Support: Travis -On Stage 19.30 until 20.15 (Approx)
Oasis -On Stage 20.55 until 23.00 (Approx)
After queuing all around the block for about half an hour, I walked into the arena, where I was searched for bottles, camcorders etc and then I walked in to look at the merchandise. I bought a programme for £5.
Travis came on stage while many people were still buying drinks and Oasis merchandise, The crowd didn't give a very big response to Travis but they enjoyed themselves. The set was a small stage with a clock in the middle reading 'Be Here Now' with dice in each corner. A highlight of this band's set was 'All I Wanna Do Is Rock' and 'Tired Of The Nineties'. They were the only songs most of us knew!
After Travis went off stage, the roadies came on and took away all their equipment. Then we could hear Alan White's drums being tested, then the keyboards. after about half an hour of setting up, a man walked on stage and warned us about laser pointers and throwing glasses. He said the band have and will walk off!
Then Thin Lizzy's 'The Boys Are Back In Town' Rumbled onto the PA System and lights and lasers started shining on the clock and dice. Then Mike Rowes intro to Be Here Now on the keyboards started and the curtain went up. The set was the usual telephone box, Rolls Royce under drums, Parking metre, Clock and bar. The keyboard intro to Be Here Now went on for about 5 minutes before a man walked on stage in bright clothes (top hat & tails). Then he opened the telephone box, revealing Noel, Liam, Guigsy, Bonehead & Whitey. Noel looked cool in a black shirt (with top button done up) and Liam wore a white jacket.
They went straight into 'Be Here Now'. The sound was great..........and LOUD!!! Half way through the song Noel's amp was cutting out and Noel looked very mad! He was looking at his guitar tech and probably ready to hit him. Jason Rhodes (Noel's Guitar Tech) came out and fiddled with the amp and it started working again. Liam shouted out "Cardiff? Are You Mad For It?". Then they played a rocking 'Stay Young', 'Stand By Me' and then 'Supersonic' roared into our ears. Noel introduced a new extended beginning to 'Supersonic' which made the song even better (if you can make it even better!).Then 'Some Might Say' was announced by Liam and the crowd went mad. We were Mad 4 It. Noel experienced more amp problems and was getting a bit angry!
'Roll With It' was the best I've heard it ever, especially with the new ending. At one point, Noel said, "D'you wanna hear a joke" The crowd went mad. "This bloke goes into a doctors surgery and says, 'Doctor they're loadsa people in the corridor singing Tom Jones' songs', the doctor said 'It's Not Unusual'!
'D'You Know What I Mean' was great but didn't seem to be as long as it has been before. Noel had to change guitars for this song because he uses a capo on the 2nd fret. He used the Red Gibson Semi from the 'Stand By Me Video'. Then Liam picks up his microphone stand and puts it over next to Noel. Noel then starts up 'Magic Pie'. This song was a major highlight in the set. Noel added the lines 'Still Gettin' High' after a chorus. Also there was no jazz at the end like when they played the last tour. This song rocked! Better than the album version. Then the band played another great rendition of 'Don't Look Back In Anger' which was written for gigs like this! The keyboards at the end really made it sound like the original album version.
Liam came back for 'Wonderwall', which was better done on electric guitar. Noel changed to yet another guitar (Rickenbacker given to him by Paul Weller which Noel used on Top Of The Pops for DYKWIM & SBM.). Live Forever was great and a bit slower than usual live versions. Noel's solo's were tops here. I didn't reconise the next song as the beginning had changed slightly from previous live versions. Then as the drums kicked in, you could tell it was 'It's Gettin' Better (Man!!)'. The crowd loved this! Then Liam said, "This is the last one, All Around The World.". Well it was 'All Around The World' but it wasn't gonna be the last one. Four Trumpet players came on stage and the band started this epic tune. Noel's amp cut out again. This time Noel just carried on playing and didn't get mad. There was a round screen with pictures of the earth spinning during this song. The song lasted for about 15 minutes, it rocked. Then they went off.........for 5 minutes. Then when they came on Noel started improvising a beginning to 'Fade In-Out' and then the band joined in. Now this song was THE highlight. It featured a video of a fairground on the round video screen above Liam. 'Champagne Supernova' Followed. It sounded out of tune at first but then it got going. Liam hit over his mic and stand during a solo but then had to re-assemble it to finish the song off.
Next I expected 'Acquiesce'. Noel started playing a familiar beginning but I still thought he was adding a new beginning to Acquiesce. Then Noel played the opening riff of Cigarettes & Alcohol. This made me so happy as I thought they had stopped playing it. This was the best version ever! Then Liam said "This is the last one now! Honest". He wasn't lying! It was 'Acquiesce'. Both Gallagher's were on top singing form during this one and all the others. At the very end of 'Acquiesce', Noel played the riff from The La's 'There She Goes' which was a nice suprise ending. Noel is a big fan of this song.
A great, excellent, fantastic gig. The band seemed to be enjoying themselves and Noel didn't look bored like he said he was in Dublin. Noel used his Epiphone Semi the most (The gold and black one he used at Knebworth) and was playing through Orange,Michelin and a small Marshall amp. I was suprised that 'Don't Go Away' wasn't played. At one point, a crowd member shouted out 'Rockin' Chair'. Noel answered back and said, "Did someone just say Rockin' Chair? That was when we were shit mate!". I was honoured to be at such a great gig! Well done Lads!
By Paul Parker. 19.
SETLIST:
Be Here Now
Stay Young
Stand By Me
Supersonic
Some Might Say
Roll With It
D'You Know What I Mean?
Magic Pie
Don't Look Back In Anger
Wonderwall
Live Forever
It's Gettin' Better (Man!!)
All Around The World
Encore
Fade In-Out
Champagne Supernova
Cigarettes & Alcohol
Acquiesce (With 'There She Goes' Riff)