It's 4:25am on Sunday morning and I've just got back from Maine Road. I'll get to the gig itself in a minute, but a special vote of thanks to the AA for fixing a blow-out on one of the tires on Jamie's car on the A1 between Darlington and Scotch Corner on the way down, *and* a dodgy exhaust in the outskirts of Manchester at 1am on the way back. Christ, if I had seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it. Twice in one day.

Anyway, we made the gig, at least. Advice for anybody going tomorrow... err... today... Love every minute of it. Advice to those not, buy the video when it comes out (they were filming today).

Set List: The Swamp Song/Acquiesce/Supersonic/Hello/Some Might Say/Roll With It/Morning Glory/Cigarettes and Alcohol/Round Are Way-Up in the Sky [medley] (with brass section)/Champagne Supernova/Whatever (full band, Noel on acoustic, Bonehead on piano, Liam vocals, and a string section)/ Cast No Shadow (same)/Wonderwall (same, Bonehead also on acoustics)/The Masterplan (live debut? Noel vocals, rest of band as above)/Don't Look Back in Anger/Live Forever/I am the Walrus (with brass section!) and, get this, AN ENCORE! Cum on Feel the Noize. "From the best band in the world, to the best fans".

Okay it was great. It was better than great, it gave everybody there the sense of being part of something very special. The weather was good, by the time came they on the sun was going down and the lighting was magnificent (you'll have to take my word for that, or check the video). The additions of the brass and string sections (and, particularly, a guy who added some stabs of harmonica to several songs - he was introduced by Liam at one point but I lost the name in the general melle) was impressive, and the turning of Noel's acoustic set into a *band* acoustic set is, perhaps, a new development.

General stuff: As ever, those on the pitch had it rough. The first four songs, especially, are amongst the fastest and most danceable in Oasis's canon, and several times in those (especially one particularly nasty moment during 'Acquiesce') people were going down and not getting back up as an entire half of the pitch be came a seething mosh pit. However, I must say, it was a good audience - people helped their neighbours and looked after those that couldn't look after themselves, which is rare these days. Another interesting point about the audience (well, *I* thought it was interesting) was the demographics. A hell of a lot of thirtysomething "lads" in amongst the more expected younger crowd. A lost generation of Jam and Smiths fans who've suddenly found something in rock and roll worth believeing in, perhaps? Nice to find I wasn't the oldest geezer there.

Support: OCS - not bad, played both the hits and a nice cover of 'Day Tripper' - possibly one or two songs too many. Manics' - not a favourite, and I found them a bit samey, though the closing salvo of 'Design for Life' 'You Love Us' and 'Motorcycle Emptiness' was well received.

Anyway, I'm tired and bloody happy. They came, they did their stuff, they left and tomorrow they're going to do it all over again. Partly, perhaps, because the rest of the day was such a frigging disaster (managed to get one pint in The Beehive before going in when we'd hoped for a skinful), the gig itself was the important thing (mind you, if we hadn't broken down in Manchester, we'd never have discovered the Ho Yuen take away on Waterloo Road - they do an evil chicken curry, rice and chips!) and that was great. I've seen Oasis five times live now, and they just keep getting better and better. There are many great bands knocking around today, but they aren't *ours* the way Oasis are. Cherish them now, because they won't be here for ever, and in years to come there'll be people asking what all the fuss was about. Show them the Maine Road video - then they'll understand.

Pity about Man City, however... Love, from the heart of Groovetown. -- Keith

***** REVEIW 2 *****
I will always remember Saturday 27th April 1996, not because its my brothers birthday, not even because i got five numbers on the national lottery. I will always remember it because after 10 or so minutes of an epic Champagne Supernova, i was so moved, i decided to propose to my girlfriend. Then i got elbowed in the face by a 12 year old girl and realised that i don't have a girlfriend and that the reason I will remember that date was that i was witnessing something a bit special, Oasis at Maine Road.

