The barge hosting Liam Gallagherâs ‘Down By The Thames’ live stream is just approaching Tower Bridge, the London landscape looking like a postcard, when he tears into emotional ballad âOnceâ. In a year thatâs been grim at the best of times, itâs a moment that gladdens the soul.
The kind of idea that one might have conjured after a late night on the beer, the gig â Liam cruising down the river while belting out bangers â promises big hitters from both of his Number One solo albums, 2017’s ‘As You Were’ and last year’s ‘Why Me? Why Not.’, as well as stone-cold career classics. And while Oasis donât have the best track record on water (their infamous drunken ferry brawl on the way to Amsterdam 1994 was a particularly stormy chapter in the band’s history), itâs immediately clear that this is going to be one to remember.
It’s as good a time as any to pull out a few surprises, and he gets things going with his first-ever solo performance of Oasis’ âHelloâ, which coincides with a picture-perfect London skyline. âWe live in the shadows / We had the chance and threw it away / And itâs never gonna be the same / ‘Cause the years are falling by like the rainâ: the words carry extra poignancy as we head towards a â surely â brighter new year.
As the barge cuts through the calm waters, Liam and his band (which features original Oasis guitarist Bonehead) get straight into 2017 solo single âWall Of Glassâ; the tune already feels like a familiar friend in his catalogue. Panoramic cameras cut to the O2 Arena, the venue Liam was due to play earlier in the year for members of the NHS staff and key workers. While that wasnât possible due to the pandemic, you canât help but feel LG has made the most of the circumstances.
Flowing into âHaloâ, he continues in his signature pose: rooted to the spot, hands behind the back stance. The solo anthems sound bolder than ever before: when he sneers âYou sold me right up the riverâ on solo cut âShockwaveâ, he could be at Maine Road, Knebworth or the Pyramid Stage. Or, you know, a boat on the river Thames.
Inevitably, the pounding âThe Riverâ, from âWhy Me? Why Not.â, is cued up as the barge continues its voyage. With Liam donning shades and a cosy-looking winter hat, we’re then treated to the iconic, soaring opening riff of ‘Morning Glory’; it’s a nostalgic and deeply emotive moment. We’re missing fans, flares, hurled pints and crowd chants, but this is without doubt the next best thing.
After the generation-defining âCigarettes & Alcoholâ and its lyrics, âIs it worth the aggravation / To find yourself a job when there’s nothing worth working for?â, Liam rants to the camera: “That’s for you, fuckin Rishi wishy washy â and fuckin’ Doris.â What would a Liam Gallagher show be without some drama?
Bonehead ensures that âHeadshrinkerâ features its trademark flourishes, and we end on the double blast of âSupersonicâ and âChampagne Supernovaâ. Between the tracks, LG takes another chance to have a rant, though this time the victim is no less than the illuminated London Eye: âNot arsed about you, big wheel â give a fuck. Lit up? Round? Fuck off â weâre out of here. Good night!â An end-credits performance of his emotive new festive single âAll Youâre Dreaming Ofâ caps off the night.
The Thames has seen its fair share of incendiary moments, from The Sex Pistols’ turbulent 1977 trip to mark the release of âGod Save The Queenâ to the legendary yowls of âI live by the riverâ in The Clashâs âLondon Callingâ. Liam Gallagher has added to the story in his own indelible way.
Liam Gallagher played:
‘Hello’
‘Wall Of Glass’
‘Halo’
‘Shockwave’
‘Columbia’
‘Fade Away’
‘Why Me? Why Not.’
‘Greedy Soul’
‘The River’
‘Once’
‘Morning Glory’
‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’
‘Headshrinker’
‘Supersonic’
‘Champagne Supernova’
‘All Youâre Dreaming Of’
â Liam Gallagherâs ‘Down By The Thames’ was live-streamed via MelodyVR
The post Liam Gallagher live in London: rants and a wide-ranging set on a cruise down the Thames appeared first on NME | Music, Film, TV, Gaming & Pop Culture News.
