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Oasis Let Music Do The Talking



Renowned bad boys deliver rock-solid show

Oasis performed a sold-out show Saturday at Pengrowth Saddledome.

Attendance 12,000.

Belligerent brats.

There's a description that immediately comes to mind when we think of a concert featuring sneering Brit-pop kings Oasis and cranky folk-rocker Ryan Adams in the opening slot.

Approaching such rock delinquents there's always a certain air of both apprehension and expectation.

Will they act like creeps? And, if they don't, if they just show up, behave and play, without storming off halfway through, might we be just a bit let down?

Saturday's Oasis show at the 'Dome went down free of any stormy incidents at press time but there wasn't much about it that disappointed.

That has little to do with any bad-boy expectations either. It's down to the quality of the tunes, and Oasis rolled out plenty of those.

The Brits kicked off their set with the brash bluster of Rock & Roll Star, singer Liam Gallagher, 35, taking his trademark fighting stance at the mic.

Liam was reportedly struggling with throat problems Saturday night and that seemed to be the case. He definitely ducked the high notes in a few instances, as on Lyla and the raucous Cigarettes & Alcohol.

Still, his delivery maintained its Lennon-cum-Rotten snarl and that's the important thing with this kid.

OK, maybe attitude is an important ingredient in an Oasis gig.

Either way, there's an odd sweetness to Liam's dirty-faced approach and this proved especially true on the lovely Songbird.

As for the rest of the group, led by the band's guitarist Noel Gallagher, 41, they played with muscle and energy that couldn't be denied.

Storming versions of Slide Away and Morning Glory drove the crowd into a state of pure joy, shouting along with every word.

The show lost its momentum in a few instances as Oasis played new tunes off their yet-to-be-released Dig Out Your Soul disc, as well as songs from albums not as universally favoured as their first couple. But for the most part, those were strongly sold.

All had been forgiven at press time as the crowd responded with glee to the vicious Supersonic and two of the most rallying rock ballads of the '90s, Wonderwall and Don't Look Back In Anger, on which a very capable Noel took the lead.

As for Ryan Adams, his set was not to be missed.

Adams' band The Cardinals, are certainly meant to be the Crazy Horse to his Neil Young with their scrappy folk-rock approach. That ragged glory infused tunes like Off Broadway, Goodnight Rose and This Is It, and the band's approach was largely appreciated.

As for his notoriously ugly demeanour, well, Adams grumbled half-heartedly in between songs for the most part, but he did show a bit of enthusiasm when he dedicated a new number to a special someone for whom he had a message. "I want to suck your face off," he said. "You make me feel like I'm riding on an electric unicorn."

Yep, he's an odd cat.

Actually, Adams was not the night's only warm-up act.

Kicking off the evening was California folk singer Matt Costa, a promising songwriter with a real knack for sweet pop hooks and a wry turn of phrase who made an excellent impression during his short set.

Source: www.canada.com

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