âIs anyone bored?â probes Liam Gallagher, ever the wind-up. Weâre inside Glasgowâs iconic, 1900-capacity Barrowland Ballroom, a far cry from the stadiums heâs become re-acclimated to playing over the course of his astronomically successful solo career. Itâs a rare treat to stare into the whites of his eyes or receive a fist-bump from his signature maracas as he plays up to the worship from the front few rows.
Itâs even more of a rarity to see John Squire at all. Reclusive and engrossed in painting these days, his only stage appearances since The Stone Rosesâ second split have come at Liamâs 2022 Knebworth shows, reliving his âChampagne Supernovaâ cameo from 1996. It was a reunion that catalysed an albumâs worth of material from the Manchester icons, delivering âLiam Gallagher John Squireâ earlier this month, a âpsychedelic blues stomperâ that shot straight to the top of the charts.
Kicking things off on the front foot, the duo launch into âJust Another Rainbowâ and âMars To Liverpoolâ, which send the faithful into pandemonium, albeit somewhat watered-down from the usual showering of beer Ă la âRock âNâ Roll Star.â His nonchalant expression hidden behind a mop of hair, Squire lets his class do the talking. Itâs guitar solos galore, showcasing the bluesy, Hendrix-esque undercurrent that dominates âLiam Gallagher John Squireâ.

As expected, the album is played in full, with Britpop cut âYouâre Not The Only Oneâ and âOne Day At A Timeâ â which nods to The Rolling Stonesâ âPaint It, Blackâ â stealing the show. A man of fewer words than his usual self, Liamâs dominant vocals stay sharp all night, comfortable as ever with this new setlist. As âRaise Your Handsâ brings the original material to a close, mystery and murmurs emerge among the optimistic punters â what next?
Having committed to not touch Oasis or Stone Roses material, the answer is one solitary cover of the Stonesâ âJumpinâ Jack Flashâ, which takes us up to the 50-minute mark. âWe ainât got no more fucking songsâ, admits Liam, as the house lights come on to dispel any hopes of an encore. It’s a perplexingly short-lived night â especially given the ÂŁ65 ticket price â only lasting five minutes longer than Jake Buggâs support set. For just a tenner more in the summer, youâll be able to see âDefinitely Maybeâ performed in full.
Squireâs mere return to the stage and the intimate nature of the night may have been enough for some fans; what we received was masterful and refreshing. But if this is a partnership to be continued, they best get started on album two.
Liam Gallagher and John Squire played:Â
âJust Another Rainbowâ
âMars To Liverpoolâ
âOne Day At A Timeâ
âIâm A Wheelâ
âLove You Foreverâ
âMake It Up As You Go Alongâ
âYouâre Not The Only Oneâ
âIâm So Boredâ
âMother Natureâs Songâ
âRaise Your Handsâ
âJumpinâ Jack Flashâ
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