Oasis rock Sunderland at the Stadium of Light
Jun 11 2009 by Sam Wonfor, The Journal
STADIUM gigs are akin to buses in Sunderland.
You don’t get any for ages and then three sell-out extravaganzas rock in at once.
Last Friday and Saturday saw the Take That Circus turn the Stadium of Light into a pop-filled big top... and last night the self-proclaimed rock-and-roll stars, who go by the name of Oasis, did the headlining honours.
And while they brought none of the pop pomp and circumstance of their predecessors to the stadium, it’s fair to say that when it comes to the brothers Gallagher there are no frills required. When you’ve got a back catalogue which houses the likes of Don’t Look Back In Anger, Cigarettes and Alcohol, Wonderwall, Live Forever and Roll With It, you can afford to let the music do the talking.
The band had headed North East from a trio of similar-size gigs in their beloved North West – and it’s fair to say the packed-in crowd were up (or should that be mad?) for it.
By the time their unrepeatable overture came over the PA system, the bouncing on the pitch had reached, well, fever pitch.
In the hours that led up to the 9pm(ish) arrival of lads – to the aforementioned Rock and Roll Star – the more than 50,000-or so assembled fans had been warmed up nicely via performances from a too-cool-for-school line-up – Reverend and the Makers, The Enemy and Kasabian, the latter of whom were remarkably fresh following a high-energy sweatfest at Newcastle’s 02 Academy on Tuesday night.
And that was despite the failure of the sound system during Underdog. But back to the main event. “This is the greatest concert in the world,” summed up 29-year-old Adam Emmerson from Roker.
Hard to argue when you were in the middle of an atmosphere like last night. Liam provoked hysteria with every swagger, tambourine shake and distinctive vocal. His self-penned Songbird went down particularly well.
Meanwhile Noel was his usual understated, yet wonderfully arrogant self.
There’ll be a full review of proceedings in tomorrow’s Journal.
:: THE Stadium of Light had obviously made an impression on Take That. Apparently Howard Donald opened the band’s first performance in Coventry with a heartfelt “Hello Sunderland!” Excellent.
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