It didn’t take long for Noel Gallagher to establish himself on his own.  Long-considered to be the talent behind many of the biggest Oasis hits, it likely comes as no surprise that the success continued with his latest project.

Fast-forward to October 24, 2012, and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds were in Seattle, WA for the second stop of their United States tour with Snow Patrol.  Flanked on-stage by four other musicians, Gallagher took on the lead role quite well.  His presence is like his brother Liam’s, in that he has a commanding presence and undeniable charisma.  Unlike his brother, he lacked the shallow holier-than-thou attitude that turned many off to Oasis, and Liam’s subsequent group Beady Eye.

The majority of the crowd wanted nothing more than a night of Oasis songs.  Although six Oasis songs made the set, the Seattle crowd was simply relentless in its demand for more tracks like “Champagne Supernova” and “Wonderwall.”  In lieu of those tracks (another others), Gallagher did a brilliant job pacing the evening with a blend of Oasis and High Flying Birds tracks.  In fact, Gallagher bookended the show with the Oasis tracks “(It’s Good) To be Free” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger.”  (Writer’s Note:  Gallagher has since added “Wonderwall” to the setlist in other cities)

Gallagher’s “AKA… What a Life!” was a standout performance of the show.  Reminding the audience that nothing beats a solid, adrenaline-packed rock song, Gallagher and company brought an energy and enthusiasm to the audience that laid the groundwork for the second half of the show.

Perhaps most impressive about Gallagher’s performance was his ability to effortlessly transition from rock anthem to quiet, emotional acoustic tracks, while also demonstrating his ability to stagger a line between the two.  The live performances of “If I Had a Gun,” “Half the World Away,” and “The Death of You and Me” were perfect illustrations of this talent, pulling fans in with catchy hooks and a swaggering beat of the complete band, while also exuding the raw, pure emotion that can accompany an acoustic performance.

It didn’t take long for Gallagher to find himself as a solo artist.  At the start of this tour, it was evident that Gallagher was already hitting his stride.  His band, the High Flying Birds, compliments him well.  Their cohesion, timing and musical performance would make bands who have toured for decades jealous.  From the ashes of Oasis, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds has risen, picking up where Oasis left off, but without all the drama.

Setlist

(It’s Good) To Be Free (Oasis Cover)
Everybody’s On the Run
Dream On
If I Had a Gun…
The Death of You and Me
Supersonic (Oasis Cover)
(I Wanna Live in a Dream in My) Record Machine
AKA… What a Life!
Talk Tonight (Oasis Cover)
AKA… Broken Arrow
Half the World Away (Oasis Cover)
(Stranded On) The Wrong Beach
Whatever (Oasis Cover)
Don’t Look Back in Anger (Oasis Cover)

* Contact Robert at robert@starsandsatellites.com