NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS | LIVE REVIEW
Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Sun 6 May
Twenty-seven years since Oasis formed – a band who Noel Gallagher once said were bigger than Jesus – his follow-up group the High Flying Birds hit Cardiff for a sell-out bank holiday Sunday gig. I was never really an Oasis fan, but I went with an open mind expecting the usual Gallagher sound.
The Motorpoint Arena had evidently drew in both lifelong Oasis fans and their now-converted children. Opening up with Beautiful World and Holy Mountain, the expansive High Flying Birds sound is one of maturity: a bigger band than Oasis (in numeric terms, that is), an excellent brass section and backing singers that complemented Noel’s distinctive voice.
Inevitably, he couldn’t resist pausing halfway through, proceeding to goad the Cardiff audience on the topic of Cardiff’s promotion to the Premier League earlier that day. “That’s a proper football team,” he continued, pointing to the Manchester City flag onstage, before going on to suggest that “fuck all ever happens in Cardiff” – cue a brisk launch into the next song. Much banter of this nature followed, but it’s all taken in jest by the assembled, and only added to the euphoric reception his acolytes bestowed upon him.
Still knocking them out and a master of his domain, the crowd loved every minute of it. Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds treated this usual cynical self, along with his more diehard fans, to a great night of live music and a storming atmosphere. As a follow-on from the Cardiff City promotion, it was a truly a perfect finish to the weekend.
words ALICE DEVINE photos MORGAN DEVINE