Liam Gallagher at the Royal Albert Hall
Ever since the first multi-day incarnation of the Roger Daltrey-curated Teenage Cancer Trust series in 2002, (the same year Liam last performed there with Oasis), Britpop stalwarts and their associated influences and inspirations have been an ever-present feature on at least one of the days. That gig, though, was a far rowdier affair. Even before the band walked onstage, the entire alcohol supply in the venue had been thoroughly guzzled.
This crowd are suitably watered again, but the air is slightly more sedate. Nonetheless, Liam is still given the raucous welcome of a prodigal son returning home.
As has come to be the case with Gallagher’s setlist, his solo material is woven into a predominantly Oasis-heavy setlist. Tonight, interestingly, Gallagher includes Beady Eye’s debut single Bring the Light, dusting it off live for the first time since 2014. However, the glaringly inert response from the crowd suggests the fanbase is only here for solo or Oasis material – a fact that is starkly verified by the fact that even the brooding live debut of Come On, You Know stems the exodus to the bar or toilet.
Ordinarily, the pure rock classics of Oasis generate the most vociferous response. This is not to say that opener Hello and Definitely Maybe-era classics Rock and Roll Star, Columbia and Supersonic are not as loved as they have been since the mid-90s, but the most raucous reactions are saved for the 90s icons’ reduced-tempo balladesque tracks.
Slide Away is roared back in pinpoint synchronicity, with Gallagher’s voice even having the strength to tackle his brother’s vocal outro to the song. That unmistakably strained quality remains apparent as the set nears its close, but he can still reach the high notes of Live Forever in a fine, poignant tribute to Foo Fighters’ drummer Taylor Hawkins – it’s just that the crowd can hold those sustained notes at the ends of lines longer than he can.
His return to the stage for his now staple one-song encore of Wonderwall has people standing on chairs, clambering onto shoulders and joyfully singing aloud to one another. While it is far too brief, it’s a wholly satisfying end for everyone whose appetite is thoroughly whetted for seeing him again, no doubt, in the summer. Roll on, Knebworth, for the real return of rock’s most iconic son.
Francis Nash
Photo: Virginie Viche
For further information and future events visit Liam Gallagher’s website here.
Watch the video for the single Everything’s Electric here:
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