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Noel Gallagher Wows Fans At His Royal Albert Hall Gigs











Since leaving Oasis seven months ago, everybody's been wondering what music Noel Gallagher will make for his first album.

Will he follow his mate Paul Weller in making traditional rock 'n' roll? Or, as the favourite gossip has it, is Noel going to start experimenting and make a far-out record miles away from Oasis?

Whichever route he's taking, Noel's giving no clues at his first show since the split. He's played solo gigs for the Teenage Cancer Trust before. Indeed, this one has the same setlist as his previous show in 2008. Although, as Noel points out, "I am wearing different clothes."

His backing band is the same too, with Oasis touring musicians Jay Darlington on keyboards and percussionist Terry Kirkbride - plus, most intriguingly, Gem Archer on guitar.

As everyone assumed Gem had chosen to stick with Liam's new band, he may now be the UN peacekeeping negotiator between the Gallaghers.

That familiar setlist means it's as comfortable a return to performing for Noel as possible. He gets to do a show he could play standing on his head while the fans, who would usually have had to watch Noel from the back of a vast stadium, get to sing along to Wonderwall, Slide Away and co in relative intimacy.

And, boy, do the fans relish the chance to bellow every word back at Noel, even on what should be obscure songs like Listen Up and Sad Song. The Albert Hall is the home of classical music but it's transformed into a rowdy Last Night Of The Britpop Proms.

Noel is backed by the 50-member Crouch End Choir, who may as well have stayed at home as their choral tones are inaudible over the fans' singing.

On a stool with his acoustic guitar, Noel laughs off requests for new songs, saying: "They're f***ing amazing, but this isn't the time and place."

Maybe, but of the 17 songs he plays, just one - 2005 hit The Importance Of Being Idle - isn't from Oasis' first two albums or their B-sides.

That could be the most telling sign of how unhappy Noel became in Oasis - or a hint that he wants to go back to his ballad-writing roots.

The show may be familiar - but as the 5,000 fans scream out Don't Look Back In Anger - that's certainly no bad thing.

Source: www.newsoftheworld.co.uk

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