roll Star', and the perennial and crowd pleasing 'Morning Glory' are the opening three in a row Oasis numbers (of 11 peppered through the set) before launching into a run of five from his new solo album, 'As You Were': 'Greedy Soul' (which he wryly dedicates to brother Noel) , two record highlights, 'Wall of Glass' and 'Paper Crown'; 'Bold', 'For What It's Worth'.

Credit: Andy Nolan

'Rockin' Chair', 'Some Might Say' and 'Slide Away' all hark back to his Oasis heyday, and all three still sound as good as they ever did. His 'Come Back to Me' filled with soaring vocals and ranging guitar riffs, comes over well in a live setting.

Ending the first part on 'Be Here Now', Gallagher returns to the stage to complete the night with 'Cigarettes & Alcohol', a semi-acoustic 'Live Forever', and a rousing finale of 'Wonderwall', which brings the crowd en masse to one gigantic singalong, and whose refrain still lingers in the cold north London air as the crowd slowly make their way homewards, safe in the knowledge that they had tonight witnessed Liam Gallagher at possibly his solo best. 

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