da Betaray il mar set 20, 2005 5:17 pm
review from UNI Nevada, Las Vegas
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When Oasis lead guitarist and primary songwriter Noel Gallagher famously abandoned the band's first U.S. tour back in 1994, his management had to eventually hunt him down at the Luxor hotel.
"I was gonna go on the run, man … I was gonna do me Hunter f***in' Thompson Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas thing. I was gonna become a f***ing legend …disappear and that was it, maybe open a bar in Mexico," he said on a recent Oasis documentary.
Things didn't go exactly as planned, but more than 10 years later Gallagher returned to the city of sin, very much a rock 'n' roll legend.
His band, fronted by younger brother Liam, and also featuring Andy Bell on bass, Gem Archer on rhythm guitar and Ringo Starr's son, Zak Starkey, on drums, rocked the sold out House of Blues during a 90 minute set Thursday night.
Opening British electro-rock act Kasabian, more than proved their mettle while running through U.K. hits "Club Foot," "Reason Is Treason" and "Lost Souls Forever." Front man Tom Mighan played the part of a catalyst as he
danced around stage, encouraging the crowd with his psychedelic movements and vocals.
But it was Oasis, who these self-proclaimed "mad fer it" (an Oasis term meaning wild or hardcore) fans came to see.
With the smell of alcohol and weed by now very much prevalent, the crowd of mainly twenty-somethings and younger started to grow impatient. They came from all around the country, some even from as far away as England or Mexico to witness their heroes. Mainly dressed in hip tracksuits, Oasis T-shirts, or soccer jerseys. They had trademark Oasis haircuts and sunglasses too. The front row waved an English flag, held up a "Mad Fer It" license plate and someone even threw a "Rock 'n' Roll Saves Lives" T-shirt on stage.
"I carry the madness everywhere I go," sung Liam Gallagher as the band launched into "Turn Up the Sun" from their current album "Don't Believe the Truth" to near-deafening cheers.
The singer throughout the evening was the epitome of a rock star. While singing, his hands were behind his back, his mouth almost planted on the microphone, as he provided his trademark sneering vocals. During guitar solos by his older brother, he would just stand still like a monument and stare down the crowd, sometimes with his
tambourine on his head and his hands on his waist. This, combined with the power of Oasis's music, would drive the audience crazy. Liam's confidence, charisma and presence was easily felt on this night, as he walked back and forth around the stage, chanting at the crowd, making hand gestures and ultimately singing with the
greatest of ease.
Noel, on the other hand, was far more professional, simply focusing on his guitar playing and the singing of his three songs: "The Importance of Being Idle," "Mucky Fingers" and "Don't Look Back In Anger." Noel's soulful and compassionate vocals provided a beautiful contrast to Liam's edge and rawness.
Oasis relied heavily on seven songs from their new album, as well as classics from their first two hit albums - "Definitely Maybe" and (What's the Story) "Morning Glory."
It was the invincibility of songs such as "Live Forever," "Champagne Supernova," "Wonderwall" and "Cigarettes & Alcohol" that were the highlights of the evening.
By the time the band closed the show with The Who classic "My Generation," everyone's ears still drowning in the sound, and with the final cheers and applauses raining down from the audience, you couldn't help but realize that
rock 'n' roll is a simple, wonderful thing.