Liam Gallagher, Auckland NZ, 2019

Liam Gallagher

20th December 2019
Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review by Sarah Kidd. Photography by Chris Zwaagdyk.

It seemed rather appropriate last night that Auckland’s summer temperatures took a sudden dive, the rainclouds soon congregating over Spark Arena, as if Liam Gallagher had brought a little bit of the English weather along with him.

Playing not only his last show of the tour, but the last of the decade in support of his brilliant second solo album entitled Why Me? Why Not released just a couple of months ago, Gallagher held nothing back as he delivered a set brimming with not only some of his best musical work to date but some golden Oasis classics that threatened to bring the very walls down around him.

With his estranged older brother Noel only playing here a few weeks ago – High Flying Birds supporting U2 on their Joshua Tree tour – there were always going to be a few comparisons on how each performed some of those nostalgic Oasis tracks that fans have come to expect to hear when either sibling ever steps onto a stage; the general consensus being that last night Liam won hands down.

Not that he would give a shit either way, Gallagher last night in his usual fashion giving the crowd absolute lip, his persona at times a swinging pendulum; one moment declaring his love for all while in the very next breath asking why the country still bothered to call itself new when there was really nothing new about it anymore. If one couldn’t see his giant tongue wedged into the side of his mouth during half of his banter, then one really must have been quite blind.

Arriving onstage, the definitive Oasis track ‘Fuckin in the Bushes’ paving his way, Gallagher looked right at home in his hooded parka, an item of clothing – along with his sunglasses – that you will find him in basically twenty-four seven; Gallagher never one for pretences, what you see is what you get. And frankly that’s part of his charm.

Launching into ‘Rock n Roll Star’ a track that is not only so very apt for a character of his calibre, but also Gallagher’s call to arms, the audience in his eyes the stars that shine, and the stars he lives for, it was immediately obvious that vocally he hasn’t lost an inch. Hands behind his back in his trademark singing style (something he has always done as it allows him to more powerfully project his voice), that distinctive Mancunian accent wrapped itself around every syllable, Gallagher still looking every inch the coiled spring he always has been as he fronted an impressive eight piece band that included none other than guitarist Jay Mehler (Kasabian, Beady Eye).

Moving into his solo work, mixing tracks from both his first album As You Were with Why Me? Why Not and Gallagher had the audience down front with him all the way, those that were singing along to every song often blessed with a nod of respect or his double maracas – which he held onto for most of the night – pointed in their direction, when he wasn’t banging them on the microphone that is. Yes Gallagher has all the time in the world for his fans, but he isn’t afraid to call them out either, at one point admonishing those who were filming and encouraging them to just live in the moment; sage advice from a man who has definitely lived many a moment himself.

Even the media got a prickly jab as he introduced ‘Shockwave’, a song that more than a few journalists have mused was written about his brother. Gallagher telling them all to put their pens down as it’s just fuckin music; his point fair in nature, as not everything has to be dissected to the nth degree to be enjoyed.

Midway through the set and the arena exploded in a chorus of voices and spilled beer as arms were thrown around friends necks and memories stampeded across the floor, ‘Morning Glory’ always a guaranteed showstopper; Gallagher delivering it with just as much attitude as he always has. Here was an artist that wasn’t performing these almost thirty-year-old songs because he felt like he had to, he was performing them because he wanted to, and it showed.

Moving fluidly between Oasis tracks and his own, Gallagher’s latest work easily stood shoulder to shoulder with the classics, those only there for the songs of old doing themselves a major disservice. Rounding out the set with both the underrated ‘Gas Panic’ and the absolute anthem ‘Wonderwall’ – which Gallagher used to have another cheeky jab at the kiwis by claiming he didn’t know how to speak “New Zealandish” – the obligatory saunter to backstage gave the crowd a chance to profess their love vocally, the pit down front crushing in even tighter as those who knew what was coming jostled for a better position.

Delivering not one but two encores (the second a test, those who disappeared straight out the door to beat traffic declared to be “silly billies”) Gallagher rolled out an Oasis fans wet dream on a plate, tracks such as ‘Acquiesce’ happily rubbing shoulders with the balls out ‘Roll with It’ and a stripped back, divine version of ‘Champagne Supernova’ that swallowed the room whole.

Full of swagger, Liam Gallagher is our Manchester boy with a heart of gold, and a caustic tongue ever at the ready; love him or hate him, he is – unapologetically and rather refreshingly – who he is.

May he forever remain so.

Were you there at Spark Arena for this British alternative rock legend   Or have you seen Liam Gallagher perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Setlist:

1. Manchester City Champions Chant / Fuckin’ in the Bushes [pre-recorded]
2. Rock ‘n’ Roll Star
3. Halo
4. Shockwave
5. Wall of Glass
6. Come Back To Me
7. Morning Glory
8. Columbia
9. Stand by Me
10. Once
11. Why Me? Why Not.
12. The River
13. Gas Panic!
14. Wonderwall
15. Acquiesce [encore]
16. Roll With It [encore]
17. Supersonic [encore]
18. Champagne Supernova [encore]
19. Cigarettes & Alcohol [second encore]

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