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The first US concert of the Oasis reunion tour was in Chicago last night, and the rave reviews are continuing [View all]
From Billboard:
Oasis Blast Chicago Fans With Sonic Overload at First U.S. Reunion Show: ‘We Invented All This Madness’
https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/oasis-chicago-recap-live-25-first-us-show-1236054325/
It’s been said countless times since Liam and Noel Gallagher buried the hatchet last year to launch their rapturously received Oasis Live ’25 reunion run, but the formerly quarrelsome siblings who used to make Cain and Abel look like the Kelce brothers have found that special magic again. And then some.
When the tour finally hit U.S. shores on Thursday night (Aug. 28) at a sold-out Soldier Field in Chicago for one of only five American dates, there was an unmistakable, heart-warming majesty to the display of true brotherhood between the Gallaghers. From their now signature hand-in-hand walk out to subtle nods and hip-check nudges between them, the years of estrangement seemed like an ancient memory, leaving in their place a dedication to playing their most beloved songs as loudly, brashly and tightly as ever.
-snip-
One thing that hasn’t changed is singer Liam Gallagher’s punkish swagger, as evidenced by the shades that never left his face for the duration of the two-hour, 23-song gig and his playful shout-out to the “drug takers” and “glue sniffers” before “Bring It On Down.” Whereas in years past the band’s formerly volatile vocalist might have tossed the occasional tambourine or maraca in frustration — he’s now banned from letting any instruments fly for safety reasons, if you can believe it — the closest he got to maligning one of his instruments in Chicago were the few times he playfully clamped his tambo between his teeth during instrumental passages.
-snip-
Oasis have nothing left to prove. Their songs have, and do, stand the test of time. Their rancorous days seemingly are behind them, they have mastered the art of turning a football stadium into a pub sing-along with 60,000+ of their closest fans. But perhaps most impressive of all, they returned from a potentially career-killing hiatus just as strong, if not stronger than they were, minus the baggage and plus the hard-earned wisdom to trust that the songs are more than enough.
When the tour finally hit U.S. shores on Thursday night (Aug. 28) at a sold-out Soldier Field in Chicago for one of only five American dates, there was an unmistakable, heart-warming majesty to the display of true brotherhood between the Gallaghers. From their now signature hand-in-hand walk out to subtle nods and hip-check nudges between them, the years of estrangement seemed like an ancient memory, leaving in their place a dedication to playing their most beloved songs as loudly, brashly and tightly as ever.
-snip-
One thing that hasn’t changed is singer Liam Gallagher’s punkish swagger, as evidenced by the shades that never left his face for the duration of the two-hour, 23-song gig and his playful shout-out to the “drug takers” and “glue sniffers” before “Bring It On Down.” Whereas in years past the band’s formerly volatile vocalist might have tossed the occasional tambourine or maraca in frustration — he’s now banned from letting any instruments fly for safety reasons, if you can believe it — the closest he got to maligning one of his instruments in Chicago were the few times he playfully clamped his tambo between his teeth during instrumental passages.
-snip-
Oasis have nothing left to prove. Their songs have, and do, stand the test of time. Their rancorous days seemingly are behind them, they have mastered the art of turning a football stadium into a pub sing-along with 60,000+ of their closest fans. But perhaps most impressive of all, they returned from a potentially career-killing hiatus just as strong, if not stronger than they were, minus the baggage and plus the hard-earned wisdom to trust that the songs are more than enough.
From Rolling Stone:
Oasis Finally Conquer America at First U.S. Show in 17 Years
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/oasis-live-25-reunion-tour-first-us-concert-1235415086/
-snip-
Last night in Chicago, however, at the first U.S. show of Oasis’s still hard-to-believe Live ’25 reunion tour, the Gallaghers — after weeks of increasingly warm hugs, smiles, and ass grabs — seemed intent on finishing what they started on their debut tour of America in 1994. This was a band that, despite 16 years apart, looked and sounded capable of taking over the stadium-rock throne that’s soon to be vacated by perennial seat-fillers like the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and U2.
-snip-
Liam’s discipline and steady demeanor have been the revelation of the Live ’25 Tour. No frontman in rock & roll conveys so much by doing so little, and at Soldier Field, his most grand gesture was marching in place during a show-ending “Champagne Supernova.” During “Wonderwall,” he pulled up the hood on his anorak to all but obscure his face, letting his vocal — that unmistakable whine still packs a wicked punch — command the stage.
But Oasis fans don’t come expecting outsized theatrics from Liam. He long ago cemented his place in the pantheon of rock silhouettes simply by singing with his hands clasped behind his back, his neck craning upward to the microphone. During “Stand by Me,” he added a dash of flair, goading fans into singing the final chorus by repeatedly flicking his ears. “Fookin’ mega to be back in America,” he said. “We’ve always loved ya.”
