DOES anyone like Wings better than the Beatles? Maybe, but they'd be in the minority, alongside Alan Partridge.
Noel Gallagher's success with Oasis was phenomenal. As principal songwriter, he could easily retire with his Wonderwall royalties. So as finance isn't the driving force for him he only has to write and perform for the love of it. His follow up to Oasis, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, is more than just a vanity project. They've been critically acclaimed and a commercial success. Gallagher played the Odyssey arena in Belfast last night to a mixed age crowd. The standing section was at full capacity and only limited seating was left unsold as fans of the Brit pop legend braved the ice and wind to witness the first night of the band's UK and Ireland tour.
The Madchester lad's latest album was released on Monday and the dust hasn't settled on its reception. But he can always rely on Oasis songs to get a crowd to singalong. Fade Away got the Belfast audience to set their phones down (briefly) to dance/jump.
After playing three songs, Gallagher asked "what about you Belfast" and then played tracks from the latest album Chasing Yesterday.
The High Flying Birds were joined on stage by a choir of about 20 people to provide backing vocals on a couple of songs. The choir sat looking a bit bored when they weren't singing, just staring ahead into the bright lights.
They couldn't even be heard on Champagne Supernova. Neither could Gallagher. The crowd were just happy to have a very expensive singalong.
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds aren't Oasis but they embrace that history. Some of their recent work was well received and it would be worth a listen if you were ever a fan. After all his earlier success, Gallagher knows how to play to a crowd.
Emma Gallen