Forget the rumours they’re splitting. Forget the half-hearted reviews they’ve had for the preceding stadium gigs. Forget all the negativity about Oasis being past their prime.
This – the 40th – Eden Session was spectacular.
The weather may have been atrocious but nothing could dampen the spirits of the 6,000-strong crowd.
After a forgettable support slot by Howard Eliot Payne, the former singer with Oasis faves The Stands sounding like a scouse Dylan, the excitement built until Liam swaggered on stage in an over-sized parka and the band burst into de rigeur opener Rock N Roll Star, followed in quick succession by the glam stomp of Lyla and last year’s furious Shock of the Lightning.
The band was on fire and there was no let-up. Cigarettes and Alcohol – the first big singalong of the night, which was dedicated to Sawmills Studio, near Fowey, where the band recorded debut album Definitely Maybe back in 1994 – was followed by an effervescent Roll With It.
As they played To Be Where There’s Life and I’m Outta Time from last year’s Dig Out Your Soul, Liam stalked the stage with bundles of attitude. If he didn’t have that rare star presence you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking him a buffoon of the highest order as he sticks the tambourine in his mouth, looking like he’s in need of care in the community, for the 30th time.
Noel, on the other hand, is a lovely fella as we’ve suspected all along and, whisper it, is probably a better frontman than Liam.
Delivering towering versions of The Masterplan, Whatever and Half The World Away (the theme from The Royle Family, all you Oasis non-fans), his voice was strong and his humour contagious, admonishing the crowd for getting the words wrong and making us all shout “get off moi laaaand” in our best Cornish accents.
The band were exceptional – we mustn’t forget former Ride man Andy Bell on bass, ex-Heavy Stereo frontman Gem Archer on guitar and new drummer Chris Sharrock, who has previously been in The Lightning Seeds and World Party. The keyboard player was dubbed the Totnes Monster by Noel, ensuring the Cornish audience booed a Devon intruder in their midst.
The last third of the concert was among the most incendiary, life-affirming moments I’ve ever witnessed – Wonderwall, Supersonic, Live Forever, Don’t Look Back In Anger, Champagne Supernova, they just kept on coming as the crowd sang back every line.
Going back to their roots, the band ended with their cover of The Beatles’ I Am The Walrus recalling the spite and spunk of their early days.
Oasis seemed like a different band to the half-arsed workhorse I last saw in 2002 and this was an Eden Session to rival Pulp, Rufus Wainwright and Muse for magnificence.
We waited almost a year for this postponed concert and it was worth every second – mad for it!
To see the slideshow, click here.
Source: www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
The Devendra Banhart remix of '(Get Off Your) High Horse Lady' and the Liam Gallagher-penned 'I Believe In All' and 'The Boy With The Blues' are now available to buy on iTunes.
