Review and Photography by Jonathan Taylor

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Following the huge success of his critically acclaimed second number 1 album ‘Why Me, Why Not? Liam Gallagher embarks on his sold out 12 date UK arena tour. Tonight’s stop is the FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield. The venue is absolutely packed with a mix of bucket hat wearing, fresh faced youngsters who weren’t even a twinkle in their Father’s eye when Oasis were so prevalent back in the 90’s through to those old enough to remember the bands significance first time around.

The crowd are clearly upbeat and the fact that it is a Monday night doesn’t deter the celebrations and the chants for Liam start early doors. As the dying notes of ‘I am a Resurrection’ by The Stone Roses play out of the PA, the ‘Manchester City FC Champions Chant’ follows and the house lights start to dim. The crowd erupts into absolute pandemonium as the first snare drum crack of the obligatory intro ‘F*cking In The Bushes’ blasts through the speakers filling the arena. The crowd swirls in a sea of beautiful chaos and half-filled plastic pint glasses are launch in every direction. Liam takes to the stage with that familiar trademark swagger whilst an impressive flow of visuals play on the backdrop of screens.  

‘Rock and Roll Star’ opens the set and the euphoric crowd sing every word back to the stage with arms aloft like an anthem from the terraces and it is moments like this that demonstrates perfectly the power of music and it’s capability to transcend a sense of unity and togetherness. The set continues with new track ‘Halo’ off Liam’s latest album ‘Why Me, Why Not?’ It is a heartfelt nod of the head to fiancée and manager Debbie Gwyther, who has recently been honoured at the 2019 Manager Awards receiving Manager of the Year. ‘Wall of Glass’ and the gritty snarls of ‘Shockwave’ follow with Liam changing the lyrics to take his first dig of the evening at brother Noel. The crowd cheers in appreciation as original Oasis band member Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs is invited onto the stage by Liam for an explosive rendition of ‘Morning Glory’. It gives the youngsters in the crowd another opportunity to revel in an era defining decade of music and old the guard the opportunity to bask in beautiful nostalgia. The Oasis back catalogue continues with a stunning rendition of ‘Colombia’ from debut album ‘Definitely Maybe’ which sounds as fresh as it did back when it was released in 1994. Liam is well aware of the Oasis songs that his fan base adore, the majority of which were neglected when older brother Noel dictated the set list during the Oasis era. Tonight Liam gives his audience what they want and another anthemic Oasis classic, ‘Stand By Me’ gets the cobwebs blown off and has the crowd singing every word.

Back to his solo material, Liam performs ‘Once’, which demonstrates that the Manchester frontman is still perfectly able to perform the slower ballads with conviction in arena sized venues. Title track off his second album ‘Why Me, Why Not?’ is followed by ‘Be Still’ and Liam’s son Gene joins his Dad on stage to play bongos on a stripped back version ‘Greedy Soul’. The down tempo, fuzzy guitar fuelled offering ‘The River’ oozes out of the speakers and fills the arena with a wonderful slice of psychedelic rock and roll. The psychedelia continues and the Oasis purists in the crowd are treated to another gem from the back catalogue in ‘Gas Panic!’ It’s a masterpiece live and guitarist Mike Moore comes out the other side absolutely triumphant. Sing along favourite ‘Wonderwall’ follows, after which Liam and his comrades leave the stage to the deafening sound of rapturous applause and continued chants for Liam.

The evening ends with an encore of Oasis classics in ‘Acquiesce’, with the crowd happily singing the chorus in Noel’s absence. ‘Roll With It’, the mighty ‘Supersonic’ and a beautifully stripped back, heart felt version of ‘Champagne Supernova’. The evening is brought to a close in true rock and roll fashion with ‘Cigarettes and Alcohol’.

Liam Gallagher is without question in the prime of his life. Not only does he have Oasis material to bring to the table, he now has two solo albums under his belt which have laid down very solid foundations in terms of a solo career. It is inevitable that the Oasis reunion debate will continue to rumble on. As will the digs from Noel, that Liam is singing ‘his’ songs. Liam may not have put pen to paper for the back catalogue he has performed tonight, but without Liam commanding the stage and delivering those songs as only Liam can over the years and based on tonight’s performance that argument blends into insignificance. Liam Gallagher is the working man’s hero and remains relatable to his fans both young and old after all these years. He is the Rock and Roll Star and no one else comes close.