Older brother Noel, meanwhile, has loosened the dour visage he seemed to be sporting at early reunion concerts. To some fans who dissected the first few shows of the tour with all the intensity of history buffs examining the Zapruder film, it seemed that something was amiss with Oasis’s guitarist and chief songwriter. He looked sheepish, even reluctant. But with every concert since, he’s let down his guard, shooting smirks and glances at Liam and cheekily introducing the band — “Mr. Bone,” Noel referred to original guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs in Chicago. During “Champagne Supernova,” he was all but beaming.
-snip-
Last night in Chicago, however, at the first U.S. show of Oasis’s still hard-to-believe Live ’25 reunion tour, the Gallaghers — after weeks of increasingly warm hugs, smiles, and ass grabs — seemed intent on finishing what they started on their debut tour of America in 1994. This was a band that, despite 16 years apart, looked and sounded capable of taking over the stadium-rock throne that’s soon to be vacated by perennial seat-fillers like the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and U2.
-snip-
Liam’s discipline and steady demeanor have been the revelation of the Live ’25 Tour. No frontman in rock & roll conveys so much by doing so little, and at Soldier Field, his most grand gesture was marching in place during a show-ending “Champagne Supernova.” During “Wonderwall,” he pulled up the hood on his anorak to all but obscure his face, letting his vocal — that unmistakable whine still packs a wicked punch — command the stage.
But Oasis fans don’t come expecting outsized theatrics from Liam. He long ago cemented his place in the pantheon of rock silhouettes simply by singing with his hands clasped behind his back, his neck craning upward to the microphone. During “Stand by Me,” he added a dash of flair, goading fans into singing the final chorus by repeatedly flicking his ears. “Fookin’ mega to be back in America,” he said. “We’ve always loved ya.”
Older brother Noel, meanwhile, has loosened the dour visage he seemed to be sporting at early reunion concerts. To some fans who dissected the first few shows of the tour with all the intensity of history buffs examining the Zapruder film, it seemed that something was amiss with Oasis’s guitarist and chief songwriter. He looked sheepish, even reluctant. But with every concert since, he’s let down his guard, shooting smirks and glances at Liam and cheekily introducing the band — “Mr. Bone,” Noel referred to original guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs in Chicago. During “Champagne Supernova,” he was all but beaming.
-snip-
And from the UK's Times:
Is America finally warming to Oasis? Definitely, maybe
https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/oasis-us-return-chicago-dfg6zfk2v
Liam Gallagher shuffled to a microphone and looked out at 60,000 Americans, all gathered on a summer’s evening in a Chicago stadium. There was something that needed to be said.
“I know you think we don’t like yer,” he said. “But we f***ing love yer.”
It was an olive branch. He wielded it like a blunt instrument, but the message struck home. After so many misfires and misunderstandings, Oasis was back in America, determined to make things right.
-snip-
All day, to the bemusement of some locals, central Chicago had steadily filled with people in bucket hats and sky-blue shirts. A pop-up store selling Oasis T-shirts and anoraks had a line outside it that stretched for two city blocks. A fifty-year-old truck driver from Indiana named Chad Collins stood in the queue with his two daughters, reminiscing about the early days of Oasis. Their music “is about getting out of your environment”, he said. “You can’t go wrong with that.”
-snip-
“I know you think we don’t like yer,” he said. “But we f***ing love yer.”
It was an olive branch. He wielded it like a blunt instrument, but the message struck home. After so many misfires and misunderstandings, Oasis was back in America, determined to make things right.
-snip-
All day, to the bemusement of some locals, central Chicago had steadily filled with people in bucket hats and sky-blue shirts. A pop-up store selling Oasis T-shirts and anoraks had a line outside it that stretched for two city blocks. A fifty-year-old truck driver from Indiana named Chad Collins stood in the queue with his two daughters, reminiscing about the early days of Oasis. Their music “is about getting out of your environment”, he said. “You can’t go wrong with that.”
-snip-
I can't help wondering if Liam assuring US fans that the band loves them has to do with a rather snide and clueless CNN article from a couple of days ago
Oasis never really cared about America. Is America ready to care about them?
https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/28/entertainment/oasis-gallaghers-us-tour-cec
which stupidly criticized Oasis for not having been "stage-managed" enough for US fans in the '90s. For not having been impressed by and subservient to what Noel referred to as "corporate people."
Funny, I don't recall ever wanting rock bands to be "stage-managed" and corporate-friendly. Certainly don't remember that being expected of the Who, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin.
Despite the silliness of much of the article, it included one comment I really liked, from a producer who expects this Oasis tour to inspire "a thousand incredible bands."
We can all look forward to that.
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