REVIEW: Liam Gallagher John Squire Wolverhampton 14.3.24

Mulling over the last few months wacky races activities, Liam Gallagher and John Squire in their number 2 car has seen them zipping around with the rich and famous, every ant hill mob inching to get a glimpse of the duo putting their welcome mats down in hope of securing their own exclusive finish post chin wag.

Maybe most eye catching was their live performance of Mars To Liverpool on the Jonathan Ross TV show. Gauging from mixed album reviews I’m sure there were plenty awaiting the pairs downfall infront of millions but there was little doubting the talent beamed into living rooms across the nation on Saturday night, Squire ripping a new one on his fret, Liam’s fresh ripe vocals, maraca shaking aka Country Joe And The Fish 60’s Woodstock era. With yesterday’s Glasgow opening date firmly under their Levi Straus belts they rolled up in Wolverhampton with band in tow for the second date of their short world UK tour.

Support comes from Nottingham’s Jake Bugg, he’s a modern-day Bob Dylan, resonating a mix of Lee Mavers and Lonnie Donegan rattling out his modern-day folk songs for the working class. And so to the main event, the stage isn’t awash with too many gimmicks, its back to basics on all fronts, bass (performed by Barrie Cadogan), drums (Joey Waronker), keyboards (Chris Madden) which is pleasing to see as there’s little escaping mistakes (thankfully none come tonight) plus the dynamics of singular instrumentation can lead to sonic expeditions in music, the likes of early The Who, The Beatles and indeed Oasis and The Stone Roses can attest to.

The pair are welcomed on stage to a barrage of noise, like sporting heroes returning to their own parading their silver and gold, Liam voicing his approval to all aiming the audience’s affection towards the iconic figure of Squire. First tune Just Another Rainbow has the crowd aiming their phones towards the stage but thankfully the You’ve Been Framed storm is followed by a calming of the seas when One Day At A Time spritely lights up the stage, the band are on something special tonight, Waronker dazzles as his windmill executions on the toms shines through, Cadogan switching from guitar to bass for the tour brings to mind Keith Richards in The Dirty Mac, pinging bass chords like the best.

The remaining embers of tonight’s set includes the album in full, highlights include I’m A Wheel deftly lifting choice chords from prime John Mayall Bluesbreakers, Squire sounds better than ever, lengthy solos are a pleasure to behold, Liam nodding in approval; I’m So Bored lifts and delights the crowd Liam barking out orders; Mars To Liverpool is the anthem we’ve been waiting for ‘here it comes again’ echoes around the iconic Halls of Wolverhampton; with the curtain call of Jumping Jack Flash, dedicated a certain Jack Grealish, met by playful audience boos, this universally loved blues jive hasn’t been revived so expertly since The La’s included the tune in their set.

A short, sweet, perceptibly salient night of music from 2 of Manchester’s rock God’s, here’s firmly hoping the duo ‘s next instalment is as good as Hilda Ogdens Flying Ducks.

Review dedicated to Carl x

Photos by Jonathan Taylor