Gig review: Noel Gallagher, Edinburgh Usher Hall

WHAT initially impressed most about this, one of Noel Gallagher’s very first shows under his new solo moniker, was how little it seemed like a show by Oasis.

Or more precisely, how it retained most of the good and dispensed with most of the bad. Doubtless inspired by Noel’s choice to continue playing Oasis songs (not the case with Liam’s new group Beady Eye) the atmosphere was boisterous and celebratory, without being infested by the fist-swinging hardmen Noel’s younger brother used to inspire.

Where the sense of youthful, working-class celebration Oasis once dealt in went out of fashion when their second album arrived and the brothers became millionaires, the kind of songs Noel used to reserve for his own vocal performances still resonate – the heartfelt, bittersweet bedroom-troubadour anthems beloved of party bores with guitars.

The most resonant and affecting of them appeared here, including (It’s Good) To Be Free, Talk Tonight, Half the World Away and an acoustically reimagined Supersonic, although it was interesting to note the terminally overplayed Wonderwall didn’t earn quite the same feverish response as an all-Oasis encore of Don’t Look Back in Anger, The Importance of Being Idle and Little By Little.

The best of Gallagher’s latest tracks were at least as enjoyable as those he’s been playing for years. The standout AKA… What a Life became a piece of taut funk to more than match its radio-friendly recorded version; (I Wanna Live in a Dream in My) Record Machine was a robust folk-rocker and new song; and Freaky Teeth was the noisiest in a set. “I’ll see you at one of those Stone Roses gigs,” he signed off, although most likely his old band’s own resurrection is a while off yet.

Rating: ****