ALWAYS ACOUSTIC™

Saturday, December 13, 2008
By Aaron Keker

ALLSTATE ARENA, Rosemont - Legendary British rockers invade Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois!

Oasis has sold over 50 million records worldwide so it is not surprising that they opened their performance with “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star.”

As Liam belted out the last verse “It’s just rock ‘n’ roll,” the animated audience released a profusely intense acclamation.

Last evening, two superstar vocalists in Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher shared the spotlight as they exchanged their talents behind the microphone.

Some of Liam’s microphone talents occurred on songs like “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star,” “Lyla,” “The Shock of the Lightning,” “To Be Where There’s Life,” “Champagne Supernova” and “I am the Walrus.”

Noel’s memorable microphone talents occurred while playing his acoustic guitar on “I’m Outta Time,” “Wonderwall,” “Don’t Look Back In Anger” and “Falling Down.”

I really enjoyed Noel performing “I’m Outta Time” acoustically because it provided the audience with another interpretation of that album version song on Dig Out Your Soul. The evening was filled with enchanted highlights but they peaked closer to the conclusion of Oasis’s set list.

The enchantment peaked the moment Noel performed acoustically Oasis’s notorious hits like “Wonderwall” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” As the audience sang alongside Noel, they released the largest acclamation of the evening on “Don’t Look Back in Anger.”

That acclamation had to have reached beyond the black curtain, which separated the concession area from the arena, to the merchandise counter.

After “Falling Down” concluded, Liam returned and remarked to the acclimated audience, “Time for you to sing another one.” The audience obliged and provided additional background vocals with Liam on “Champagne Supernova.”

Oasis concluded their set list with The Beatles cover “I am the Walrus.” Again the energetic audience’s favorite moment occurred as they sang alongside Liam, “I am the eggman, they are the eggmen. I am the walrus.”

How fitting was it that Oasis, who is so heavily influenced by The Beatles, concluded their set list with one of The Beatles hit songs?

Finally, it was an awesome energetic evening to spend with one of the legendary British rock bands from the U.K. That evening, Oasis opened and concluded their picture perfect performance with “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star” and “I am the Walrus.” If there were any songs that I wished Oasis had played it would have been “Let There Be Love” and “Don’t Go Away.” Someone in the audience shouted out a request to Noel before he performed “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” Noel answered with a speedy response, “We don’t do requests.” I would have to agree with Noel. Why should Oasis do requests in this type of setting? If any requests should be honored, it should be an intimate acoustic setting. Below is the Oasis’ set list for the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.

Allstate Arena Set List:

1. “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star”
2. “Lyla”
3. “The Shock of the Lightning”
4. “Cigarettes & Alcohol”
5. “The Meaning of Soul”
6. “To Be Where There’s Life”
7. “Waiting for the Rapture”
8. “The Masterplan”
9. “Songbird”
10. “Slide Away”
11. “Morning Glory”
12. “Ain’t Got Nothin’”
13. “The Importance of Being Idle”
14. “I’m Outta Time”
15. “Wonderwall”
16. “Supersonic”

Encore:

17. “Don’t Look Back in Anger”
18. “Falling Down”
19. “Champagne Supernova”
20. “I am the Walrus”

akecker@alwaysacoustic.com