Oasis

Manchester Apollo

Thursday 11 October 2001

Without doubt one of the most influential and iconic groups of the past twenty years or more, arguably shaking up the pop and rock world more than anyone since the Sex Pistols. Therefore a very apt choice for me to start my modern day concert going career, along with fellow middle aged rebel Mr Mark Ernest Gut (of Poulton Le Fylde). Ironically then, influential and iconic as Oasis have been, it seems amazing that they have done absolutely nothing at all original of their own, and it is this that sets them so totally apart from the true pop and rock greats who they so much aspire to emulate . Musically the influences are very  clear  - the Beatles obviously, but also great big chunks of Slade, Gary Glitter and the Sex Pistols, but very subtle and missed by most people I think is the Pink Floyd influence. Apart from the music, the attitude, especially of Liam Gallagher comes straight from Lemmy of Motorhead, and the whole attitude is lifted hook line and sinker from any number of punk, new wave, and rock bands. Thousands of groups prior to Oasis have used the same ingredients and failed dismally to make a career; where Oasis succeeded was to miraculously put together a first album full of fresh, energetic memorable, high energy songs that just blew people away. The second album had probably a higher proportion of better songs on it, but by then, the secret was out and people had sussed them out. From then on it has been downhill all the way. I downloaded the latest album but a year on and I still haven't listened to it and I doubt if I will now bother. I think that is a sad indictment on a wasted, if not original, talent. The show was everything I expected, loud and riotous, but that was the audience! Oasis put on no showmanship at all and were rude to quite a surprising degree. Now that might be their trademark, but to me it is a mark of their lack of true talent and of how uncouth they are. It is truly "council rock,” and indeed most of the audience was. They played most of their famous stuff from the first two albums (except "Wonderwall") and a bit of new stuff which wasn't very good. "Acquiesce" is my personal favourite as it is not only Oasis' only stab at a love song, but it is unusual for me in that it conjures up memories of more than one female. The stand out track of their career just has to be "Don't Look Back in Anger" though. Initially it reminds of Geordie walking across the bridge at the end of "Our Friends in the North,” one of the best moments in one of the best TV series of all time. More personally, the words "stand up beside the fireplace, take that look right off your face" remind me of a night in Irlam when it was seven degrees below zero and company was round at my house. Tears were in my eyes as they played it. Despite my moaning it was a great concert even if the volume was nowhere near loud enough. It was an honour and a pleasure to have seen one of the best bands of all time, even if they really should be thought of as one of the best "tribute bands" of all time. (27.10.03)