Noel Gallagher, Wythenshawe Park. 26th August 2023

Before we get to the headliner and anything else for that matter, let’s just take a moment to appreciate a fantastic eclectic line up. Supporting today we’ve had Picture Parlour, Billy Nomates and Future Islands. That’s pretty bloody impressive. I’ve no idea if Mr Gallagher hand picked this bill (probably not), but if he had any say I tip my hat. Not impressed? How about we stick Primal Scream in there too! That might not sway some. They’ve always been a bit divisive, but I do love many of their records. It’s a shame we’ve recently leant that Gillespie is a piece of shit, but sadly that’s becoming less and less shocking these days isn’t it. What’s also not shocking is the Manchester weather. Between Future Islands and Primals, the heavens open and Wythenshawe Park is soaked. You know what through, it holds up. The grass is wet sure, but there’s no floods. Plus I’ve come prepared with an industrial poncho and a welly. Only one as my right foot is encased in a medical boot protecting a broken ankle and a plastic bag over that keeping it dry. Old school. Anyway back to Primal Scream. Let’s cut to the chase, they’re fucking brilliant when they want to be. ‘Movin’ On Up’ is chosen to get us going and boy does it. Full Hammond, gospel choir, that megawatt riff and Gillespie doing his pissed dad at a wedding routine, it’s a monumental start to the set. The band are tight and the sound is pretty decent, but Gillespie is a bit ragged. I’ve taken issue with this watching them live before, but maybe it’s the festival setting that makes it feel better. It’s not a great set though and even some of those wearing Screamadelica shirts seem a bit none plussed. ‘Jailbird’ lands and I like the ominous bass buzz of ‘Suicide Bomb’, but it’s not until they play ‘Loaded’ that they really recapture the crowd. Granted I’m reporting from near the relay towers, so I’m not right down the front due to the ankle. Maybe it’s bouncing down there, but it doesn’t seem to be. That all said, take a 25,000 strong crowds taste with a pinch of salt. They go nuts for ‘Country Girl’ which has to be one of the most bloody awful songs they’ve ever recorded. As if to spite the masses, the dancing brings the rain back and one of the giant video screens packs in. The straight up swagger of ‘Rocks’ redeems them though and beer fueled bucket hats light the touch paper. The video screen come back to life, the lighting tech finds some extra switches and it looks like someone’s let off a flare (might be mistaken). It’s a pretty brilliant end to a mediocre set.

After some truly abysmal chips, a horror show trip to the toilets and a ridiculous hour wait, it’s time for Noel Gallagher to take the stage. He’s basically royalty round these parts and I was expecting a roar as the lights go down, but this crowd are a bit lacklustre. Or maybe it’s just Noel’s style these days that attracts a more sedate crowd… or more likely everyone’s got smashed in the interval. ‘Pretty Boy’ gets us going. It’s a great song, but it feels like wallpaper near the back of the field. ‘Council Skies’ follows with the same tone which is a bloody shame as the new album is great and it sounds superb live. Noel’s voice is spot on and the band are as perfect as you’d expect, but come on people wake the fuck up! “This next song is not Supersonic” he amusingly announces as they bang into ‘Open the Door, See What You Find’, the crowd around me booing as the cameraman finds a cardboard cutout of Pep Guardiola on stage. Bloody rags, you’d think they’d have learnt to keep quiet by now. It’s time to move though, broken bones in crowds this size aren’t ideal, so it’s time to find some wiggle room. Noel has been mocking recent crowds a bit about only streaming and not buying the new record and he does again tonight. Are the numbers really that bad? To try appease us they play “An older one” ‘You Know We Can’t Go Back’. I suspect this isn’t far enough back for most though. He must be used to this and it must piss him off, but it’s clear to me most people are just waiting for something they know, what they know being Oasis. I found this earlier this summer with Arctic Monkeys, but gigs like this really aren’t my thing anymore. Too many day trippers. Put these songs in somewhere like The Apollo and you’d have something quite special. Granted you’d probably be stuck in there with a lot of dickheads, but I’m not sure what the solution for that is. ‘In the Heat of the Moment’ lands much better. It’s that drum kick that helps, it shakes the fucking trees and obliterates the sound of rustling rain ponchos. It’s one of the more route one songs, with its “na na na na na” refrain, but I think that’s what’s needed. ‘If I Had a Gun…’ is a different beast, but a beast no less. Again it’s got that reassuring backbeat to keep everyone in time and it brings the first real singalong as the strobe lights reach out into the crowd finding arms and trees aloft. Noel points to the Pep cutout as he sings “Someday you might find your hero” as he dedicates ‘AKA… What A Life!’ to “All the City supporters”. It sounds brilliant and I have to remind myself I can’t jump around. ‘Going Nowhere’ is a deep cut and gets dedicated to Man United. “You’re fucking shit and you know it”. You’ve got admire his confidence, he really doesn’t care whether this crowd are with him or not, he may not look or sound it, but Noel is pure punk. I’ve not heard ‘The Importance of Being Idle’ in years, but bloody hell what a tune. Those military drums still sound superb and as I find myself in the bar cue for ‘The Masterplan’ honestly it’s a great place to be. Singing and dancing with people who haven’t yet had enough to drink. The beer is all gone though, so we’re on cider from now. ‘Half a World Away’ follows, keeping the singing in full voice back in the throng. He certainly knows how to command a crowd this size when he wants to. Phones are out and kids on shoulders for ‘Little By Little’ and even though he’s pandering a little I’ve got to admit it’s superb. “You are welcome” he declares as he leaves the stage in a squall of feedback. I’m half expecting that to be it. He’s done 75 minutes. I’m happy, but we know the drill don’t we. The encore brings a cover of ‘The Mighty Quinn’ that I could do without, but the acoustic rendition of ‘Live Forever’ is beautiful. Before the standard finale of ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’. Noel doesn’t sing. They just play and let the crowd take the vocals. I’ll admit it’s wonderful and fuels the fire for the ever present reunion chatter, but let’s not forget whose name was on the ticket we bought today. Noel Gallagher has written some classic songs and continues to write great ones. His post Oasis stuff deserves more recognition, but his audience is made up of luddites too scared of change to embrace it. This wasn’t a bad gig, I’ve been harsh because it’s amusing and my honest experience, but any negatives fall soundly on the environment and not the performance. I said earlier that Primal Scream were divisive and the same can be said for Noel, but for me he’s an absolute legend.