LIAM GALLAGHER BIBLICAL AT THE ETIHAD STADIUM MANCHESTER UK 1ST JUNE 2022

June 5, 2022
International Concert Reviews, UK Concert Reviews
by Billy Seagrave Photographer/Writer

WORDS AND IMAGES BY BILLY SEAGRAVE

‘Manchester And Liam Are In Total Unison, Something That Is Unique To Mancunians And Their Idols, Liam Gallagher Is A Giant Amongst Giants’

The date Wednesday 1st June Manchester Etihad stadium, Liam Gallagher began what was going to be a Biblical few days of musical identity. Billy Seagrave made his way along with 55,000 others to be part of this latest chapter.

How do you prepare for a weekend of two sell-out shows at possibly your previous bands crowning glory Knebworth? You set out by performing a warmup gig at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, the home of his childhood football club.

The fans had been arriving all day and started to fill the venue as soon as the gates opened, you could feel the buzz through the city as the crowds began to congregate in the fan zone, this feels like it could be special.

Liam has chosen two supports acts to open proceedings for him tonight, first into the fray is Goat Girl, who are gaining a great reputation on the live scene, they would be followed by Manchester’s very own Charlatans, who do not need any introduction.

With the crowds packing in Goat Girl take to the stage, its 6.25, and the fans are still pilling in you’re a four-piece girl band, playing a mixture of indie rock/electronic/garage post punk revival who are only here to see one person. Goat Girl took to the task with a spirit that has seen them cut their teeth of live performances opening for the likes of Metronomy, Foals and Sam Fender on his recent arena tour.

Goat Girl can take heart from the warm reception afforded by the crowd as they worked through their set, I think the crowd appreciated the task in front the band. Hopefully they made a few more fans as they closed the set here in Manchester, with the knowledge that in a couple of days’ time they are heading to support Liam at Knebworth, something few artists have ever achieved.

Goat Girl are –

Clottie Cream (Lottie Pendlebury) -Vocals/Guitar

LED (Ellie Rose Davies) – Guitar/Vocals

Rosy Bones (Rosy Jones) -Drums

Holly Hole – Bass

By the time Tim Burgess appears with the Charlatans, the Etihad if filling up nicely and the hum of the crowd is growing. One of Manchester’s most enduring bands Tim Burgess walks to the front of the stage arms aloft acknowledging the crowd, as the band launch into ‘Wierdo’, one of the things you get with a performance from the band is it involves the crowd, it is as integral a part of the DNA of the bands 30 plus years of playing and laying down tracks. ‘Just when you think things are over’, ‘You’re So Pretty-We’re So Pretty’, a real crowd pleaser, to the vocal Cabarete of ‘North Country Boy’, release hit after hit upon the crowd who are now in party mood. Joined on stage by Nick McCabe known for his time with the Verve, to play out the final song of a hit laden set ‘Sproston Green’. The band leave the stage to a fantastic reception.

The Charlatans are –

Martin Blunt – Bass

Tim Burgess – Vocals

Mark Collins – Guitar

Tony Rogers – Drums

SET LIST:

1/ WEIRDO

2/ CAN’T GET OUT OF BED

3/ THEN

4/ JUST WHEN YOU’RE THINKIN THINGS OVER

5/ ONE TO ANOTHER

6/ YOURE SO PRETTY – WE’RE SO PRETTY

7/ TELLIN STORIES

8/ THE ONLY ONE I KNOW

9/ NORTH COUNTRY BOY

10/ HOW HIGH

11/ BLACKENED BLUE EYES

12/ SPROSTON GREEN

As the black backdrop is removed to reveal the whole of the stage, the venue is near capacity and the hum has become a buzz, the kind of buzz Manchester does best.

As the giant screen backdrops flash images and words Manchester, GOD like, Biblical, Humble, Legend, Why me, all are synonymous with tonight’s host. The Oasis song ‘Fuckin In The Bushes’, was the accompaniment to this opening montage. The chants of champions gets louder as our host swaggers onto the stage, “Yes Manchester” is how he greets the vast and boisterous crowd before him, as Liam dedicates ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’, to fellow Oasis bandmate Bonehead, who has recently announced his own personal battle with cancer, (here’s to hopefully a full and speedy recovery).

For many Liam is a dividing figure, you either love him or you hate him, tonight he was in the theatre of love and adoration, one thing you cannot do is ignore him, ‘Morning Glory’, completes a strong Oasis opening of stellar tunes. It’s as if he has laid down the foundation and now wants to bring you to the present and the future, ‘Wall Of Glass’, and ‘Shockwave’, begin his presentation of his own work, ‘Why Me, Why Not’, that merges into The Beatles ‘Come Together’, shows the depth of craft that he has in the locker. Prowling the stage like a caged animal, standing looking to the heavens hands behind his back is as iconic a stance for a crowd that are hooked on every second he is on stage.

‘Stand By Me’ is followed by ‘Roll It Over’ the first ever outing by a member of Oasis ever to perform live. As the arms are aloft, we slip into ‘Slide Away’, before another debut in ‘More Power’, Maracas in hand and ‘C’mon You Know’, has the stadium alight. Bringing the set to an end with ‘Once’ and looking out over a crowd that are in a frenzy like a hive of bees in their element bringing home the honey. Although this essentially the Liam Gallagher show, the band that he has assembled along with the visual backdrop and lighting displays are second to none, the power from the band is exceptional.

Coming back on stage for a five song encore of Oasis classics first up is ‘some might say’, what a singalong classic, next up we get a public health warning as regards to the next offering ‘Cigarettes and Alcohol’, lets just say the gist of it was don’t let anyone tell you that cigarettes are bad for you, don’t have any of that vaping nonsense, this is the word according to Liam. ‘Supersonic’, ‘Wonderwall’, and ‘Live Forever’, threaten to bring the stations down, as we have no roof.

Coming back on stage for a second encore there was only one direction and powerhouse hit left, as he launches into ‘Champagne Supernova’, everything is elevated to another level, Manchester and Liam are in total unison, something that is unique to Mancunians and their idols, Liam Gallagher is a giant amongst giants. As the fireworks light up the night sky, many of the crowd are already in a rush to head off to a weekend of musical mayhem at Knebworth.

If anyone doubts Liam’s credentials its very simple to put in place. He walks the walk he talks the talk most of all he puts on a show and performance that will go down as another piece of history.

Set List :

1/ Hello

2/ Rock ‘N’ Roll Star

3/ What’s the Story Morning Glory

4/ Wall of Glass

5/ Shockwave

6/ Why me, Why Not?

7/ Everything’s Electric

8/ Better Days

9/ Stand By Me

10/ Roll it Over

11/ Slide Away