At one point during Noel Gallagher's 100-minute set last night, amidst the commanding, stately brit-pop tunes and roaring applause, there was a near-deafening, high-pitched screech of sheer sound.
I thought it was a burst of feedback over the beyond-elegant venue's PA system but then, looking about, noticed a nearby fan whistling.
Noel's music may not exactly be at the forefront of the pop-music scene these days, but damn is its fan-base gracious and devoted.
Touring in support of his recently released debut self-titled solo LP, the ever-confident Gallagher put on quite the soaring show for his sold-out crowd of loyal followers Monday night - night one of two, as well as his first ever solo gig in Canada.
The perfect venue for such an outing - but then again when isn't it - the intimate Massey Hall found Noel and co. on top of their game and running through memorable tune after memorable tune as if it was no effort whatsoever.
Oasis Favorites and Strong High Flying Solo Numbers
Indeed, right from the outset - which had Gallagher belting through crowd-pleasing Oasis numbers like "(It's Good) To Be Free" and "Mucky Fingers" - the fans were hooked, and do I mean hooked. Even new numbers like the stomping "Dream On" and the powerful "If I Had A Gun" had the insatiable crowd uniformly on its feet and singing and clapping along.
Admittedly, some of the solo tunes simply didn't have the power or distinction that timeless gems like "Wonderwall" and "Supersonic" - both performed acoustically and practically drowned-out by the crowd's singalongs - had and always will have. That being said though, for the most part the solo songs were received as warmly as the standard Oasis fare, not to mention the lesser-known shoulda-been-a-sides like the poignant "Talk Tonight" and "Half the World Away".
Noel and his band may have had a video backdrop going for them, but they sure as hell didn't need it as he and said band commanded their stage as they simply stood their ground and played in a workmanlike manner with utmost focus.
Little bro Liam (who continues on with the remaining members of Oasis as Beady Eye) might have the singular stage presence, but Noel's "keep it simple" style's no less captivating.
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds are already set to play a string of UK and Ireland arena gigs in spring 2012, with more gigs being announced all the time - guess this whole solo thing's working out well so far.
Setlist
- (It's Good) To Be Free
- Mucky Fingers
- Everybody's on the Run
- Dream On
- If I Had a Gun...
- The Good Rebel
- The Death of You and Me
- Freaky Teeth
- Wonderwall
- Supersonic
- (I Wanna Live in a Dream in My) Record Machine
- AKA... What a Life!
- Talk Tonight
- Soldier Boys and Jesus Freaks
- AKA... Broken Arrow
- Half the World Away
- Stranded on the Wrong Beach
Encore
- Little by Little
- The Importance of Being Idle
- Don't Look Back in Anger
Jacob Goguen - Jacob Goguen is a professional journalist with an extensive background in the arts. He has acted in short films, as well as with Young ...
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