Glastonbury Festival 2004
Friday 25th to Sunday 27th June 2004Worthy Farm, Pilton, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 4AZ, England MAP
£112 - SOLD OUT
Daily capacity: 150,000
The Brothers Grim take to the stage and instantly despite the prowling we can tell they are no longer the Kings of the jungle merely two members of the pride circling each other itching for a fight. They say nothing.
Noel is a little older and still looking relaxed and as usual in contrast Liam is trying to be the height of cool, in a white parka and glasses and looks like a yeti as he paces to the mike. As usual it looks like the Gallaghers have been having a barney and they stand a world away from each other. Liam howls out Glastonbury! and the crowd go mental.
They start off with Rock n Roll Star, and they are, here they are finally before us, the grand elder statesmen and Kings of Britrock. They are well spaced out on the stage yet they still fill it. The replacement drummer Ringos son Zac Starkey is a dynamo on the drums driving relentlessly with Noel able to play through the hurling beats and Liams guttural vocals crushing over it. It appears hes got the soundman to up his microphone as Rock n Roll incarnate rains down upon the throng.
Unfortunately those further back are straining to hear it as the speakers appear to be off further up the field but it just draws the faithful ever closer. The song passes and the band are still in serene silence, they give us no words but it screamed rock bad boys.
After another tune, which shows signs of Oasis losing their dominance to be honest, they save us again with Supersonic. We sing our hearts out and between tracks enjoy the power of silence after rapturously applauding each of the hits were spat out from the stage, Supersonic has a new bite with Zacs drumming, Morning Glory is a huge sing along. Columbia hits us with the dying light of the Sun before we are treated to a new tune for the forthcoming album and to be honest I chatted to mates while it went passed, Oasis this year is greatest hits not showcases.
Then Liam dedicates the next song to the England Football Team and breaks into Stop Crying Your Heart Out. Its a belter and we all sing along, we can only wonder how good this gig would have been had we won the match shown earlier.
Noel gives us a treat by singing the next one Little By Little and Liam appears to have walked off in a huff. Sibling rivalry taken to the extreme yet again. The anthem for tonight bores into our brains next Cigarettes and Alcohol and its Oasis do karaoke as you can hardly hear Liam over the crowd around us.
After the peak theres a bit of a lull as Live Forever falls slightly short and I cant work out why, then theres another new song which has a little more to offer and could well be a hit single. Its called the Meaning of Soul and if Zac Starkey drums on it like he just did then Ill happily buy it.
Then Oasis really lift the roof off the Pyramid with a huge rendition of Champagne Supernova which obliterates instantly memories of a poor set last time they played. But then Liam decides to hit us with his rubbish tune, why Noel let him have the crayons Ill never know and half the audience are off before the second verse of Songbird. Well it seems like that to me, and suddenly its a little colder in the field. (Possibly cos in the silence strains of The Chemical Brothers can be heard). Were noticing Liams parker and laughing at he who was once On It!, the crowd are chatting and as Oasis full silent again theres heckling this time not awe. Liam as usual has put his foot in it.
Dont Look Back in Anger rescues the night, with a vital energy and the brooding spell may be broken but perhaps its for the best, a new Oasis can be glimpsed a lighter Oasis, a more settled Oasis, more vintage if you will. It dawns on us that Oasis arent going away, they are here to stay, perhaps more mellow. Liam scowls clearly he doesnt approve!
Then Zac Starkey closes the show single handed in a merciless thrashing of skins he powers the Who tune My Generation probably better then the original breakneck drummer. Its huge its searing red, white and blue target and its lift off! The rest of their set could have fallen flat and this tune alone would have raised it to superb. Truly a new drummer for our generation! If hes in the band then Oasis have a future but without him, then its greatest hit sets for the brothers from now on. Maybe much like the Who, Oasis will just rumble on. Young angry men mellowing into real musicians, but I cant see Liam ever owning a trout farm, hes the weak link and tonight it showed. No doubt hell be back to the only thing he knows tomorrow - being angry.
review by: Scott Williams
photos by: Karen Williams
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