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Pop Music Review
By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
Some might say that Noel Gallagher is Oasis. They wouldn't be too far
off.
Sure, some fans missed vocalist Liam Gallagher, who skipped the band's
U.S. kickoff date Tuesday night at the Rosemont Horizon. But the wild
ovations they awarded his brother--who took over on lead vocals--showed that
the songs were more important than the singer. And guitarist Noel happens to
have written a battalion of shimmery rock numbers.
Noel appeared comfortable taking the stage without his brother. Whether
he stayed in his usual spot--stage left--out of habit or respect for his
brother is debatable. I'm guessing the former.
But if there was any question about his ability to command a crowd with
his voice, it was quickly dispelled when Noel started the 15-song, 85-minute
set with "Acquiesce," a track not included on either of Oasis' albums. As he
sang the telling refrain, "'Cause we believe in each other," the crowd
furiously pogoed its approval.
Before the third song, "Some Might Say," Noel acknowledged Liam's
absence: "You've probably heard my brother's not here this evening." No one
booed, although one fellow shouted out, "Where's your ------- brother?"
A less petulant frontman than Liam, Noel showed none of the arrogance
that has become synonymous with the group--at least in the press. He
appeared to be loving his role as the singer. Noel's voice isn't as
distinctive as Liam's, but he shares the same alluring resonance as his
younger sibling. When the brothers appear together, Noel harmonizes with
Liam and provides sturdy backup.
Alone, he had the unenviable task of backing up his own leads. It would
have been helpful if one of the other three band members (bassist Paul
"Guigsy" McGuigan, guitarist Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs and drummer Alan White)
chimed in every now and again, but they basically were mute on stage.
Because of the way Noel reworked the songs, many were seamless. If you
closed your eyes during "Cast No Shadow," which Noel sang during a three-song
solo acoustic set, you would have been hard pressed to realize there was only
one singer on stage. He sang, "As they took his soul/They took his pride,"
repeating the last word with a gentle falsetto.
And no one would have sounded more natural singing a new rocker called
'My Big Mouth" than Noel, who definitely has one. But on the lush "Live
Forever," a song that begs for harmonies, Noel had a rougher time doing it
all by himself.
Boldly staking a claim in rock 'n' roll history with confidence backed
by raw, feral talent, Oasis was an unknown to most Americans just a year ago.
In Britain, Oasis isn't just any band, but *the* band. The Top 10 hit
"Wonderwall" hasn't catapulted Oasis to that sort of stature yet in this
country, but I wouldn't bet against them. They're patient, talented and
unpredictable.
Oasis' manager, Marcus Russell, said Wednesday that he had spoken with
Liam earlier in the day and that the vocalist was happy to hear that the
Horizon show had gone off without a hitch. Liam has been slagged in the
British press for blowing off the U.S. tour to go house hunting with his
fiancee, actress Patsy Kensit. His publicist said he had laryngitis.
"But he said that his throat wasn't hurting at all and hoped to be in
America again soon. So we're optimistic," said Russell.
In any case, if one Gallagher had to be missing in action Tuesday, it
was the right one.
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