Oasis: Québec Concert Review

There were no fistfights, and very little foul language. Seminal Britpop act Oasis played the Bell Centre Friday night, and the notorious Gallagher brothers kept it clean. Heck, they even seemed sober.

The 8,500 fans were on their feet from the guitar intro of opener Rock 'n' Roll Star – the perfect song to start a show by a band that has always been as much about infectious hits as the escapades of the iconic duo at its core.

Liam Gallagher stood centre-stage in his trademark pose, leaning into the microphone, one hand behind his back. His brother Noel was on guitar. Together they got down to business, delivering an array of favourites, mostly from their '90s heyday. They slipped in a few new ones along the way, unveiling the psychedelic tones of new album Dig Out Your Soul, due Oct. 6.

Lyla was rowdy and insistent; Cigarettes & Alcohol had hip-shaking riffs; The Masterplan proved a crowd-pleaser; Morning Glory elicited a boisterous singalong; and the Importance of Being Idle (sung by Noel) was good fun.

But there was no match for THE song. It came two before the encore, and Liam announced it unceremoniously, mumbling "Wonderwall," out of the corner of his mouth. It is the band's best-known track, a wistful, irresistible ballad. Everyone in the arena joined in, with joyful abandon, Liam's whine leading the way. Cheers erupted as the group broke into the instrumental coda.

They weren't done. The last song before the encore, Supersonic carried anthemic weight of its own. Don't Look Back in Anger (again by Noel) and Champagne Supernova brought out lighters and more big singalongs; while the night-ending cover of I Am the Walrus sealed the deal.

Oasis may not be as dangerous, exciting or as popular as it once was, but the band can still engender an impressive amount of good will.

Ryan Adams warmed up the room, ranging from bluesy spirituals to expansive rockscapes and heartland ballads with the help of his band the Cardinals. Matt Costa opened the evening.

Source: Montreal Gazette

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