Liam Gallagher, Etihad Stadium. 1st June 2022

It’s two weeks since I was last in the Etihad to watch the best team in the land (and all the world) lift the premier league trophy… again. That was an incredible day. One that even if Liam Gallagher played all my favourites back to back, still wouldn’t match. I don’t think Liam would mind this though. He knows. That’s why we’re here after all. Despite preferring a small basement club gig, those days for Liam are long gone. Stadium gigs are the hallowed turf of genuine global stars and make no mistake Liam fits comfortably in that mould. Taking to the stage with his trademark aloof swagger to a recording of “Championees!!” followed by Fucking in the Bushes, the Etihad erupts with the cheers from thousands of clones. It’d be almost a little chilling, if it weren’t so magnificent. I’m kidding, it’s not that bad but there are some daft looking people. Liam you sense lives for this, tearing into ‘Hello’. It is “good to be back”! I’ve been sniffy in the past about Liam and Noel playing Oasis stuff, but stand in the middle of a stadium as ‘Rock n Roll Star’ and ‘Morning Glory’ blare out and tell me it’s a bad idea. The cynics will say this is all he’s got. The cynics are very fucking wrong. Granted we’re stood in the circle at the front of stage with the die hards, but everyone is singing to ‘Wall of Glass’ and the stomp from ‘Shockwave’ will have the groundsman wondering if this was a good idea. ‘Everything’s Electric’ is the first taste of the honestly great new album. He lights up, as do the devoted and it has to be said he’s in fine voice. In fact he sounds even better than on record. I thought the deep cut ‘Roll in Over’ might lose some, but with a full choir brought on stage there’s no chance. It’s euphoric!! As they smash into ‘Slide Away’ I can’t help but think… and Noel won’t like this, but Liam does this better. He’s got the voice, you can’t replace that. Granted Noel wrote these tunes, but the band do a stellar job. The choir are back for another new one with ‘More Power’. This opens the new album and it took me a few listens, but it builds brilliantly and live, well, it’s a monster. “Is this what you came for?”, yes Liam, yes it is! ‘C’Mon You Know’ follows, keeping the levels firmly set to epic. These new songs are a real breath of fresh air. You can dance to ‘Diamonds in the Dark’, it’s bouncy! I’m not gonna bore you with logistical details, but this is the most comfortable I’ve been in any Stadium gig, especially when standing. It helps that the sound is superb, the lights spot on and the video screens perfect. Nothing fussy, just a well shot relay for those not fortunate to be as close as me. After the fireworks go off for ‘Once’, the encore detonates with ‘Some Might Say’. A song I really don’t like that much, but this is live music played brilliantly, you get swept along and I’ll forgive anything when we get ‘Cigarettes and Alcohol’, ‘Supersonic, ‘Wonderwall’ and ‘Live Forever’ one after another. It’s a full on charm offensive and Liam knows how to please. If that’s not enough. There’s a second encore that delivers a glorious ‘Champaign Supernova’. It’s not Man City winning the league, but it’s close. Really fucking close.