Rosemont Horizon, Chicago, IL

Tuesday 27th August 1996

by Rick Reger

Alongside a picture of Liam in Auburn Hills; Noel at Chicago; fans at Chicago

UNBUGGED: SOME MIGHT USA

In Britain, the tale of Liam Gallagher's sore throat was more virulent than the plague. In America, few people seemed bothered by Gallagher Jnr's licence to kill...

It's been said that America and Britain are two great nations separated only by a common language. Perhaps that should be updated to read: American and Britain are two great nations separated only by their respective giddiness for Oasis. While the British press and public have spent the last few years frothing about Oasis's purported brilliance, Americans have given the group an encouraging but decidedly cooler reception.

That was in part due to the fact that, while the band's debut record and it's more cohesive follow-up were viewed as solid, often pleasant pop documents, they were accorded something less than superlative status. In addition, Oasis's ensuing live performances exuded all the scintillating dynamism of a Madame Tussaud's wax exhibit. And that's when lead wazwork Liam Gallagher was with the band.

This perhaps explained the disparate reactions of the British media and the American public to the news that Oasis had come to town for their big show at Illinois's Rosemont Horizon without their petulant front man, who was reportedly stricken with laryngitis. While the British media feverishly circled the event via their computers and phonelines like so many digital jackals, local rock writers rolled their eyes and simply went about their business.

At the show the assembled Oasis faithful bathed their Britpop pin-ups in a steady stream of hoarse enthusiasm, even to the ludicrous length of applauding the band tuning up. If the fans were irked or despondent over Liam non-appearance, they didn't show it.

For their part, Oasis responded to that devotion with a set that deftly covered Liam's vacancy. Noel moved his guitar and pipes into the spotlight and smoothly dispatched the vocal chores. Though his Liam-like voice strained and faltered a few times, most notably during the high chorus notes of 'Live Forever', there was no appreciable difference between the Noel-led live takes and the Liam-led records.

The same was true for the band as a whole. As the lads effortlessly strummed out highlights like 'Hello' and 'Slide Away', they basically recreated the sound of their discs. They didn't move. They didn't emote. It was like the guts of a karaoke machine spin around and around.

That obsession with crisp, tidy perfection went to the absurd length of Noel receiving a new guitar after each ditty in his mid-set acoustic recital of 'Wonderwall' and 'Cast No Shadow'. It was a diverting interlude, but as with the band portions of the show, it carried little momentum.

In short, with or without Liam, Oasis are no rock'n'roll powerhouse. His absence neither detracted from the band's strengths not minimised their weaknesses. But that shouldn't surprise anyone. Having evicted his spontaneity and danger, oasis have become a pleasant, safe band.

While opening act, Manic Street Preachers, put far more energy into their short set, the trio's brisk, bland arena pop, was strikingly and unfortunately reminiscent of Journey on a caffeine bender. Something that didn't make for riveting listening.

Other support band, Screaming Trees...

As for Liam, before the week was out, he would be on a plane to America and on the stage of The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan. According to Britain's Sunday Times, he was received by Noel, not with open arms, but with a brotherly headbutt. And so came to pass a very brief, very overblown chapter in the history of British pop. Is it any wonder that America just don't believe the hype?

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c 1998 Andrew Turner

aturner@interalpha.co.uk

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