The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The Great Wait is over. “What did you do in the Great Wait, grandad?” they’ll ask us. “I tried to like Black Midi,” we’ll ruefully reply.
Now, England expects. While most of the country books up every Premier Inn room with a lock-pickable minibar in London, Manchester, Cardiff and Dublin for June 2025, in bleaker corners of the internet, the naysayers of Oasis’ historic reunion are mustering, mumbling about the shocker that was Glastonbury 2004, about Liam storming off ahead of the 1996 US tour, about all the songs Noel let Liam write.
But I’ve been one of the most nayest of sayers when it comes to Oasis live, having watched them transform from a visceral, life-affirming Britrock explosion at Glastonbury and the Astoria in ‘94 to a tired, bored and animosity-wrecked stadium band well into the ‘00s. And I’m telling you now, these comeback shows will probably be the best Oasis gigs that have ever happened.
They’ve their whole career span to cherry-pick from and no disappointing new album to flog. There’s no endless global touring schedule to feel like they’re slogging through (not yet, anyway). No Andy Bell or Gem Archer (probably) to keep happy with a number or two. And Liam, whose indifference at some later Oasis shows often dragged the whole thing down, really wants to live his dream reunion large. All they need to get right now is the setlist. Luckily, it pretty much writes itself…
The main set
‘Acquiesce’
‘Hello’ would be the obvious opener, but a trite one; “It’s good to be back” smacking of sneery cash-in. ‘Acquiesce’, instead, is perfect. A hard-rocking duet between the reunited brothers, Liam’s verse declaring, “Who wants to be alone when we can feel alive instead?” and Noel’s show-stealing chorus – essential for that Back! Onstage! Together! moment – answering, “Because we need each other, we believe in one another,” as though the reconciliation is genuine rather than divorce-driven, and all that talk about forks in a world of soup is behind them.
‘Some Might Say’
The key to a successful Oasis reunion was always going to be excising the real plodders from the set. Y’know, the ‘D’You Know What I Mean’s and ‘Go Let It Out’s. Even ‘Roll With It’ is borderline and best avoided. ‘Some Might Say’ – as the set’s first big hitter – is as down-paced as they want to get at this stage and keeps the tone light: “We will find a brighter day” and all that.
‘Lyla’
Those clompy later albums always arrived with a deceptively thrilling first single, and it’s important they’re represented so that the show doesn’t make Oasis out to be a two-album pony. ‘Lyla’’s a cracker, and Noel’s harmony is upfront for added unity value. Also acceptable: ‘The Shock Of The Lightning’.
‘Shakermaker’
Loping groove, surreal lyrics, a signal that there’s no maybe about whether those debut album monsters are all on their way, and an early reminder of why the music press genuinely thought they might be the new Beatles. A watershed moment in the set: are they just going to play massive hits? Yes, they bloody are.
‘The Hindu Times’
The most underrated tune from the latter-era canon – that infectious guitar riff, arguably the best thing they produced this century, deserves a proper stadium airing again.
‘Columbia’
In terms of sheer crunching rock power, Oasis never really topped their first white-label promo single, and it’s still the nuclear core of any setlist.
‘Cast No Shadow’
Acoustics out – ‘Wonderwall’ already? Better than that, ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory’’s most lustrous ballad. Song subject Richard Ashcroft guests, duelling tambourines with Liam.
‘She’s Electric’
Britpop must be honoured, so here’s a rinky-dink mid-set knees-up. Good opportunity for Liam to call Blur a bunch of c**ts, for maximum 1995ity.
‘Stand By Me’
Tricky cove, ‘Be Here Now’. Album sales for miles, but barely a banger in sight. Only ‘Stand By Me’ has stood the test of time; a highlight of Liam’s solo sets and, for all its blatant Bowie steals (or more likely because of), an oasis of lushness and clarity in that swampy melodic desert.
‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’
High Flying Birds shows have allowed Noel to focus attention on the songs he sang with Oasis, honing their more elegant leanings and making adored fan favourites of them. ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’ is just such an anthem for the ages now. Also acceptable: ‘Little By Little’.
‘The Importance Of Being Idle’
While we’re at it, and if the High Flying Birds are really the backing band anyway, let’s have a Noel solo segment, shall we? Rhys Ifans guests on kettle percussion.
‘Half The World Away’
It should just about be getting dark by now, so phone lights out for Noel’s heartwarming solo holler-along.
‘Whatever’
Controversial choice, but this actionable early one-off Christmas single has been a brilliantly rendered, string-festooned highlight of Liam’s ‘Definitely Maybe’ tour. Ideal run-in to an almighty final 45.
‘Slide Away’
The guns get bigger. With precision timing, formulated by Oasis’ specialist team of biological scientists, ‘Definitely Maybe’’s iconic canyon rocker kicks in at the exact same moment as pint four.
‘Supersonic’
“Ah need ta be maseeeeeylf!” Widespread pandemonium as the breakthrough single convinces 90,000 inebriated rock fans that yes, actually, they can deeply relate to the line “she’s done it with a doctor on a helicopter”.
‘Wonderwall’
Because they must. Life-affirming sing-along for the teenagers who missed out on the ‘90s and their bucket-hatted dads who still live there. Great bog and bar break for those of us bored shitless by the thing since about 1997.
‘Morning Glory’
Blustery punk-out to close the main set. Liam punches the mike stand to the floor at the end, looking pissed off about an in-ear issue. Will they stay together for the encore?
The encore
‘Rock’n’Roll Star’
A snarly, celebratory return, dedicated to “all the c**ts who said it couldn’t happen”.
‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’
90,000 people instantly forget that the pint they’re instinctively flinging in the air cost them north of ten quid.
‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’
Noel’s show-stealing moment. As Liam returns to the stage at the end, the brothers look like they might actually hug but settle for a gum-chewing nod.
‘Live Forever’
Johnny Marr guests.
‘Champagne Supernova’
The rafter rattling finale. John Squire guests; Harry Styles, Chris Martin and Hawk Tuah Girl spotted standing hopefully in the wings with the lyrics written on their hands. Normal antipathetic service resumes until 2039.
The dream setlist
‘Acquiesce’
‘Some Might Say’
‘Lyla’
‘Shakermaker’
‘The Hindu Times’
‘Columbia’
‘Cast No Shadow’
‘She’s Electric’
‘Stand By Me’
‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’
‘The Importance Of Being Idle’
‘Half The World Away’
‘Whatever’
‘Slide Away’
‘Supersonic’
‘Wonderwall’
‘Morning Glory’
‘Rock’n’Roll Star’
‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’
‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’
‘Live Forever’
‘Champagne Supernova’
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