I won't bore you with details of the supports, because that wasn't why we were there. We were there to cheer Noel every time he appeared stage left throughout the afternoon or to collectively chant "Oasis" along with 37,999 other friends, and at 8:40 pm we were there to be entertained. As soon as Noel comes on with the cry of "Never going down", and launches into Swamp song you know this is going to be great. Finally Liam saunters on to cheers of adoration and the night begins in earnest. Aquiesce, Supersonic, Hello, Some might Say and Roll with it rush past in a haze of arms and legs, the pace is like lightning. Liam walks over to the side of the stage and smiles, comes back to the mike and lets us in on his source of amusement "This must be what its like in heaven". Morning Glory and Cigs and Alcohol boom out from the speakers, which incedentally could have been cranked up more, and we are allowed a break while the horns come on, "This is where the money goes" Noel quips. A fantastic Round are Way "about being a Mancunian", is predictably rounded of with Up in the Sky.

"Champagne Supernova" Liam mutters and the gig reaches a pinnacle it only just tops with the last two songs. This is a real treat, it seemed to go on forever and i would have been quite happy if they never finished it, I wouldn't even have minded if they called it a day there and then, as they all walk off. While jaws are snapped shut and tears are wiped from eyes, the stage is changed, a stool is placed near the centre and Noel comes back with his acoustic, "hello mam", to a huge cheer... ...which grows louder as Guigsy and Whitey come on then turns to a roar as Liam returns, accompanied by a string section and Bonehead on Piano. I'd seen Noels acoustic bit enough times already so this was great. Whatever, Cast No Shadow "for John Squire if he's here" and Wonderwall, "for Meg" were blindingly good and Noel couldn't help smiling as nearly 40,000 voices sang along, that must have been a great moment for him. Liam buggers off to let Noel have his turn in the spotlight, with first, Masterplan and then, reverting back to his electric, Don't Look Back In Anger where he proceeds to sing different lyrics which i hope someone caught because i didn't. Liam comes back, joint in mouth and they play Live Forever, Liam dedicating it to "The lady in red, up there in the boxes", a probable reference to Patsy who would have been up in the executive suite. The backdrop is used as a projector screen and various images of famous people, sadly not with us any more are flashed up as Liam belts the Lyrics out, including one of Liams heros, Elvis, and finally John Lennon. Liam was obviously touched by this "thanks to whoever set that up 'cos i didn't know that was going to happen, nice one"

Without further ado, apart from the fact that Bonehead wasn't coming through the speakers "don't buy guitars from Johnny Roadhouse.. ..get your stuff from the catalogue, Freemans or something" we realise that its about to end as I am The Walrus plays us out and gives Noel further chance to show off his extended solos as Alan keeps them all in time. Liam decides he needs some help and finds a pair of sticks and starts bashing away on the floor tom and cymbals, before he remembers he is not quite deaf enough yet and sticks his ear up against the stacks, his hair blowing as the bass booms out. This carries on for ages until Liam decides to have a sit down in the middle of the stage. He just stares out, motionless, taking it all in. The words cool as fuck immediately spring to mind. Noel has trouble with his guitar, a string breaks or it is bang out of tune, he trys to repair it but decides to leave gracefully and then, they are gone.

It only seems like five minutes since Swamp Song.

The lights slowly go down and the crowd show their appreciation. Do you know what nearly 40,000 people chanting Oasis, over and over again sounds like? absolutely stunning, something you never forget. An encore was inevitable since the floodlights didn't come on and the pregig music never returned. What would it be, Rock and Roll Star?, The mythical new songs? Nah, they come back and storm through Cum On Feel The Noize, a fitting end to a fantastic day.

A heartfelt thanks to must go to Oasis for letting me be in on the ride and for providing all that were there with a probable contender for the best day in my life award. Oasis we salute you.

As they walk off, obviously having enjoyed every minute, Noel has the last say "Thanks, From the best band in the world, to the Best fans in the world" You know that he really meant it.

Tim