Liam Gallagher- Definitely Maybe 30 tour, Friday 7th June- he’s still controlling the stage

Definitely Maybe turns 30 in 2024, I do not feel the nostalgia for the album being produced (as i was 2 when Oasis split up!)

Instead, I feel a nostalgia for my parents, who told me stories of queuing up to buy the CD and listening to it for the first time. I also remember hearing these songs for the first time, most likely sitting in the back of the car at the age of 5 whilst going on holiday.

However, enough of my feelings towards the album, if you are on the fence about going to one of Gallaghers gigs, or just like to read reviews of concerts, read on!

The support

After doors opened at 6:30pm, the O2 arena began to fill. It was Villanelle who opened the set, all-be it for 20 minutes. They provided energy and an insight into the night to come. Then a more well known band, The View, came onto stage at about 7:45pm. This is a new song”, which was followed by the guitar strings of same jeans, which some people sat near me were quite happy to hear. The View concluded at 8:20pm, leaving 40 minutes till the main set.

Liam Gallagher, the main set.

So after buying some expensive merchandise, and an equally overpriced pint (or few), it was time to go to your seat, or to the pit, and get ready for the show.

A clock timer appeared on the screen, trailing back from 2024 to 1994, where some absolute hits were played over the speakers (cum on feel the noise, Town called Malice etc.). Then when the clock struck 1994, the audience let out a huge cheer, the introduction began, and at exactly 9pm, out came Liam to the sound of Rock n roll star.

This was followed by Colombia, which some exclaimed to be their “favorite song”, then again, I said those exact words at least three times. Then before Shakermaker, in a praise to the crowd, Liam said he’d brought a “scarf” to avoid “catching pneumonia at the O2” but instead it was “lovely and warm”. This praise was in reference to the ecstatic crowd.

Cheers met the less preformed B-sides (e.g Digsy’s Dinner, just as loud as the well-known big three of Definitely Maybe, that being Slide Away, Live Forever and Supersonic. The whole arena sung along to “Half the World Away” and “Whatever”.

After Married with Children, Liam and the band left the stage, proclaiming it was the “last song”. However, just a few minutes later, they came back out to the drum beat of Supersonic, so much for the gig being “finished".

Gallagher dedicated Slide Away to a couple who had got engaged at the O2. “Imagine proposing at the O2 center, but then again its the F***ing Arsenal fan”, which led to a procession of loud boos around the arena, being an Arsenal fan,Ii was the only one cheering on my row.

Live Forever, dedicated to Nick Laurence, is an ever-moving song, Gallagher leaving the crowd to sing the part which his brother Noel once sung.

During the guitar solo, images of Rock legends of the past came up in a slide show, most notable being Elvis Presley and John Lennon (who received a huge cheer from the crowd.) After this Liam left the stage, leaving the audience to think, is the gig done. Of course it wasn't, as two minutes later, Liam came back and performed a second and final encore, a cover of “I am the Walrus” by the Beatles. This song was famously performed at the end of a majority of Oasis concerts, really increasing the nostalgia for what had already been a trip back to the 90s.

Post concert

And at the end, after some bowing to the crowd from Liam, the concert was done. All train carriages were packed, and the station was filled with song, fuelled by a busker who couldn't stop changing his songs, switching between Champane Supernova and Live forever.

Overall, it was a great concert, and if you have the time and money, I recommend going to one of his gigs on this tour.

Tickets are available on AXS resale, as well as secondhand market places such as Gigsberg, Twickets and Via Gogo, some tickets as low as £60.

One final closing thought from me, if you can't go this year, keep an eye out next year, for the inevitable announcement of a 30th birthday tour for “What's the Story? (Morning Glory)”

Setlist for Liam Gallaghers tour- https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/liam-gallagher/2024/the-o2-arena-london-england-13abedfd.html